Hippodrome of Longchamp

See also: Longchamp

The hippodrome of Longchamp is a field of horse-races builds in 1857 by the Architecte Antoine-Nicolas Bailly on the field of the abbey of Longchamp (destroyed with the French revolution). Its name comes from the Latin longus campus .

History

Under the pressure of the Duke of Morny, the Bois de Boulogne (royal field become property of the Town of Paris), is selected in 1853 to establish a hippodrome. An imperial decree of August 1854 officializes the choice of the site: the Plain of Longchamp. The May 23rd 1856, the city concedes it at the Company of Encouragement. The hippodrome is inaugurated Sunday April 27th 1857 in the presence of Napoleon III and Eugenie and of a many crowd. The victorious horse of the first race was Eclaireur.

The Grand Prix of Paris is created in 1863, the Prix of Ispahan in 1873 and the Prix of the Triumphal arch in 1920. Before the First World War, the Grand Prix of Paris was the horse-race best equipped in the world.

The hippodrome knows difficult hours during the three wars which it crossed. Bombarded in 1870 and 1943, it is requisitioned of 1914 with 1919 to be used as grazing ground with cows intended to ensure the supply of Paris. Contrary, the Entre-deux-guerres was a kind of golden age. 126.000 spectators attend thus the Grand Prix of Paris 1926.

The platforms of origin out of wood in plasters some which were restored after the Franco-German Guerre of 1870, are replaced in 1904 by stone constructions. New evolution between 1962 and 1964 with the construction of the current platforms.

Features

The hippodrome of Longchamp extends on 57 hectares between the Seine and the Bois de Boulogne with its localities like the mill, the lake or glazing bar. 17 hectares are devoted to the various tracks:

  • the large track (2 750 meters),

  • the average (2 500 meters)
  • the news (1 400 meters),
  • the small one (2 150 meters),
  • the straight line (1 000 meters).
  • 46 different departures, course from 1.000 to 4.000 meters. Finishing line of 650m second post.

Art with the hippodrome of Longchamp

Famous artists painted scenes of race in Longchamp. Among them, one can quote Edouard Manet, which paints the Races with Longchamp , in 1867; or Edgar Degas with Racehorses in Longchamp .

Other activities of the hippodrome

Concerts are held with the hippodrome of Longchamp. The Rolling Stones were there in particular with the poster. The festival Solidays is held to with it each year since 1999.

The pope Jean-Paul II assisted with a solemn mass with the hippodrome of Longchamp the August 23rd 1997 in front of several hundreds of thousands of faithful at the time of the world Journées of youth.

Internal bond

  • List of the hippodromes

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