A unique experience, not only for horse lovers! The Versailles Royal Stables, commissioned by King Louis XIV, were the greatest royal construction project ever undertaken for housing horses. Come with us for a privately guided tour to discover this extraordinary venue, in intimate settings, away from the crowds of the Palace of Versailles.
The Versailles Royal Stables
Behind the Scenes at the Equestrian Arts Academy of Versailles
Opening Days
4 days / week
Meeting-Point
Your hotel or apartment
Duration
1.15Hrs (without transport)
3Hrs (with transport)
Access
Skip the Line
Transport
Executive car
Type of tour
Private, up to 17 people
Choose a 5 star tour to the royal stables of Versailles.
Driving a car and telling an interesting story requires different specific skills. For maximum enjoyment and safety, we propose you to be guided by an expert, licensed tour guide and driven by a specific chauffeur. By this way, your Versailles specialist guide will be completely dedicated to you with more time on his/ her hand to share entertaining stories and anecdotes. The meanwhile your safety and comfort will be taken care of by a professional driver.
Included in this Royal stables Versailles Private Tour
- Private Transportation: Enjoy a comfortable round-trip journey from Paris in a luxury vehicle with a dedicated chauffeur.
- Private Guide: A knowledgeable guide will accompany you throughout the day, providing rich historical context and insights.
- Headsets: If your party includes more than 6 people.
- No rush: We semi-privatize the Royal Stables & the National Equestrian Academy for you. 😉
- Feel like a Queen: Skip-the-line tickets.
Highlights of our Royal Stables Versailles Private Tour
- Behind the scene tour of the Versailles Stables that once housed the favorite Lusitano horses of King Louis XIV.
- Learn about the fascinating history of horsemanship in the 17th century Monarchy.
- Discover the stories of the National Equestrian Academy.
- Immerse yourself in the beauty of the theater like Arena.
- Get to know more about the unique shows and finest.
Learn about the fascinating history of horses at Versailles
The Great and Small Stables were constructed in the 17th century by Louis XIV’s famous architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart. The Stables were executed within record time, in just three years, from 1679 to 1683. Their location was not a mere accident. Facing the Palace and in the direction of the King’s bedroom, demonstrates well the great importance of the horses to the Monarchy.
View of the stables (the 2 half arc) from the King’s bedroom
At this time, horses were the only way of transportation. But not only. They were used by the Royal family, courtiers, visitors and they were essential part of festivities such as hunting. From 400 horses at the birth of Versailles, there were more than 2200 horses before the French Revolution in 1789.
The Stables accommodated the King’s warhorses and hunting mounts, but they were also home to more than 1500 men working there, from coachmen, pages and squires to blacksmiths and musicians!
The Versailles Stables today
Two hundred years later and after many years of being unoccupied, the great Stables finally returned to their original purpose: since 2003, they are home to the National Equestrian Academy of Versailles, under the management of Bartabas, the famous artistic director of equestrian theatre. The Stables were renovated by Patrick Bouchain, acclaimed French architect, in a contemporary style while preserving Mansart’s original features.
Bartabas’ s one of a kind theatrical and training company offers two spectacles per week, combining fine horsemanship with different artistic disciplines. Their number of spectators, more than 30.000 each year, speaks for itself. For horses’ lovers, it’s an experience that is unmissable!
What does your Versailes stables tour include?
During your private visit, you will hear about the history of the Royal Stables but not only that! The visit cannot be completed without seeing the horses themselves, including the famous Lusitano breed, favorite of Louis XIV. While exploring, immerse yourself in the ambiance of the great dressage ring, admiring the wooden horse arena, made in contemporary Italian style. If you are lucky enough, you might even catch a glimpse of the horsemen during their training session! During this visit we semi-privatize the rooms you visit. By this way you can fully take in the atmosphere at its best.
How to book this activity?
This visit of the Versailles stables is only available during the week and it can be booked:
- 1. As an optional extra to your Half Day Versailles tour. In this case, you need to reserve a half day tour starting in the morning. You will have a break for lunch (meals are not included in the price) after which you will visit the Royal Stables
OR
- 2. As an independent tour to & from your hotel, lasting 3 hours in total (including travelling). The tour of the Royal Stables lasts around 1 hour 15 minutes. This option does not include a lunch break.
You can buy this tour for you and your family or buy it as a gift to your friends or relatives. To buy this tour as a gift, just click on the red button “buy as a gift” on the booking form and follow the instruction. You can pay by Visa, Mastercard, Amex or Paypal. Then, you will get gift card and a Voucher number. The lucky one will be able to apply this number and he will be able to choose the date of his visit to Versailles online. They have 1 year to make this private tour after buying the gift card.
Please note:
- The Equestrian Academy sells a limited number of entries with direct access to professional travel agencies ONLY. During the high season (April-August) these sell out quickly. We advise you to book 4 weeks in advance.
- Your luggage can be stored at an extra cost. Please let us know in advance, if you require this service.
- Children count for one participant.
- For information on access for people living with a disability, please refer to our FAQs.
Price list for a visit from/to your hotel
Number of people | Total Price |
2 people | 750 € / pers |
3 people | 500 € / pers |
4 people | 375 € / pers |
5 people | 300 € / pers |
More than 5 people | Start the booking process to know the price or contact us |
Price for an extra after a half day tour
Number of people | Total Price |
2 people | 600 € / pers |
3 people | 400 € / pers |
4 people | 300 € / pers |
5 people | 240 € / pers |
More than 5 people | Start the booking process to know the price or contact us |
Customization for our VIP clients & special Requests-Events, Business
Are you a wedding planner, an event planner or a company wishing to organise an event ?
Then contact us directly, we can organise cocktails, dinners and organise privatized events.
If you are visiting during the week-end, why not treat yourself to one of the shows? Our special package includes tickets to the show and private transport to and from the venue. The schedule of the show is every Saturday at 6pm and Sundays at 3pm. On request, we can also reserve lunch or dinner at the prestigious ORE restaurant, owned by the Michelin starred chef, Alain Ducasse which is right in front of the Equestrian Academy inside the palace of Versailles. During Spring & Summer, we can even add one more extra activities after dinner! Please, contact us to get rates.