Paris is filled with horses…of the marble and painted variety. What’s a horse lover to do when you need a bit more of a horse fix than statues and portraits can provide? Thankfully there are plenty of other options! Here are a few ideas to give you some quality horse time during your trip to Paris.
Horse Circuses
Circuses actually originated in Paris as a way to showcase horse training, so what better place to go to an equestrian circus? Cirque Alexis Gruss and Equestrian Theater Zingaro are two of the top outfits and either will give you a fabulous show.
I had the chance to catch an afternoon performance of Alexis Gruss’s Origines while I was in Paris and it was the perfect change from my standard itinerary of museums and cathedrals. The show is housed under a big top near the Hippodrome in the park Bois de Boulogne which was easily accessible using the metro and either a short walk or their complimentary bus transport. The show itself alternated between horse acts and acrobatic/aerialist/juggler performances. There was even a horse clown! Like any horse activity, there was the odd individual that wasn’t quite feeling the program that evening, but overall I was incredibly impressed with the horsemanship and showmanship of the entire cast (two-legged and four-legged!). You’re out of the main tourist zone and the show is entirely in French, but don’t let that scare you. Everyone was super friendly and it was nice to get away from the touristy activities for an afternoon.
The Republican Guard
The cavalry division of the Republican Guard is housed in Paris and open to visitors with a guided tour. Unfortunately, the tour is in French only, but it is still an incredible opportunity to see the backstage workings of the stable. They also have musical programs scheduled at certain times of the year that you may want to check out.
Hippodromes
Paris has multiple racetracks, each specialized for a specific type of racing. Hippodrome de Longchamp for flat racing…Hippodrome de Vincennes for harness racing…and Hippodrome d’Auteuil for steeplechases. If horse racing is your thing, be sure to check out the tracks’ schedules to see if there are races during your visit.
Salon du Cheval de Paris
Every Fall, Paris is host to the Paris Horse Show. Part horse show…part shopping expo…part educational opportunity. Some of the highlights include the World Arabian Horse Championships, the Longines Masters jumping championship, an Equistar competition for up and coming equestrian performers, and innovation awards for new equine related products.
Carriage Museum and Equestrian Academy at Versailles
If you’re visiting Versailles, don’t miss the carriage museum. It is located just across the street from the main gates of Versailles in the Grand Stables and entry to the museum is free. During your visit, you’re able to view the royal carriages up close and even look inside their plush interiors (thanks to technology). The museum is located in an old stable area, which still has hay mangers and feed bunks installed along the walls. Personally, I found the building just as impressive as the carriages. My horses would never want to leave!
On certain days, the Equestrian Academy’s stables are also open for tours and you can even catch a performance! There is separate ticketing for the stable tours and performances, but these can be purchased at a discount by bundling them with your entry to Versailles.
Great Stables and The Museum of the Horse at Domaine de Chantilly
For some of the most impressive stables you’ll ever see, you need to visit Chantilly. In addition to the Great Stables, they have dressage training demonstrations (included in your entry fee) and equestrian shows (extra charge) that you can attend during your visit.
The Museum of the Horse is included in your entry fee as well and focuses on the relationship between horses and man throughout the ages.
What are your favorite equestrian activities around Paris?
