Cheval en Majesté arrives at the Château de Versailles
While the equestrian events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place at the Château de Versailles, this iconic establishment is hosting a major exhibition dedicated to the horse and equestrian civilization in Europe: Cheval en Majesté, from July 2 to November 3.
Horses reflect every era. He is man’s double, helping him to conquer the world. With its strength, docility, bravery, fear, stamina and speed… Horses are different from all other animals. Its elegance, its perception of human emotions and its exceptional utility give it a special place. Right after humans in the animal hierarchy.
So, the horse is the nobiliary animal par excellence! Since the Ancien Régime, its presence in representations has marked rank, defined social hierarchies and established power. As a political animal, it participates in the majesty of sovereigns. Referring to saints and knights, it contributes to the glorification of the king-rider, transforming him into a legendary hero. The Château de Versailles has chosen to celebrate this animal with a major exhibition. The first on this scale!
The Majestic Horse: man’s double and mirror of his time
This must-see exhibition this summer is based on previously unpublished studies. It explores the horse from a variety of angles: political, artistic, diplomatic, scientific and even imaginary. With over 300 works from public and private collections, most of them international, it offers a new, global perspective on the theme of the horse. The exhibition also highlights the richness of equestrian civilization in Europe, from the 16th to the 20th century.
It traces the evolution of the place and uses of the horse, from the dawn of Modern Times to the First World War, when the horse was relegated to leisure activities. Spread across the emblematic spaces of the Château de Versailles, such as the Salle d’Afrique, the Salon d’Hercule, the Galerie des Glaces, the Salons de la Guerre and de la Paix, and the apartments of Madame de Maintenon and the Dauphine, this exhibition immerses you in the history and elegance of the equestrian world. So how about discovering this new exhibition?
- On Tuesdays, July 16, August 20, September 17 and October 15, 2024, take advantage of exceptional nocturnes to discover the Horse in Majesty exhibition.
Château de Versailles – Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles
