Versailles and its castle are set to benefit from the 2024 Olympics

“When flying over in a hot air balloon a few months ago, the Olympic teams were amazed by the beauty of the site”Delighted Catherine Pgard, director of the Palace of Versailles, which will host many sporting events during the Olympic and Paralympic Games from July to September 2024. The sports calendar can disrupt the life of French cultural institutions, with numerous events. Work on the cohabitation of sports and culture before the Games, programmed within the framework of the Cultural Olympiad (the sponsoring banner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games).

Although some cultural institutions fear that the sporting event will overshadow them, the Palace of Versailles is not worried: “Our challenge is to show that we are not suffering from games. This, on the contrary, is a chance for the castle », asserts Raphael Gastbois, responsible for the architectural conservation of the estate. Twenty-one sports events are planned in the castle gardens and in the city. Four disciplines will be represented: equestrian sports, modern pentathlon, marathon and road cycling.

This was chosen by the Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Cojop). “the box” for its historical dimension. Home to the royal stables, the Palace of Versailles is famous for its equestrian tradition and is honored during equestrian events. The marathon route was established on October 5, 1789 on the route of the Women’s March at Versailles, which preceded King Louis XVI’s return to Paris.

Discretion of work

To ensure the continuity of cultural activities, the prison has drawn up a program that corresponds to sports events. The horse exhibition will be held from July to October 2024. To twist a sports metaphor, “Art Pentathlon” It will be organized until February 2024. With these events, the castle gardens will come alive with a cultural Olympiad.

In preparation for the sports schedule, work piloted and funded by Kojop began around the castle. The site, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, should not be damaged by the games. Therefore, all objects will be temporary. Structural works will start in September 2023. A 15,000-seat grandstand will be built around the horse career and royal star in the park. Equestrian center in the estate will be renovated.