The castle of Versailles, the Trianons, the Queen's Hamlet. To be seen also the magnificent gardens by Le Nôtre and the fountains.
Sumptuous decoration and paintings in Versailles by Charles Le Brun,ceilings painted by Lemoyne and De La Fosse in the royal chapel.
Versailles for sale :
The “Hôtel du Grand Contrôle” turned into a luxury hotel
1- A beautiful house named “ Hôtel du Grand Contrôle”, located 12 rue de l’Indépendance in Versailles has been sold to a private operator “ Ivy International”. This Belgian holding will soon turn this historical house into a 23-bedroom hotel. During the 18th century this house was considered as part of Versailles with its view over l’orangerie and la pièce d’eau des suisses .Today we consider this building independent of Versailles.
A little bit of history.
This house formely named “Hôtel de Beauvillier” was probably built in 1684, by Jules Hardouin Mansart. The first owner was the Duke of Beauvillier, Colbert’s son in-law, and one of the king’s advisors. His wedding with Henriette-Louise Colbert, assured him an excellent position close to the king, Louis XIV.
Around 1720, during the regency of the Duke of Orléans, this house became the property of Madame Chaumont. She made money out of speculation, financing the first private bank, created by John Law, a British banker, in 1716.
In 1714, John Law was asked by the regent, to cover a huge 2 million pounds deficit.
Law’s attempt to restore the finances of the kingdom was successful at first, but soon the Prince of Conti, and the Duke of Bourbon asked for their gold back, creating a panic among the shareholders. Riots took place in Paris, weakening the Regent’s position.
What a tragic irony, the man who was supposed to restore the kingdom finances, became responsible of the first financial chaos.
The Hôtel de Beauvillier was on sale again.
The young king, Louis XV, acquired the property in 1720, and changed its name into the “Hôtel du Grand Contrôle”. Since then, famous ministers of finance like Necker, lived there.
By a strange irony of fate, Necker was the minister of finance in 1788, a year before the beginning of the French revolution. His popularity was tremendous among common people, the man was known for his wise management and his social justice. On the 11th of July 1789, he is dismissed by King Louis XVI , and it will blaze out the French revolution three days later.
Is history repeating itself ?
I wouldn’t dare to link the history of the past to what’s happening now. However that may be, the house was sold to a Belgian holding, and even if I don’t approve of the government decision to get rid of our patrimony, I wish the best to my Belgian friends.
