The GALAXIES beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron is dedicated to inelastic X‐ray scattering (IXS) and photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) in the 2.3–12 keV hard X‐ray range. These two techniques offer powerful complementary methods of characterization of materials with bulk sensitivity, chemical and orbital selectivity, resonant enhancement and high resolving power. After a description of the beamline components and endstations, the beamline capabilities are demonstrated through a selection of recent works both in the solid and gas phases and using either IXS or HAXPES approaches. Prospects for studies on liquids are discussed.