[imagesource: Renée Kemps]

If bidding on the ‘Welsh Versailles’ didn’t tickle your fancy because –

a) you’d prefer to live out your royal existence in France, or

b) it was just too expensive and didn’t come with a cohort of staff to fix things up.

– then set your sights on a stay at the new hotel opening up at the real Palace of Versailles.

That’s right, now anybody can experience what life was like in the time of the Age of Enlightenment and the court of the Kingdom of France at the Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors would flock to Versailles just to spend the day, but now a sleepover is possible at the first-ever hotel on the property.

The palace has undergone a palatial spring clean for the grand hotel opening, which was essential since it has been standing for 387 years.

Le Grand Contrôle consists of three historic buildings, each dating back to 1681, long before the likes of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette called the place home.

Thrillist has more:

The hotel features 14 rooms and suites, and one signature suite.

Designed by architect Christophe Tollemer, the interior was inspired by the opulence of the infamous Marie Antoinette.

Guests will be able to enjoy dinner made by Michelin-starred French chef Alain Ducasse, do some serious R&R at the on-site spa, or take a dip in the indoor swimming pool.

Guests will have access to the Château de Versailles and its surrounding grounds during their stay, too, including areas usually closed to visitors.

The hotel is an absolute mood:

Here’s more about the steps necessary to prepare for the grand opening:

Alright, so the cost.

As you can expect, it is not a price for the faint-hearted.

Bear in mind, though, that the cost includes a personal butler, private tours of the palace and its grounds, as well as an optional after-hours tour of the famous Hall of Mirrors.

The price is $2 000 per night – that’s around R27 300 – excluding flights and visa costs, of course.

Some things just have to remain a dream.

[source:thrillist]