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"As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powderblue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant."
— The Beauxbatons carriages[src]

The Beauxbatons Carriage[3] (French: Le carrosse de Beauxbâtons)[4] was a light-blue carriage pulled by a dozen Abraxans used to transport the staff and students of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.[2] Despite being used as transportation by Beauxbatons, travelling in an Abraxan horse-drawn giant carriage was a breach of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.[5]

Description[]

The carriage was a gigantic powder blue horse-drawn carriage that was the size of a large house.[2]

History[]

Beauxbatons owned at least one other carriage, as Aurélie Dumont, speaking to Jacob's sibling in the 1985–1986 school year, mentioned that she came in one of the Beauxbatons carriages.[6]

Abraxans

The Beauxbatons Carriage arriving at Hogwarts

When Beauxbatons competed in the 1994 Triwizard Tournament, the students and their Headmistress Olympe Maxime travelled to Hogwarts in the carriage and back to Beauxbatons once the Tournament had finished. It also appeared to serve as their living quarters for the duration of the Tournament.[2]

UK Signature Edition 04 GOF back

The Beauxbatons carriage

Due to Barty Crouch Snr's, one of the tournament's judges, disappearance was near the carriage's area, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge suspected Madame Maxime to be the culprit, though Albus Dumbledore believed this accusation was due to his personal prejudice since she was a Half-giant.[7]

When Madame Maxime attended Albus Dumbledore's funeral in 1997, she travelled to Hogwarts in the carriage.[8]

Behind the scenes[]

  • The version of the Beauxbatons carriage used in the films was life-size. "A grand carriage was rented from Paris and decorated in detail with cherubs, garlands, and painted panels copied from artist François Boucher."[9]
  • Although the Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test gives the impression that travelling in this manner is in violation of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, it is likely that an exception is made for Beauxbatons if neither the carriage or the winged horses flying it is visible to Muggles.
  • The interior of the carriage is likely magically expanded, possibly via the use of an Extension Charm, as it was able to host Madame Maxime and the dozen or so students hoping to be the school champion quite comfortably.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

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