Confined in the middle of a 650 hectare park, emptied overnight of its 8 million annual visitors. Between cedars of Lebanon and Ginkgo biloba , not far from the Petit Trianon and its Queen's vegetable patch. "There is worse," recognizes Alain Baraton, the chief gardener of the Palace of Versailles. A big guy, earthy and charismatic. A mouth, with a theatrical voice, which could have made a career in cinema, in Audiard's films. An outstanding storyteller - columnist on France 5 and France Inter - who has a gift for captivating and involving his audience in his world. Multiplying anecdotes and historical references. Unbeatable on the origin of such and such plants. Knowing Versailles in every corner and even better the genealogy of its centuries-old trees.
Read also: Coronavirus: the Palace of Versailles lost 13% of visitors
During confinement, the "Mr. Jardin "de Versailles never considered for a second to stay barricaded in his office, or even in his official accommodation upstairs. For eight weeks he was on
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