Airelles Château de Versailles: A Taste of Royalty

Now you can get a taste of what it was like to live like French royalty.

The first hotel located on the grounds of Château de Versailles — Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle — just opened its gilded doors to guests. This remarkable establishment offers accommodation in a building designed by Louis XIV’s chosen architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, in 1681. Visitors can enjoy views of the famed Orangerie, the Pièce d’Eau des Suisses, and the palace itself.

The 14-room property has been beautifully restored by architect and interior designer Christophe Tollemer, influenced by the Sun King’s style and the Petit Trianon palace, particularly how it was styled in 1788 after Marie Antoinette’s renovations.

The individually decorated rooms and suites are all named after prominent figures associated with Versailles. Each room features 17th- and 18th-century decor, furnishings, and impressive artifacts, including a letter from Madame de Staël to Louis, Comte de Narbonne-Lara.

Guests will receive exclusive access to Versailles’ notable sites, including daily private tours of areas rarely opened to the public. This encompasses morning visits to the Trianon and Le Hameau de la Reine (The Queen’s Hamlet), as well as evening tours of the château featuring stops at the King and Queen’s State Apartments and Hall of Mirrors. Additionally, there is unlimited access to the Orangerie throughout their stay.

Exclusive Dining Experience

Dinner at the hotel’s Ducasse au Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle offers a uniquely immersive dining experience. The evening begins with a bell ringing at 8:30 p.m., and the staff, dressed in period costumes, serve a five-course meal presented on gold, silver, or vermeil dome-covered dishes. Inspired by royal banquets, the meals are crafted by 20-time Michelin-star chef Alain Ducasse. Sundays feature a royal buffet brunch, a recreation of the historical Le Grand Couvert, where the king and queen dined publicly, alongside a Marie Antoinette-themed afternoon tea.

Located on-site is the Valmont spa. It boasts a checkerboard floor reminiscent of the palace’s courtyard, alongside an almost 50-foot-long pool, a hamman, and a sauna. Guests can indulge in a variety of treatments, including a 90-minute facial custom-designed for the property.

Guillaume Fonquernie, CEO of Airelles, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are excited to open the doors to Le Grand Contrôle, a project that started as an ambitious vision in 2016 and is now ready to welcome our beloved guests. I am extremely proud of the team’s hard work and the incredible attention to detail that has gone into creating this unique property.”

All this grandeur, however, comes with a grand price tag, starting at $2,077. This rate includes a dedicated butler, afternoon tea, daily tours of the Château de Versailles and Trianon, and exclusive access to the palace grounds, including boat and golf cart usage.

Moreover, if guests seek further indulgence, they can opt for other unique experiences for an additional cost. These include a private concert on the palace stage, a behind-the-scenes horticulturalists’ tour of the gardens, and a Marie Antoinette-themed day, featuring opportunities to try on period attire and dine in her beloved French Pavilion.