Historical Horses

 

Horses were at the centre of the lives of lords during medieval times. Therefore the scenography which has been created for the Rivau’s stables re-enacts the rich equestrian past of the castle and the pivotal importance of war horses for the Kings of France.

1st scene: a fresco conjures up Joan of Arcs historic halt at the Rivau. The reputation of le Rivau’s war horses was so great that they were considered one of the key elements to defeating the English at the Orleans siege.

2nd scene: the codes of chivalry on battle fields, the ceremony of dubbing, the laws of honour are depicted through images of the period.

3d scene: you will be told the tale of the “gentlemen’s tournament” organized in 1452 by Pierre de Beauvau, lord of the Rivau, for the King René of Anjou. The splendour of its rites was passed down to us through a magnificent book of that period which is know kept at the Saint Petersburg library.

4th scene: Gabriel de Beauvau, the great grand son of Pierre de Beauvau, transformed the wooden stables from the medieval times to stone stables of rare architectural quality.