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Equestrian Academy of Versailles

National equestrian Academy of Versailles
The national equestrian Academy of Versailles

Founded in 2003 in the royal stables (Grande Écurie) of Versailles’ Palace, the Equestrian Arts Academy (Académie du spectacle équestre) is a high-level further education institution in equestrian arts.

You can visit the Royal Stables

Wednesdays from 01:30 pm to 05:30 pm and Saturdays from 01:30 pm to 04:30 pm.

Price : €5

« Les Matinales » (in the morning)

You can discover the Royal Stables and the work of the contemporary Squires School: work sessions, rider’s daily training.

Every Sundays from 10 am to 12 am from 25 September.
Tour every 20 min. (last visit at 11.20 am)

Shows of the equestrian Academy of Versailles
Shows of the equestrian Academy of Versailles

Equestrian show

The National Equestrian Academy of Versailles is unique. It’s the  only  “corps de ballet” in the world.

The rider Bartabas create in 2003 within the Royal Stables an equestrian show.

Each year, the Academy proposes a new repertory show with various artistic disciplines: dancing, singing, fencing or traditional Japanese archery (Kyudo).

Shows of the equestrian Academy of Versailles
Shows of the equestrian Academy of Versailles

The show is followed by a tour of the Stables.
Time : 1h15 – (Not suitable for children under five)

Starting from mid-July : On Saturdays at 6pm and Sundays at 3pm.

Things to do in Versailles

Things to do in Versailles

Fireworks
Fireworks in Palace of Versailles
  • Visit Palace of Versailles with an audioguide
  • Come dressed to the Royal serenade in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles
  • Listen to music and song in the Royal Opera
  • See the great Musical Fountains Show
  • Walk in Versailles’s gardens and discover differents views
  • Rent a bike and go to the end of the park
  • Play hide and seek in the garden
  • See the amazing Fountains Night Show
  • Savor an ice cream in the park in Summer
  • Rent a boat to see the reflection of the Castle in the water of the Grand Canal
  • In Summer  walk in the garden listening to the Baroque music
  • Participate in workshops for children (in French)
  • Visit Grand Trianon and Marie-Antoinette’s Estate
  • Buy souvenirs in one of the Palace of Versailles’ shops or in the park
  • Visit the Royal Stables and see the Equestrian Show Academy

Special guest: Anish Kapoor

This Summer 2015, from 9th June to 1st November, the Indian artist Anish Kapoor exhibits its work in Palace of Versailles and its gardens.

Anish Kapoor in Palace of Versailles
Anish Kapoor in Palace of Versailles

Anish Kapoor is born in 1954 in Mumbai. He studied art in England at Hornsey College of Art and at Chelsea School of Art and Design. He lives in London and is considered as a great sculptor.

Its artwork deal with the monumental and the opposite inside/outside, between the architecture and the red color organic forms (like red muscles, veins and tendons in the human body).

Christmas and New Year Day in Paris

Christmas and New Year Day In Paris

If you visit Palace of Versailles in Winter, you can also enjoy get a trip in Paris.

This page provides information about Christmas fun and entertainment family in Paris. There are lots of special events at Christmas time for kids and adults that make this an extra magical time of year with lots of fun and special moments together.

Christmas Lights (illuminations) in Paris

Paris' Christmas lights
Paris’ Christmas lights

The spectacular Christmas Lights in Paris are an awaited event for Parisians and tourists .

Luminous arches, incandescent flames, sparkling projections of light and Paris’s finest monuments illuminated at nightfall transform the avenues of the French capital. Paris become the ‘City of Light’ for 2 months.

From November to the beginning of January, the Christmas illuminations on the avenue des Champs-Élysées, on avenue Montaigne, in Place Vendôme, the Montmartre district, Bercy Village and in many other places across the city make Paris more magical than ever.

Paris : Champs Elysée's lights
Paris : Champs Elysée’s lights
  • Avenue des Champs-Élysées
    From Thursday 20 November 2014 to Thursday 8 January 2015
    Metro: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile / RER: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile
  • Avenue Montaigne
    From Thursday 27 November 2014 to Sunday 21 December 2014
    Metro: Alma – Marceau / RER: Pont de l’Alma
  • Place Vendôme
    From Thursday 20 November 2014 to Monday 05 January 2015
  • Faubourg-Saint-Honoré
    From Tuesday 18 November 2014 to Wednesday 14 January 2015
  • Forum des Halles
    from Tuesday 25 November 2014 to Sunday 04 January 2015
    Metro: Les Halles / RER: Châtelet – Les Halles

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Outdoor activities at ice-rinks

  • Ice Rink in front of Paris City Hall
    Ice Rink in front of Paris City Hall

    Ice Rink in front of the Hôtel de Ville (Paris City Hall)
    from Friday 19 December 2014 to Sunday 1st March 2015
    Paris City Hall’s square
    Metro: Hôtel de Ville / RER: Châtelet – Les Halles

