Grandes écuries du château de Chantilly, Royal stables in Chantilly, France
The Great Stables form a monumental building stretching across the estate with two matching wings framing a central pavilion decorated with stone sculptures of horses and riders. The open courtyard in the middle serves as a training ground where equestrian demonstrations and lessons still take place today.
The architect Jean Aubert designed and built this complex between 1719 and 1735 for one of France's most influential nobles. It was created as one of the largest stable facilities in Europe during that period.
The name reflects the central role horses played in the life of the court and nobility of the time. You can observe how the building's design shaped every aspect of daily interaction with these animals.
Plan to spend enough time exploring the various rooms and exhibition areas, as the building is laid out quite expansively. The central courtyard is readily accessible and provides an excellent reference point for understanding the entire complex.
The nobleman who commissioned these stables believed he might be reincarnated as a horse in his next life, which inspired him to create unusually lavish accommodations for the animals. This peculiar conviction resulted in stable conditions that rivaled the comfort of the noble's own living quarters.
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