Royal Stables of Palace of Versailles
Great & Small Stables, Coaches & Sculptures
The Royal Stables features the Great Stables and Small Stables, which are located adjacent to the Honour Gate.
The Great Stables features the Gallery of Coaches, the Equestrian Academy of Versailles, and Campus Versailles.
The Small Stables houses the Sculptures and Mouldings of Versailles.
Apparently, the Stables’ name is not named after the Size but the purpose they served.
The Great Stables stored a large number of royal horses used by Kings and Queens, while Small Stables trained the horses and riders as well.
The Opening Hours
Not all segments in the Royal Stables are open to the public, but you can explore the Gallery of Coaches in the Great Stables and the Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery in the Small Stables.
The Gallery of Coaches in the Great Stables is open during the high season (April to October) on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
In the low season (November to March), it is open on weekends from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
During Zone C school holidays, the Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
The Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery in the Small Stables is open every Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
If you wish to learn more before you visit Versailles, you can find further details about the palace’s Opening hours, How to reach the palace, Renting vehicles, Tips for visiting the Versailles Palace, and Restaurants and cafes near the palace.
The Great Stables
The Great Stables, built on the orders of Louis XIV, housed around 2,000 horses brought from Spain, Arabia, and Persia in the 18th century.
Architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart managed the project, completing it with a large team of laborers in just three years, from 1679 to 1682.
Today, the Royal Stables houses various collections and establishments, including the National School of Architecture of Versailles and the Equestrian Academy of Versailles.
They have also started an educational initiative called Campus Versailles, where they will teach future generations the art and skills used in the making of Versailles.
The Small Stables
The Small Stables, built in the same year as The Great Stables, was reserved for coach horses and their carriages.
Today, it houses the Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery, and visitors are welcome to tour.
The Gallery stores Sculptures from Versailles and the Louvre Palaces. It is also home to copies of ancient Rome and Greek statues from the late 17th Century.
You can also wander around the Royal Stables Courtyard, which offers you a serene atmosphere.
Explore various tour options in Versailles, including the Full-access ticket with gardens, Skip-the-line guided tour, Round-trip palace tour from Paris, Night fountains show ticket, Versailles palace bike tour, and Private golf cart tour of the palace – perfect for every visitor’s needs.
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about The Royal Stables.
Can I visit the stables at Versailles?
Yes! Once a place reserved for royal and draft horses, now the Great Stables and Small Stables house galleries and institutions.
You can book your tickets online.
Is there an extra fee to visit the Royal Stables?
The Royal Stables are included in the Palace of Versailles entry ticket.If you book a Versailles Guided Tour, you can visit the Stables at your own pace either before or after your guided tour.
What are the Royal Stables of Versailles?
The Royal Stables were built as a home for the horses used by the Royals.
Today, the Stables accommodate the National School of Architecture of Versailles, a segment of the Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France, and the Equestrian Academy of Versailles.
Visitors can explore the Gallery of Coaches in the Great Stables and the Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery in the Small Stables.
What can I see at the Royal Stables?
The stables have historic carriages, harnesses, and other horse equipment.
They also have exhibits about the stables’ history and their role in the French court.
When were the Royal Stables built?
The Stables were built between 1679 and 1682, during King Louis XIV’s reign.
