Aurillac National Stud, Horse stud farm in Aurillac, France
The Haras national d'Aurillac is a horse stud farm and farmyard in Aurillac, in the Cantal department of south-central France. The site sits near the local racetrack and riding school, and covers around 17 hectares (42 acres) of stables, paddocks, and outbuildings.
The stud farm was founded in 1665 under Colbert and reorganized by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806. Its original buildings were housed in a former convent in the town center before operations moved to the current site in 1983.
The Haras national d'Aurillac was once a state-run breeding center and is now owned by the Cantal département. Guided tours in summer give visitors a close look at the stables and the different horse breeds kept on site.
The site is on the outskirts of Aurillac, close to the local racetrack, and is easiest to reach by car. Guided visits are mostly available in summer, so it is worth checking opening times before making the trip.
The chapel of the former convent where the stud farm was first housed was converted into a stable for up to 83 horses. During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the current site was briefly used as a testing drive-through, far from its original purpose.
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