The Palace of Versailles is still held up as the ultimate royal palace so no doubt the planned five star hotel at Versailles will be touted as the ultimate luxury hotel in Paris.
Situated 24 km (15 miles) southwest of Paris, this vast royal chateau with over 700 magnificent rooms was the center of the extravagant French court from 1682 until 1789, when a riotous protest of the people against such indulgence brought it all to a swift end during the French Revolution.
Plans are now underway to renovate and restore a mansion within the Versailles complex and open it as a very special five star luxury hotel. The building was constructed in 1680 to house the offices, family and staff of the king’s treasurer, so no expense was spared in the original detail.
Travelers with a passion for history will get the chance to stay within this treasured monument, which will open as a luxury boutique hotel with just 23 bedrooms. If it maintains the standards of the palace, it will certainly be a magnificent temple of opulence, fit for a king.
This Hotel de l’Orangerie is planned to open in January 2012, so watch this space. Those looking for a unique travel experience will be keen to book their place in history and stroll the famous gardens of Versailles right outside their bedroom window.
by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels
The Palace of Versailles outside Paris is to transform one of its satellite buildings into a luxury hotel.
L’hôtel du Grand Contrôle, the traditional home of the chateau’s treasurers, is to be converted into a luxury hotel with 23 bedrooms. Some will look out over The Orangerie, the palace’s elaborate greenhouse, and others will have a view of the Swiss ornamental lake. The hotel could be ready as early as the end of next year.
A concession has been granted to the Belgian company Ivy International SA to renovate and develop the building, which dates back to the 17th century but is currently in a dilapidated state. The work is expected to cost 5.5 million euros (£4.6 million/$7.3 million).
Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage site deemed one of the crowning achievements of 18th-century French art, is one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions.
The development paves the way for a series of French projects aimed at exploiting the economic potential of listed buildings while securing their renovation.
Another royal palace, the Chateau of Fontainbleau, south of Paris, is preparing to appeal for bids to develop its listed Heronniere barracks next year. “We have to find a purpose for these buildings to avoid them falling into ruin,” said Jean-Francois Hebert, President of Fontainbleau. “One of the ways will be to set up an upmarket hotel complex.”
by Andy Moreton/AFP
Luxique offers you a choice of accommodation at some 70 luxury hotels in Paris,including the Trianon Palace in Versailles.
A new exhibition which opened last week at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris celebrates the life of Louis XIV, the Sun King.
The exhibition explores the paintings, sculptures, furniture and jewellery that helped France’s most famous and flamboyant monarch shape his all-powerful image. Some of the 300 pieces have not been seen publicly since the French Revolution in 1789.
Born in 1638, Louis ascended to the throne at the age of four and reigned for 72 years until his death in 1715.
It was Louis who decided to turn his father’s hunting lodge at Versailles into the dazzling centre of his universe, moving his court, government and military command there. The exhibition includes a 17th century painting of the reconstruction of Versailles, which has been loaned by Queen Elizabeth II.
Perhaps the most surprising portrait of Louis is a profile made from a wax mask of his face, dating from around 1705. He’s seen toothless and frail at the age of about 66.
Louis XIV, the Man and the King runs until February 7. Details are on the Versailles website.
by Andy Moreton
Versailles is about 12 miles south-west of the centre of Paris and a visit there is a pleasant way to spend a day while staying in the city. Luxique can offer the pick of the luxury hotels in Paris, as well as the elegant and newly refurbished Trianon Palace, which nestles in woodland less than a mile from the Palace of Versailles.
An important milestone has been reached in the restoration of Louis XIV’s fabulous Palace of Versailles, just outside Paris.
The royal gate, torn down more than two hundred years ago during the French Revolution, is once again gracing the entrance. Private donors contributed £4 million ($8 million) to rebuild the 30ft golden gate and craftsmen were drafted in to ensure it was an exact copy of the original built in the 1680s.
The 15-ton replica, which took two years to complete, has 100,000 gold leaves crafted into the shapes of fleur de lys, crowns, masks of Apollo, cornucopias and the crossed capital letter Ls, the symbol of Louis XIV, known as the Sun King. The gate will be inaugurated on Tuesday (July 8th).
Versailles, one of the most visited tourist sites in France, has been undergoing renovation since 2003 when a 17-year project was announced to restore it to its full former glory. A new visitors’ centre is being built to improve tourist access to the ornate palace and royal gardens with their famous fountains. Details at www.chateauversailles.fr/en/
Luxique offers you accommodation at some 70 luxury hotels in Paris, including the Trianon Palace in Versailles.
by Andy Moreton