  • Ice skating at the Grand Palais (Le Grand Palais des Glaces)
    from Saturday 13 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Grand Palais, Avenue Winston Churchill , Paris 75008
    Metro: Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau / RER: Invalides
  • Charléty on snow : skating, skiing, sledding, zip lines, trampolines and climbing walls for 3-16 years old
    from Wednesday 24 December 2014 to Saturday 3 January 2015
    Stade Charléty, 99 boulevard Kellermann, Paris 75013
    Metro: Porte d’Italie / RER: Cité Universitaire

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Carousels and The Big Wheel in the districts (arrondissements) of Paris

  • Big Wheel in Paris
    Big Wheel in Paris

    The Big Wheel on Place de la Concorde
    from Friday 14 November 2014 to Sunday 15 February 2015
    Place de la Concorde, Paris 75008
    Metro: Concorde / RER: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile

  • Carousel (Manège) Square Bonsergent
    from Sunday 21 December 2014 to Monday 5 January 2015
    Square Bonsergent, place Bonsergent, Paris 75010
    Metro: Porte d’Italie / RER: Cité Universitaire
  • Carousel (Manège) Square Willette
    from Sunday 21 December 2014 to Monday 5 January 2015
    Square Willette, Paris 75013
    Metro: Porte d’Italie / RER: Cité Universitaire
  • Carousel (Manège) Rue Belgrand
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 04 January 2015
    rue Belgrand, Paris 75020
    Metro: Porte d’Italie / RER: Cité Universitaire
  • Carousel (Manège) Place du Bourg Tibourg
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    place du Bourg Tibourg, Paris 75004
    Metro: Porte d’Italie / RER: Cité Universitaire
  • Carousel (Manège) square Saint-Médard
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Square Saint-Médard, rue Censier, Paris 75005
    Metro: Porte d’Italie / RER: Cité Universitaire
  • Carousel (Manège) Place Joffre
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Place Joffre, Paris 75007
    Metro: Porte d’Italie /RER: Cité Universitaire
  • Carousel (Manège) Place Lino Ventura
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Place Lino Ventura, Paris 75009
    Metro: Porte d’Italie / RER: Cité Universitaire
  • Carousel (Manège) Square du Père Chaillet
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Square du Père Chaillet, place du Père Chaillet, Paris 75011
    Metro: Porte d’Italie / RER: Cité Universitaire
  • Carousel (Manège) Place d’Italie
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Place d’Italie, Paris 75013
    Metro: Porte d’Italie / RER: Cité Universitaire
  • Carousel (Manège) Place du Trocadéro
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Trocadéro square, Paris 75016
    Metro: Trocadéro / RER: Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel
  • Carousel (Manège) Place Armand-Carrel
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Place Armand Carrel, Paris 75019
    Metro: Laumière
  • Carousel in Paris
    Carousel in Paris

    Carousel (Manège) Square du Temple
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Square du Temple, Rue de Bretagne, Paris 75003
    Metro: Temple

  • Carousel (Manège) Esplanade de la Gare Montparnasse
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Gare TGV de Paris-Montparnasse, boulevard de Vaugirard, Paris 75014
    Metro: Temple
  • Carousel (Manège) Place du Docteur Félix-Lobligeois
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Place du Docteur Félix-Lobligeois, Paris 75017
    Metro: Temple
  • Carousel (Manège) Place de la Mairie du 12e arrondissement
    from Sunday 21 December 2014 to Monday 5 January 2015
    Mairie du 12e arrondissement, avenue Daumesnil, Paris 75012
    Metro: Temple
  • Carousel (Manège) Place de l’Odéon
    from Sunday 21 December 2014 to Monday 5 January 2015
    Place de l’Odéon, Paris 75006
    Metro: Odéon / RER: Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
  • Carousel (Manège) Place Saint-Sulpice
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Place Saint-Sulpice, Paris 75006
    Metro: Saint-Sulpice / RER: Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
  • Carousel (Manège) Place de la Madeleine
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Place de la Madeleine, Paris 75008
    Metro: Madeleine
  • Carousel (Manège) corner of rue Didot and rue d’Alésia
    from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Rue d’Alésia, Paris 75014
    Metro: Madeleine

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Christmas tree and Windows displays

  • Inverted christmas tree in Galeries Lafayette
    Inverted christmas tree in Galerie Lafayette
    Inverted christmas tree in Galerie Lafayette

    from Wednesday 05 November 2014 to Wednesday 07 January 2015
    40 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 75009
    Metro: Chaussée d’Antin – La Fayette / RER: Auber

  • Windows displays at the big department stores
    According to the tradition, the facades of Parisian department stores (Printemps Haussmann, Galeries Lafayette, BHV, Le Bon Marché) are adorned with festive decorations. Just walk along the windows displays to see these scenes layout with toys.

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Christmas markets in Paris

Christmas Market in Paris
Christmas Market in Paris

Traditional and popular Christmas markets (marchés de Noël) are a major shopping event since November.

Originating in Alsace and Germany , Christmas markets have spread throughout Europe since the 1990s. You can find them all over the capital. Let’s have a hot spicy wine (vin chaud) for adults and hot chocolate for kids while walking in this magical Christmassy atmosphere.

