Roadmap 2024

The Palace of Versailles park will host the equestrian competitions of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. To mark the occasion, the Palace of Versailles is offering journalists a roadmap.

This document contains:
- Key information about the Palace and the organization of the Olympic Games at Versailles.
- The history of horses at Versailles.
- The 2024 news calendar (exhibitions, restoration/worksites, Cultural Olympiad, shows...).
- Practical information and contacts to help journalists before, during and after the Games.

Find out more about some of the news items mentioned in the roadmap below.

versailles and the olympic games

From 27 July to 11 August, and then from 3 to 7 September 2024, the Palace of Versailles park will host the equestrian competitions (jumping, dressage and eventing: show jumping, dressage and cross-country), the five modern pentathlon tournaments and para-equestrian events.

The events will take place in temporary facilities installed on the Étoile Royale site at the western edge of the Park, as well as around the Grand Canal: a riding arena with a 16,000 seat grandstand, as well as obstacles and cross-country courses. These temporary structures will be designed by the Paris 2024 teams in coordination with the Public Establishment to ensure perfect preservation of the site’s natural, environmental and architectural features. Following the Games, all temporary infrastructure required to host the competitions will be removed and the grounds restored to their previous condition. As a lasting legacy of the event, the Public Establishment will carry out a comprehensive restoration of the étoile Royale Gate.

Palace of Versailles teams (architects, site supervisors, gardeners, fountain artisans, project managers, legal and administrative staff, etc.) have been working on behalf of Paris 2024 for more than two years to orchestrate this exceptional initiative and will continue their work until the Games are over and the site has been entirely reconditioned. Going beyond technical expertise, the commitment of the Palace of Versailles extends to every aspect of the Olympic Games. The Public Establishment aspires to all-around perfection for this unique event, from the visitor experience to the cultural offering, as well as site accessibility and heritage promotion.

the horse at Versailles

Under the Ancien Régime, daily Court life at Versailles revolved around horses and the various tasks these animals fulfilled: entertainment, warfare and transport, for the royal family and courtiers alike. The horse contributed to the manifestation of royal power in all its guises.

The roadmap presents the history linking the horse and the former royal residence, the places associated with the horse, and some emblematic works from the collections featuring this animal, a symbol of glory and majesty.

calendar

Exhibitions

Horace Vernet (1789-1863)

Imperial silks for Versailles, Mobilier National collection

Eva Jospin - Versailles

Cheval en majesté. Au cœur d'une civilisation

Heritage restorations

Restoration of Apollo's fountain

Restoration of the œil-de-bœuf antechamber

Cultural Olympiad

Just Dance

Shows

Find out all about the program of events and shows on the Château de Versailles Spectacles website.

Photos

400 young people celebrate the Olympic Games at the Palace of Versailles

Palace of Versailles

The "Etoile Royale" site for the Olympic Games

The "Etoile Royale" site, before installation of Olympic infrastructure

Cross-country test events on the Grand Canal (August 2023)

The Gallery of Coaches

The National Equestrian Academy

Les chevaux du soleil pansés par les tritons

Exhibition 'Horse in majesty. At the heart of a civilization"

Louis XIV, roi de France (1638-1715)
René-Antoine Houasse
Vers 1674
Huile sur toile
Château de Versailles
© Château de Versailles, Dist. RMN © C. Fouin