Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle
Built by Louis XIV’s favorite architect around the same time as Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle served as a home for the minister of finance and the French National Army before it was reborn in 2021 as Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle — the first and only hotel to grace the grounds of the Château de Versailles. After nearly four years of renovations and more than $50 million, the hotel, an extension of the south wing of the palace, looks almost identical as it did back in the times of the court — with the addition of hand-painted gold leaf, of course.
Drawing on the last inventory records before the French Revolution, Airelles Château de Versailles scoured auction houses and antique shops to recover and restore nearly 90 percent of the 18th-century furniture displayed throughout the hotel. Château de Versailles gifted fireplaces, and the stone flooring hails from the same mine as the palace. The 11 rooms and two signature suites are outfitted with Marie Antoinette-inspired canopy beds, Pierre Frey wallpaper and curtains mimicking the patterns found in the Petit Trianon, and period Versailles parquet floor.
With a private entrance to the château’s 2,000-acre gardens, sweeping views of l’Orangerie, and personal butlers handling your every need, your stay will feel more decadent than if you slept in the palace itself.
- The “king’s wake-up call” is a modern re-creation of the morning ritual once held by the royals at Versailles. A much more luxurious version of a classic wake-up call, your butler will arrive with classical music playing from a small speaker and a glass of orange-juice-infused almond milk (a play on Marie-Antoinette’s favorite drink), which you can leisurely sip while the curtains are opened and a bath is prepared with fresh flower petals.
- Each evening, the costumed maître d’hôtel helms the royal feast, a contemporary play on a king’s banquet from the time of Louis XIV that’s been reinterpreted in the chandelier-lit Alain Ducasse restaurant. Seasonal dishes inspired by the ones the kings favored in the 18th century are served on porcelain plates from Ducasse’s private collection and wine pairings are poured into fine Cartier and Baccarat crystal coupes and glasses that match the regal theme.
- Experiences include playing dress-up and having a photo shoot with costumes worn in the filming of the television series Versailles or a Marie Antoinette day following in the former queen’s footsteps through the château grounds and gardens.
- As the only hotel on the palace grounds, Airelles Château de Versailles provides the most convenient and opulent base.
- You won’t have to deal with hordes of tourists at Château de Versailles. Your stay includes exclusive before- (explore the Domaine de Trianon) and after-hours palace tours (highlights include the Hall of Mirrors), where you will be the only ones on the grounds.
- The Roman-bath-inspired pool inside the subterranean Valmont Spa is lined with Carrara marble checkerboard (a nod to the flooring found in the château’s courtyard). It is limited to six people at a time, meaning it never gets too crowded. Sessions are capped at 45 minutes (and must be reserved), but the pool can be opened on request outside operating hours.
- The royal treatment extends to pets and children, with three-course dog menus featuring options like beef tartare and Comté cheese and the Airelles Royal Camp, which transforms Versailles into a playground for kids. Butlers can curate an itinerary of activities for children that include everything from treasure hunts to pony rides in the château’s gardens.
- Set off and tour the gardens and palace in one of the hotel’s electric golf carts, which feature a geolocation system and audio guide.
- Minibars (excluding alcohol), afternoon tea and an Alain Ducasse-designed breakfast (complete with salted caramel pain perdu) are included in your stay.
- While the rooms have modern touches like Marshall speakers, iPads replace traditional televisions.
24-hour room service 
Babysitting services
Bar
Gym
Indoor pool
Pet friendly
Restaurants
Spa
