Live Equestrian Museum

The Great Stables

This museum, installed in the most beautiful stables in the world, built between 1719 and 1735 by Jean Aubert for the Prince de Conde, is unique.  It is a real-life museum.  Visitors can see horses and ponies take part in equestrian presentations, explained by the instructor.  There are audio-visual films on equestrian professions.  Spacious covered circuits are filled with sculptures, paintings and various equine artifacts.  From April to November there are equestrian events on Saturday evenings.  Each weekend there is something of interest happening in the stables: show-jumping, dressage competitions etc.

It is a privately owned museum, designed, managed and run by Yves Bienaime, instructor and rider for the "Institut de France", owner of the buildings.  The Live Equestrian Museum has received many awards including the "Grand Prix du Tourisme en Autocar" (1985) and the "Prix Europa Nostra" (1991)