École de cavalerie de Saumur, Military barracks and cavalry school in Saumur, France

The Cavalry School of Saumur is a military barracks with symmetrically arranged buildings in an H-shaped layout facing the Loire River, containing training rings and stables. The complex was designed as a self-contained facility where officers received instruction in horsemanship and armored combat techniques.

In 1763, under the Duke of Choiseul's reform of the French cavalry, two brigades of the carabiniers regiment of the Count of Provence settled in Saumur, first lodging with residents or in inns. Choiseul's provisional instruction of 1 May 1765 decided to build an exemplary cavalry school there. A covered riding hall followed in 1764-1765, stables in 1766 and 1768, and the central building in 1768-1769; troops moved in in 1770.

The name Carabiniers survives in the barracks: two brigades of the régiment des carabiniers du comte de Provence moved to Saumur in 1763, first lodging with local inhabitants and in inns. The blue iron gate is crowned by an iron arch whose gold letters read ÉCOLE DE CAVALERIE, the wording a visitor can read from the street.

The site is best explored on foot, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the symmetrical layout covers large ground areas. The complex is visible from outside, and certain areas may be accessible through guided tours.

The school's large stable, completed around 1766, was a technical innovation with separate compartments that set new standards for military equestrian facilities. The ambitious design demonstrated how seriously the French military valued specialized spaces for horse care and training.