The royal residence had not undergone such a shutdown since 1939, with the Second World War. Eighty years later, a pandemic of global magnitude interrupted the life of the Palace of Versailles. After 11 weeks of inactivity, the domain will finally reopen its doors on June 6, with some new features and a modified reception of visitors.
We made life happen again
Catherine Pégard, president of the public establishment of the castle, the museum and the national domain of VersaillesClosed for almost three months, the Palace of Versailles took the opportunity to get a makeover. Catherine Pégard, president of the public establishment of the castle, the museum and the national domain of Versailles, explains that the confinement was an opportunity to renovate the roof of the royal chapel, to wind up the pendulum, but also to dust off the Gallery Ice cream ... for the first time since its restoration in 2007. "In strict compliance with sanitary rules, we have made sure that life can resume when the time comes," she said in an interview with Point .
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In addition to its refurbishment, visitors will be able to discover new rooms, including the queen's apartment and the king's office, which will soon complete its renovation. It will also be possible to walk again in the gardens of the castle, the park and the Trianon estate, and this at the usual opening hours. Other places will remain closed for some time, however, specifies Catherine Pégard, such as the Coach Museum and the Galleries Louis XIV or Empire.
Wearing a mandatory mask
While the house welcomes 8 million people each year, the visitors to this deconfinement will be much fewer ... and will be able to take the opportunity to discover the castle from a new angle. "I am sure that the discoveries of the Hall of Mirrors where, in fact, we will welcome very few visitors, in 800 square meters, will be quite extraordinary," promises the president of the public establishment.
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To visit the interior and exterior of the royal building, it will now be necessary to go through a ticket office with hourly reservations, in order to "regulate the flow", it was announced in a press release. Regarding barrier gestures, the wearing of a mask is compulsory from the age of 11, and everyone must wash their hands with hydroalcoholic gel upon entry. A traffic direction has also been established, to prevent visitors from crossing paths. As for the gardens, Catherine Pégard calls on the "prudence" and the "reason" of the visitors so that "they disperse in the alleys which conceal so many secrets" .
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As with many cultural establishments forced to close during confinement, the reopening will allow the estate to regain its financial equilibrium. The castle was indeed weakened during this period, since as the president of the public establishment points out, usually 80% of visitors are foreigners.
Several events had to be postponed in 2021 but the musical season and the 250 years of the creation of the Royal Opera could not be saved. The exhibition devoted to Hyacinthe Rigaud, portrait painter of the king, was able to be maintained from November 17, 2020 to March 14, 2021. "A disaster" , estimates Catherine Pégard, who wishes more than anything that "these places live again" .