It’s time! First look at every fence on Paris Olympic cross-country course in Versailles

The Paris Olympics cross-country course for the Olympic eventing competition has been designed by Pierre Le Goupil, in the beautiful parkland of Versailles.

The optimum time is 9min 2sec and the track consists of 28 numbered obstacles, which are all beautifully decorated and themed. Check out photos of all the fences below…

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Paris Olympics cross-country course fence by fence

The fences reference some of the beautiful furniture and features of the Palace of Versailles. The lead builder is Christian Ashcard of EQUIBOIS and Chrisine Houdayer painted the fences.

Fence 1: The Olympic Crown – La Couronne Olympique

Fence 2: The Builders’ Oxer – L’Oxer des Bátisseurs

Fence 3: The Peacocks’ Shelter – L’Abri des Paons

Fence 4: The Courtship of the Peacock – La Parade du Paons

Fence 5abc: The Ménagerie Pond – Le Bassin de la Ménagerie

Direct route fence 5a

Direct route fence 5b

Fence 5c

Alternative route fence 5bc – this involves looping back on yourself after jumping in over 5a

Alternative route fence 5a

Alternative route fence 5bc

Riders who jump either the double (alternative 5abc) into the water or the skinny in the water (alternative 5bc) then have to track right and ride up an unnumbered ramp out of the water, before skirting round the pond to fence 6ab. It may be possible to ride through the dressing plants and make a sharp right-hand turn to the direct 6ab after taking this alternative 5abc.

Fence 6ab: The Ménagerie Fountain – La Fontaine de la Ménagerie

Direct route fence 6ab

Long route fence 6a

Long route fence 6b

Fence 7ab: The Ulysees’ Companions – Les Compagnons d’Ulysse

Fence 7a

Direct route fence 7b

Long route fence 7b

Fence 8: The Reading Corner – Le Salon de Lecture

Fence 9: The Pastoral Enclosure – L’Enclos Pastoral

Fence 10abc: The Vauban Citadel – La Citadelle Vauban

Direct route fence 10a

Direct route fence 10a close up

Alternative route fence 10a

This second water complex offers riders multiple options at the b and c elements. The three fences in the foreground of this picture are all 10b, while the two obstacles in the background are both 10c. Because the numbering here is simple, riders can mix and match in numerous different ways.

The quickest route is likely to be taking this arrowhead as 10b, then a curving line to the left…

…to the corner on the right side of this 10c.

Alternative options for fence 10b

Alternative fence 10c

Fence 11: The Science Laboratory – Le Laboratoir des Sciences

Fence 12: The Enlightenment Bookcase – La Bibliothèque des Lumières

Fence 13ab: The Sailors’ Workshop – Le Chantier des Matelots

Fence 13a

Fence 13b

Fence 14: The Impressionists’ Guingette – La Guingette des Impresssionist

The first of two pontoon crossings comes after fence 14

Fence 15: The Tiny Ditch – Le Petit Fosse

An open ditch on rising ground

Fence 16abcd: The Viewpoint over the Grand Canal – Le Belvédère du Grand Canal

Fence 16 offers a right-hand and left-hand route, with no option to mix and match between routes. The right-hand route is the inside line so would probably be considered the direct route.

Right-hand route fence 16a

Right-hand route fence 16bc

Right-hand route fence 16d

Left-hand route fence 16a

Left-hand route fence 16b

Left-hand route fence 16cd

Finally, this arrowhead is labelled 16bcd and is accessed by looping round to the right – this can be used as an escape route by those who have already had a run-out in the complex.

Fence 17ab: The “à la Française” Garden – Le Jardin à la Française

Fence 17a

Fence 17b

Fence 18: The Stag – Le Cerf

Fences 19 and 20: The Estovers Log Piles – Les Affouges

Fence 19

Fence 20

Fence 21: The Whimsical Woods – Les Caprices de la Forêt

Direct route fence 21ab

Looking over fence 21ab to fence 21c, on this direct route

Direct route fence 21c

Riders cannot mix and match between the direct and long routes at 21abc

Long route fence 21a

Long route fence 21bc

Fence 21d – this is used on all routes

Fence 22: The Traditional French Equestrian School – L’Equitation de Tradi

Fence 23abcd: The Etoile Royale Waters – Les Eaux de l’Etoile

Fence 23a

Direct route fence 23bc

Direct route fence 23d

Alternative fence 23d – this corner is behind the fastest option for 23d but can still be taken after the direct route at 23abc

Long route 23b

Long route fence 23cd

Fence 24: The Hundred Steps Staircase – L’Escalier des Cent Marches

Fences 25 and 26: The Cornelian Dilemma – Le Choix Cornélien

Direct route fence 25 – this will be jumped at an angle to give a fairly straight line to fence 26

Long route fence 25

Direct route fence 26

Long route 26b

Fence 27: Los Angeles 2028

This fence is themed for the next Olympics in Los Angeles

Fence 28: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity – Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité

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Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.