Haras national de Strasbourg

The Haras national de Strasbourg is a historic horse stud farm in Strasbourg, in the French department of Bas-Rhin. Its origins lie in the relocation in 1752 of the city's riding school from the rue de l'Ecarlate to a neighbouring plot freed by the disappearance of the Dominican convent of Sainte-Elisabeth. In 1756 the state imposed the addition of a royal stud farm to this municipal school, moved from an establishment created a few years earlier in the Robertsau suburbs. The coexistence of two authorities in the same house caused some problems. The second establishment, comprising the great stables and the portal on rue Sainte-Elisabeth, was designed by Clinchamp, director of the Ponts et Chaussées of Alsace. The school buildings, hastily built in rendered brick, contrast with the stud farm buildings, nobly dressed in sandstone. The ensemble forms a vast U around the riding arena and has been integrally transmitted, as attested by the 1836 relief plan, thanks to the continuity of its use. The stud farms were maintained by Napoleon I, keen to provide the French economy and army with quality horses. Jean d'Abzac, known as 'the Chevalier d'Abzac', a former equerry of Versailles, returned to France in 1802 after emigrating during the Revolution and was appointed in 1806 to the direction of the stud farm of Strasbourg. He participated in the work relating to the organisation and development of horse production under the Empire. The Third Republic perpetuated the establishment under the name 'haras national'. By a decree of 6 January 1922, the great stable in its entirety and the main entrance were classified as monuments historiques. By a decree of 22 September 1987, the wooden baluster staircase in the main dwelling, and the facades and roofs of all buildings (excluding those of the two buildings along rue des Glacières and the small wing returning to the south-east of the great courtyard) were classified. Between 2011 and 2013, the Haras were renovated to accommodate a hotel, a brasserie on two floors and a biocluster. The new address, corresponding to the main entrance of the complex, is 23 rue des Glacières. The old buildings were conserved and renovated, the only modern addition being a discreet edifice in the courtyard for the hotel part. The monumental staircase of the brasserie, as well as the hotel design, are the work of the architecture and design firm Jouin-Manku. A horse statue by the plastic artist Stéphanie Leroux, recalling the former function of the Haras, stands in the courtyard.

The creation of the Strasbourg stud farms stemmed from the relocation in 1752 of the riding school established by the city in premises on rue de l'Ecarlate, which had become dilapidated, to a neighbouring plot freed by the disappearance of the Dominican convent of Sainte-Elisabeth. The works were entrusted to Jacques Gallay, who had been a stone-cutter of the Palais des Rohan before being received as an architect and designing various private mansions in Strasbourg, including those of the Dames d'Andlau and Turckheim. In 1756, the state imposed the doubling of this municipal school with a royal stud farm, by moving the establishment created a few years earlier in the Robertsau suburbs. This coexistence of two authorities in the same house would not be without posing some problems. The second establishment (comprising the great stable and the portal on rue Sainte-Elisabeth) was designed by Clinchamp, director of the Ponts et Chaussées of Alsace. To the school buildings, hastily built in rendered brick, responded those of the stud farms, nobly dressed in sandstone. The ensemble, which forms a vast U framing the riding arena, has been integrally transmitted to us, as attested by the relief plan of 1836, thanks to the continuity of its use. The stud farms were indeed maintained by Napoleon I, keen to provide the French economy and army with quality horses. Having returned to France in 1802 after emigrating during the Revolution, Jean d'Abzac, known as 'the Chevalier d'Abzac', a former equerry of Versailles, was appointed in 1806 to the direction of the stud farm of Strasbourg. He then participated in the work relating to the organisation and development of horse production under the Empire. The Third Republic perpetuated the establishment under the name 'haras national'. According to the decree of 6 January 1922: the great stable in its entirety and the main entrance are classified as monuments historiques. According to the decree of 22 September 1987: the wooden baluster staircase located in the main dwelling, the facades and roofs of all the buildings (with the exception of those of the two buildings along rue des Glacières and the small wing returning to the south-east of the great courtyard) are classified as monuments historiques. Between 2011 and 2013, the Haras were renovated to accommodate a hotel, a brasserie on two floors and a biocluster. The new address, corresponding to the main entrance of the complex, is located at 23 rue des Glacières. The old buildings were conserved and renovated, the only modern addition being a discreet edifice in the courtyard for the hotel part. The monumental staircase of the brasserie, as well as the design of the hotel, are the work of the architecture and design firm Jouin-Manku. A horse statue, work of the plastic artist Stéphanie Leroux and recalling the former function of the Haras, is located in the courtyard.

• 2013

  Completion of renovation; new main entrance at 23 rue des Glacières.

• 2011

  Start of renovation works to convert the Haras into a hotel, brasserie and biocluster.

• 1987

  Decree of 22 September classifies the wooden baluster staircase and facades and roofs of buildings as monuments historiques.

• 1922

  Decree of 6 January classifies the great stable and main entrance as monuments historiques.

• 1806

  Jean d'Abzac appointed director of the stud farm of Strasbourg.

• 1756

  State imposes the addition of a royal stud farm to the municipal riding school.

• 1752

  Relocation of the city's riding school to a plot freed by the disappearance of the Dominican convent of Sainte-Elisabeth.

Historic national stud farm and heritage monument, now repurposed as a mixed-use complex.

Product categories. Horse breeding · Equestrian heritage site · Hotel and brasserie (post-renovation)

1. 1Haras national de Strasbourg - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Haras national de Strasbourg - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org