The Saint-Lô National Stud

A must in La Manche

The Haras National de Saint-Lô: a must-see in La Manche

Located in the heart of the La Manche département, in the town of Saint-Lô, this monument to the equestrian world is a must-see. Our region is renowned for the richness of its equine industry, so it’s impossible not to stop by the Haras National de Saint-Lô. We’ll tell you all about it in this article!

A little history

To meet military needs, Napoleon I reintroduced stud farms to the region. The first stallion depot was created in 1806, on the site of the former Sainte-Croix de Saint-Lô Abbey. Some thirty stallions were soon added to the stock in the very first year. By 1874, the Haras was home to 240 stallions, necessitating the opening of a second facility. Located in the heart of Saint-Lô, on a 7-hectare site, the new Haras National de Saint-Lô was built in 1886. The 2 establishments were so successful that by 1912, over 568 stallions had been bred! During the liberation battles of June 06, 1944, the town of Saint-Lô was hit hard by bombs. It wasn’t until July 19 that Saint-Lô was liberated. Some 80% of the town was destroyed in the bombardment, and the Haras did not escape the disaster. The first stud, built in 1806, was completely destroyed, leaving only the riding arena (now the Normandy concert hall). As for the second stud, built in 1886, two stables were destroyed in the 1944 bombings. This meant that logistical concerns had to be addressed (for both staff and horses) during the winters of 1944-1945. The stables were rebuilt identically and the Haras was enlarged. The then director of the Haras, Paul DE LAURENS, decided to create a project to make the town of Saint-Lô the capital of Normandy breeding!

> Did you know? A Jeep is buried in the main courtyard following the bombing raids of June 06, 1944. It ended up in a shell hole and remains just as it was.

What about today?

The Haras National de Saint-Lô is divided into three main functions:

The stud farm: home to around a hundred horses.
The Equestrian Center: With its 90 horses, it is dedicated to learning riding for all ages and levels.
The Pôle Hippique: organizes numerous events throughout the year.

The site is also a renowned insemination laboratory for natural and genetic selection, home to some of the world’s finest stallions. The Haras National de Saint-Lô is a historic site and an important center for the equine industry. It offers sightseeing tours, renowned sporting events such as the Normandie Horse Show and the 4* international jumping competition, as well as activities for learning to ride. Today, the Haras is home to some forty stallions and specializes in the Cob Normand and Selle Français breeds. Classified as a historic monument since 1993, the site unfortunately suffered a fire in 2019 that damaged part of its facilities (in the south-west wing: stables 3 and 4 as well as the riding station). Fortunately, all the horses present were rescued and escaped unharmed. Despite this, the Haras remains a must-visit site in the Manche region, offering free tours every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as guided tours on summer afternoons from Wednesday to Sunday.We also offer a wide range of equestrian events throughout the year (horse shows, art exhibitions, children’s activities such as pony christenings…). For further information, please visit the Pôle Hippique de Saint-Lô website and the Saint-Lô Tourist and Cultural Office website.