VILLAGE découvertes
Looking for fresh air?
Five (good) reasons to discover the Printemps des Sports Equestres in Fontainebleau this weekend.
Four more days to indulge your passion for horses and riding - that's the promise of the Printemps des Sports Equestres, running until Sunday on the Grand Parquet de Fontainebleau. Alongside the (very) high-level competitions, which run continuously throughout the days, the event offers a wide range of activities, up close and personal with the animals, in nature and in the great outdoors.
Free admission
Discover horses with an Olympic champion!
The Espace Equestre Henson-Pays de Fontainebleau, initiated by Olympic champion Roger-Yves Bost and his wife Cyrille, offers rides to discover the riches of the Fontainebleau forest, as well as those of a little-known breed of Picardy horse with a big heart and sure feet: the Henson. During the Printemps des Sports Equestres, visitors can take part in several workshops with these horses.
Alternatively, École Militaire d'Équitation de Fontainebleau (Fontainebleau Military Riding School) offers youngsters a gentle introduction to riding these “big ponies” on rides around the Terrain d'Honneur.
Run “your” Grand Prix on the Terrain d'honneur, that's fun too!
The weekend's competitions take place on the Carrière des Princes and the Petit Parquet. However, the grassy Terrain d'Honneur at the Grand Parquet de Fontainebleau also plays host to its champions, who compete on... stick horses! An eight-obstacle course separates the best from the rest... just for fun!
A mini-farm just outside Paris
Marino and his animals occasionally feature in major film productions. Perhaps you've seen them in films such as “Le renard et l'enfant” (Luc Jacquet), “Les saisons” (Jacques Perrin) or “Pas si sauvage” (Jackie Bastide)? These movie stars await the youngest visitors (and their parents) in their mini-farm, set up next to the Village Découvertes.
Marino is also taking the opportunity to present the refuge where she takes in farm and forest animals from difficult backgrounds. Around 150 animals of some 30 different species benefit from the daily care of the team based in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of France.
A breath of fresh air in the horse capital!
Fontainebleau's love affair with horses goes back centuries. In the heart of the Pays de Fontainebleau, which was awarded the “Land of Games” label in 2019, an entire region has lived to the rhythm of horses since the Renaissance. The 22-hectare forest of Fontainebleau is home to some twenty equestrian facilities offering a wide range of tourism, sports and leisure activities. The Grand Parquet is Europe's largest open-air equestrian stadium, a place of exceptional fauna and flora, a land where the greatest equestrian stories have been written, a privileged site like few others in France or Europe.
In between activities, take a break at the exhibitors' square for a bite to eat or a shopping spree!
