Royal+Stables

=Royal Stables=

Paige Bjerke - Versailles
The Royal Stables of Versailles were originally constructed during the reign of King Louis the XIV. Jules Hardouin Mansart was given the task of building them. It took four years to complete, from 1679 to 1683. The stables were divided into two buildings, the Grand Ecurie (Great Stable) and the Petite Ecurie (Little Stable). Glass chandeliers hang from the ceilings as reminder of the magnificence of the kingdom. The buildings were exactly the same size and could house up to 600 horses. Even though they were the same they had distinct roles.

The Grand Stables held the horses that were trained for hunting and war. These were considered the Kings horses and were rode only by Kings and Princes. King Louis XIV enjoyed equestrian entertainment such as horse racing and dressage. These events would take place just outside the Grand Stables. The Little Stables held the carts and carriages of the royal family. It also held horses which could be used by those in the King's court which did not have the right to the horses in the Grand Stables.

In 1745 Slodtz and Perrett built a theatre for King Louis the XVI. He enjoyed entertaining there and used it for operas, weddings and more. 7 years later it burned down. The stables continued to deteriorate and were closed by the end of King Louis XVI’s reign. In 1865 Charles Questel reopened the stables. They were then used for military use. They were used as artillery barracks, to manufacture guns and even held some military trials. The French Army continued to use the Royal Stables for various things until they completely evacuated in 1965.

The Royal Stables were finally restored to their original state in the 1970’s. They are now open to the public as a tourist attraction to learn about the history of the stables and the different roles they have played in France over the last few centuries. Today the Grand Stables is also the home to King Louis-Phillipe's collection of coaches and carts. I read in one article that at some point it was an elite riding school but couldn’t find too much evidence to support that. I believe taking some time to see them while in France would be worth your time. The images available online look amazing