Live in Versailles. A new hotel from the king of premium interiors Christoph Tollemer

/ Design /

Today, the Airelles Chateau de Versailles Hotel opens in the Palace of Versailles the first hotel on the territory of the complex included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Association of European Royal Residences.

Some people dream of living in a real royal palace. Do not ask about the origins of this desire, but it is there - and many have it. Well, hoteliers Airelles (LOV GROUP), a French chain that owns several hotels for particularly demanding customers in Courchevel, Saint-Tropez, Val d'Isère, Gordy, have offered a solution for those who want to feel like a member of the royal family. Airelles Chateau de Versailles became the first hotel located on the territory of Versailles.

Hotel Airelles Chateau de Versailles is adjacent to the south wing of the Palace of Versailles. Image source: airelles.com

The complex of buildings du Grand Contrôle was built in 1681. Image source: airelles.com

Initially, Versailles, the famous palace and park ensemble created by the architects Louis Levault, Jules Ardouin-Mansard and the brilliant gardener André Lenotre, even before it became the official residence of Louis XIV, had the status of a country royal house. The three-building complex Le Grand Contrôle, located in the entrance area of ​​the palace, was built in 1681 by Jules Ardouin-Mansard for Paul de Beauvilliers, duc de Saint-Aignan, and was bought during the Sun King era to house the Ministry of Finance.

In the middle of the 2004th century, the building was handed over to the army, until XNUMX it housed an officers' canteen, and by then it had fallen into serious disrepair. The French government decided to turn the former dining room into an expensive hotel and gave the complex a concession to LOV GROUP. Architect and designer Christoph Tollemer, who specializes in creating premium class objects, was commissioned to develop the project. His task was to create a "time capsule", conveying the spirit of the era of the Bourbon dynasty.

Du Grand Contrôle needed repair and restoration. Image source: airelles.com

Sketch by Christophe Tollemer for the Airelles Chateau de Versailles project. Image source: christophe-tollemer.com

Sketch by Christophe Tollemer for the Airelles Chateau de Versailles project. Image source: christophe-tollemer.com

For four years, Christophe Tollemer studied the archives of Versailles, the personal stylistic preferences of Louis XVI and the interiors of the Petit-Trianon

The hotel rooms were furnished with antique furniture, decorated with works of art and artifacts of the 35th century. The wooden carved panels were also made according to the sketches of that era, and the textile supplier was the Maison Pierre Frey factory and the Royal Manufacture in Aubusson. All modern gadgets and equipment were carefully camouflaged, which also required considerable skill. Reconstruction of the building and interior design cost a round sum exceeding XNUMX million euros.

The hotel rooms were furnished with antique furniture, decorated with works of art and artifacts of the XNUMXth century. Image source: airelles.com

The windows of the hotel offer a view of the gardens of Versailles. Image source: airelles.com

All details convey the spirit of the era of the Bourbon dynasty. Image source: airelles.com

So the new Airelles Chateau de Versailles, or as some guidebooks call it, Le Grand Controle, has 14 rooms, Alain Ducasse's signature restaurant, a wellness center and an indoor pool. And yet, royal interiors, haute cuisine and spa treatments are not the main advantages of the new hotel. The main thing is that hotel guests get the opportunity to explore Versailles during off-hours without the noisy tourists, and also have access to locations that are usually closed. And the possibility of private tours of the greenhouse and French gardens.

Hotel guests will be able to walk around the territory of Versailles in a time free from tourists. Image source: airelles.com

Exclusive impressions are the main feature of the hotel. Given the rich context, €1300 per night doesn't seem like too much of a price.