Cavalry School

Before you stands one of Saumur’s most iconic landmarks: the Cavalry School. Its story begins in 1763, under King Louis XV, when the Duke of Choiseul decided to reorganize the French cavalry by creating several training centers. One of them, meant for the prestigious royal mounted soldiers, was first set up in Angers. But the local bishop, wary of these spirited young soldiers—who, he thought, showed a little too much interest in his parishioners—quickly sent them away to Saumur. What began as a reprimand turned out to be a stroke of luck: almost by accident, the small town on the Loire became the birthplace of French cavalry. From that moment on, Saumur would forever be linked to the horse and the art of mastering it. Under Napoleon’s Empire and throughout the 19th century, the school gained international prestige and became the world’s benchmark for military horsemanship. It was here that the legendary Cadre Noir was born, heir to the classical riding traditions of Versailles. Originally, “the cadre” referred to the group of instructors responsible for training the officer cadets. Their dark blue uniforms, appearing almost black under the indoor lights, earned them the name that still endures today. The Cadre Noir continues to uphold the finest traditions of French equitation—an art based on lightness, harmony, and mutual respect between horse and rider. As early as the 19th century, its riders performed dazzling dressage displays admired across Europe. This heritage of precision and elegance, passed down through generations, is now recognized by UNESCO as part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. But Saumur’s renown also stems from courage. In June 1940, as France was collapsing, the cadets of the Cavalry School—barely trained, yet fiercely determined—chose to make a stand against the advancing German army. From June 18 to 20, under Colonel Michon’s command, seven hundred and ninety cadets held their positions along the Loire against forty thousand enemy soldiers. Their losses were great, but their bravery was unforgettable. These young men, ever since known as the Cadets of Saumur, are remembered as the first resistance fighters of the Second World War. Today, the Cavalry School remains a leading training center for officers and non-commissioned officers of the armored forces. The horse has given way to the tank, but the same values endure—discipline, composure, and grace. Just a short walk from here, the Cadre Noir continues to embody the French equestrian tradition, faithful to the timeless motto of its most distinguished master, General L’Hotte: Calm, forward, straight.