The Palace of Versailles has long been a must-see for any Parisian itinerary. Now, the former home of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI has become a quintessential French luxury accommodation destination, with the opulent residence opening its first-ever hotel. Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle sits on the grounds of Versailles and spans 14 elegant rooms fit for royalty.
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Housed in Le Grand Contrôle, a palace building initially built in 1681 that played host to illustrious guests – think artists, diplomats, and ambassadors – during the Age of Enlightenment, the new hotel features a pool, restaurant, and a spa.
Each interior space was reimagined by interior designer and architect Christophe Tollemer, who derived inspiration from Marie Antoinette’s estate Petit Trianon and Louis XVI’s signature style. Furnished with recreated period furniture, artwork, fabrics, and chandeliers, each of the 14 rooms takes on its own unique style and is named after notable figures with close ties to Versailles, like Jules Hardouin-Mansart, a French architect who designed the Grand Trianon, and Baron de Staël Holstein, a Swedish diplomat who was the ambassador of France during the French Revolution.
In addition to the epitome of luxury, there is the option for add-ons, notable ones being after-hours access to the Hall of Mirrors, a Marie Antoinette-themed costume fitting, and a private performance at the Royal Opera.
“We’re thrilled to be finally opening the doors to Le Grand Contrôle, a project which started out as an ambitious vision in 2016,” Guillaume Fonquernie, CEO of Airelles, said of the launch. “This launch represents an exciting new chapter for Airelles at a very poignant time for the hospitality industry as a whole, as we begin to slowly recover from the pandemic and look forward to brighter times ahead.”
Words by Theo Rosen
