Luxury Hotel in Palace of Versailles
That’s right, the Palace of Versailles is renovating one of its satellite buildings to serve as a luxury hotel aimed to exploit the economic potential of listed buildings.
Specifically, the 18,000 square feet Hotel du Grand Controle, one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions, will be transformed into a 23-bedroom establishment.
The history of the building is quite intriguing, originally built in the 1680s by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. It was home to the French court from 1682 and further expanded into a monument under the rule of Louis XIV. It remained the official seat of power until the French Revolution in 1789.
A dispensation of $7.3 million has been granted to the Belgian company Ivy International SA, led by architect Frederic Didier. An annual fee will be paid to Versailles to the lease the building.
—Emily Schuit
