Sunday 9 February 2014

Petite écurie du roi

This is the king's small stable. You've seen it before but this time, VDP is going to take you inside. It was exceptionally open on 2 February (and will be again on 2 March), you'll see why in the coming days or by looking at the poster below! The small stables, built between 1679 and 1683 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, were used for carriages and their horses and managed by the first equerry. The relief sculpture above the doorway represents 'Alexander the Great taming Bucephalus' (1685 by François Girardon).

Voici la petite écurie du roi. Vous l'avez déjà vue, notamment ici mais cette fois-ci, VDP va vous emmener à l'intérieur. Elle était exceptionnellement ouverte le 2 février pour l'événement ci-dessous (et il y une séance de rattrapage le 2 mars pour ceux qui ne sont pas venus). Edifiée entre 1679 et 1683 par Jules Hardouin-Mansart, elle servait à héberger les chevaux d'attelage et les voitures. Son administration était confiée au premier écuyer, dit "monsieur le premier". Le fronton du portail est orné d'un relief, "Alexandre domptant Bucéphale", sculpté en 1685 par François Girardon.

18 comments:

Lowell said...

This doesn't look like any stable we have in Ocala! Love the cobblestones. I shall look forward to the interior shots you've promised.

Thanks for your comments today. But it's not hot here, it's actually kind cold - about 55 degrees (F) and rainy. Tomorrow will be better with lots of sun and 72 degrees.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Lowell said...

Back again. Re the pic on The Villages. You're too smart. Yes, this was taken during the summer...but it seemed like a good shot to post on a dreary day. :)

William Kendall said...

It's beautiful, the carving work particularly. And this rates as small stables?

RedPat said...

I'm looking forward to seeing how spoiled the horses were back then! ;-)

Wayne said...

Goodie, goodie, I can't wait to see the inside, if the outside is this nice.

Jack said...

These are all beautiful, Cieldequimper. I love the statue of Alexander the great.

Lynette said...

Amazing photos. Thanks!

Randy said...

I love the artistic details.

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

We refer to Mansart roofs in the USA, for the few buildings in the USA that have copied the Parisian architecture.

Stuart said...

Great camera angle on the front door. I like that line of stones leading you right to it. Anyway, the SMALL stable huh? Wow.

Anonymous said...

That's an amazingly detailed sculpture, love the lead up to the entrance too.

Karl said...

Beautiful and lovely details!

Halcyon said...

The entrance is so beautiful. I love all the details!

VP said...

Exactly the things and the details I like most!

Linda said...

What marvelous horses! Thanks for sharing.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

The second shot made me think of the sculpture in fountain in the Palace gardens Ciel, thought it might be by same sculptor but on checking the link there was no mention of it.

EG CameraGirl said...

Isn't is amazing what money can (or could) buy?!

Tammie Lee said...

i love all the beautiful details of these building and street too!