La Maréchalerie

There was a time when the corridors of La Maréchalerie rang with the strikes of the blacksmith’s hammer; nowadays, they echo art lovers' footsteps. The venue, located behind the Petite Écurie section of the Palace of Versailles, is now home to an contemporary arts centre. Affiliated with the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles, an architecture school located opposite, the centre unsurprisingly blends the artistic and the architectural. Restored in 2004, this imposing brick building boasts several unique features – its strikingly high ceilings being one of its more obvious idiosyncrasies. Students from the École are a common sight in La Maréchalerie’s rooms, but the venue also offers educational programmes aimed at novices.