Tourists can now stay on the grounds of France's famed Palace of Versailles for the first time, thanks to the opening of a new luxury hotel.
Made up of 14 rooms and suites, the luxurious Le Grand Controle has opened, offering guests the chance to spend the night within one of the world’s most opulent addresses, and experience luxury fit for royalty.
The hotel is situated within three historic buildings dating back to 1681, which have been restored by architect and interior designer Christophe Tollemer, offering stunning views over the palace’s famous Orangerie.
Built by Louis XIV's preferred architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the garden features orange, lemon, oleander, palm and pomegranate trees.
The hotel is named after one of the three buildings it occupies, the Grand Controle building, also built by Mansart, along with Le Petit Controle and the Pavillon.
Guests can also take in the Piece d'Eau des Suisses, a 13-hectare ornamental pool excavated by Swiss Guards between 1679 and 1682.
The palace was built by King Louis XIV, who during the 17th century famously had his former hunting lodge transformed into a sprawling 63,154-square-metre estate, made up of 700 rooms.
Given the luxurious nature of the grounds within which it sits, stays at Le Grand Controle do not come cheap. An overnight stay starts at €1,700 ($2,100) a night.
The hotel is the sixth property for luxury hotel brand Airelles, and features a Louis XIV-inspired menu at its on-site restaurant, helmed by famed chef Alain Ducasse, as well as a Valmont spa, complete with a 15-metre indoor swimming pool.
Each of Le Grand Controle's rooms and suites is individually decorated and named after someone once connected with the property, including Louis XVI's director-general of finances, statesman Jacques Necker and his daughter, novelist Madame de Stael.
Guests will have a dedicated butler, and be shuttled around the grounds via golf buggy or boat, and have access to previously unseen quarters of the property where royals lived and stayed.
Guests will also have a chance to enjoy a number of exclusive experiences, such as after-hours access to the Hall of Mirrors, avoiding the usually packed crowds, as well as taking a stroll through Le Hameau de la Reine (the Queen's Hamlet), a private retreat where Marie Antoinette would walk and host her closest friends.
The hotel was due to open in 2020, but was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Chateau de Versailles reopened to the public earlier this year, with all visitors required to book a mandatory time slot for entry.
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Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
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The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
