Longchamp Racecourse

Longchamp Racecourse

Longchamp Racecourse is located in the Bois de Boulogne on the outskirts of Paris, France. It is a horse racing venue covering an area of 57 hectares. Situated along the banks of the Seine River, it primarily hosts flat horse races and is renowned for its intricate track layout and challenging hills that test even the finest horses. With its beautiful natural surroundings and thrilling competitions, it has always attracted large numbers of visitors, regardless of whether races are taking place.

Longchamp Racecourse features a variety of tracks with different lengths ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 meters and various starting points. Over half of France’s horse racing events are held here, among which the most famous is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe takes place on the first Sunday of October each year at Longchamp Racecourse. The race is run over a distance of 2,400 meters on turf and is a Group 1 international event, with a total prize purse of 4 million euros. Horses aged three or older, both colts (with geldings not allowed) and fillies, are eligible to compete. It is currently the highest-paying turf race in the world.

The first horse races held at Longchamp took place on Sunday, April 27, 1857, attracting a large audience. Napoleon III and his wife once traveled down the Seine River on a private yacht to watch the third Longchamp race. Up until 1930, many Parisians came to watch the races by steamboat and other means of transportation, and numerous members of the French royal family and aristocracy also attended. Many well-known artists created paintings themed around the horse racing activities at Longchamp, with notable examples including Édouard Manet’s “Race at Longchamp” in 1867 and Edgar Degas’ “Race at Longchamp” in 1871.

Longchamp Racecourse

Must-visit reason: One of France’s most renowned racecourses

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/region where the attraction is located: France[France]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Île-de-France Region [Ile-de-France Region]

City where the attraction is located: Paris [Paris]