It’s the perfect place to pick up Christmas decorations, festive objects, regional produce and arts & crafts … You will certainly find some original ideas for Christmas presents and ingredients to prepare a delicious Christmas meals.

  • Gourmet Christmas Fair
    from Friday 19 December 2014 to Monday 22 December 2014
    Palais Brongniart, Place de la Bourse – Rue Notre-Dame des Victoires, Paris 75002
    Metro: Bourse, Grands Boulevards
  • Christmas Market on the Champs-Elysées
    from Friday 14 November 2014 to Sunday 04 January 2015
    Avenue des Champs-Élysées , Paris 75008
    Metro: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile / RER: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile
  • Marché de Noël de la Place Saint Sulpice
    from Monday 01 December 2014 to Wednesday 24 December 2014
    Place Saint-Sulpice, Paris 75006
    Metro: Saint-Sulpice / RER: Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
  • Christmas Market at Saint-Germain-des-Prés
    from Saturday 6 December 2014 to Friday 2nd January 2015
    Saint-Germain-des-Prés square, Paris 75006
    Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
  • Christmas Market at Montparnasse
    from Thursday 4 December 2014 to Wednesday 31 December 2014
    Gare de Paris Montparnasse, place Raoul-Dautry, Paris 75015
    Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
  • Christmas Market at Versailles
    from Friday 5 December 2014 to Friday 26 December 2014
    Town Center Versailles, avenue de Paris, Versailles 78000
  • Christmas Market at Boulogne-Billancourt
    from Wednesday 3 December 2014 to Saturday 24 January 2015
    Grand place, Boulogne-Billancourt 92100
    Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
  • Christmas Market at  Abbesses
    from Friday 28 November 2014 to Wednesday 31 December 2014
    Place des Abbesses, Paris 75018
    Metro: Abbesses
  • Christmas’ Village at Vincennes
    from Friday 5 December 2014 to Saturday 20 December 2014
    Place Pierre Semard, Vincennes 94300
    Metro: Abbesses
  • Solidarity know-how Fair (Foire des savoir-faire solidaires)
    from Friday 19 December 2014 to Sunday 21 December 2014
    Parvis de la Basilique royale de Saint-Denis, rue de la Légion-d’Honneur, Saint-Denis 93200
    Metro: Abbesses
  • The Féeries d’Auteuil
    from Saturday 6 December 2014 to Sunday 14 December 2014
    Apprentis d’Auteuil, 40 rue Jean de La Fontaine, Paris 75016
    Metro: Jasmin
  • Christmas Market at Montmartre
    from Friday 5 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015
    Place du Tertre, Paris 75018
    Metro : Abbesses, Lamarck – Caulaincourt
  • Christmas Market at La Défense
    from Thursday 20 November 2014 to Sunday 28 December 2014
    Parvis de La Défense, Courbevoie – La Défense 92400
    Metro : Abbesses, Lamarck – Caulaincourt
  • Alsacien Christmas Market at Est Station (Gare de l’Est)
    from Thursday 4 December 2014 to Friday 19 December 2014
    Parvis de la Gare de l’Est, place du 11-Novembre 1918, Paris 75010
    Metro : Abbesses, Lamarck – Caulaincourt

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Christmas Nativity Scenes (crèches de Noël)

Nativity scenes are installed in Parisian churches. Figures range from small to life-size and these figurative and poetic scenes may be animated, inspired by local life are even be given a new look by contemporary artists.

Every year, Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, the Madeleine church, and Basilique Sacré-Coeur welcome new Nativity scenes. Whether they be traditional, baroque or modern, these veritable works of art welcome a large number of visitors.

The Fééries d’Auteuil invite visitors to see not just one but several Nativity scenes, which are all part of original exhibitions.

  • Christmas Nativity Scenes
    Christmas Nativity Scenes

    Christmas Nativity Scenes in Saint-Joseph-Artisan
    from Saturday 29 November 2014 to Sunday 11 January 2015
    Paroisse Saint Joseph-Artisan, 214 rue La Fayette, Paris 75010
    Metro: Louis Blanc / RER: Gare du Nord – Magenta

  • Christmas Nativity Scenes in basilique du Sacré-Cœur
    from Monday 1st December 2014 to Saturday 10 January 2015
    La Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, 35 rue du Chevalier de la Barre, Paris 75018
    Metro: Anvers
  • Christmas Nativity Scenes in la Madeleine church
    from Thursday 11 December 2014 to Sunday 1st February 2015
    Eglise de la Madeleine, Place de la Madeleine, Paris 75008
    Metro: Madeleine / RER: Auber
  • Christmas Nativity Scenes in Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris
    from Monday 1st December 2014 to Monday 02 February 2015
    Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, 6 place du Parvis Notre-Dame, Paris 75004
    Metro: Cité / RER: Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
  • The Féeries d’Auteuil
    from Saturday 6 December 2014 to Sunday 14 December 2014
    Apprentis d’Auteuil, 40 rue Jean de La Fontaine, Paris 75016
    Metro: Jasmin

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