Sleeping  like a king

 

Chambord

  After Versaille and Fontainebleau Castles, Chambord, François Premier’s Castle, is going engage a renovation by next year.

Part of it consists in renovating an outbuilding of the domain, la Maison des Refractaires, and another forest house, to open a high standard hotel de charme. Both of them are expected to offer 20 rooms to the visitors willing to enjoy the King life.

Fontainebleau

Internationally famous, the city wants to keep improving its image and fame. 730 000 people visit the castle each year, and 2million enjoy the park. It’s been years since people have claimed for an opportunity to stay in a hotel de charme within the royal property.

 

Cultural hospitality is more and more developed, Fontainebleau and Versaille  took the first step, and Chambord followed them.

Versaille

In Versaille, the Hotel du Grand Controle, which welcomed ministers for finance at the time of Louis XVI, will be transformed into a23 rooms luxury hotel. Fontainebleau just make a call for tender for one of its buildings.

 

This idea triggered off many reactions, some citizens being afraid that the state abandoned their heritage.

To me, it is an innovative idea to renovate buildings that are lagged behind, due to the lack of budget to renovate and exploit them. Not for any easy these building must be lost. As far as the buildings are renovated according to the rules of the listed buildings, without damaging the spirit of the place, transform them into luxury hotels de charme perpetuates the tradition of these Castles. They were built to welcome the splendor of the courts, why not continuing the tradition? I definitly believe that France enjoys many jewels, unfortunatly unexploited, that the government cannot afford renovating. If welcoming people who came to visit wonderful historical sites can save them, let's do it !

 

Hospitality keeps pushing the limits, proposing more and more innovating alternatives to classic hotels. France and especially these 3 Castles offer pioneer ideas. In the end of 2013, Versaille, Fontainebleau and Chambord will provide their visitors with the opportunity to experience the King’s life….