2023-08-23 18:17:28
The Palace of Versailles and its gardens will be a spectacular setting to host the equestrian events during the Paris Games. But the challenge is daunting and the work important to draw the route of the cross-country course, build a stand for 16,000 people for the dressage and show jumping events and install a pool for swimming, on the sidelines modern pentathlon. To those who fear seeing the gardens disfigured, Louis-Samuel Berger, number 3 of the establishment, replies that the site will on the contrary be improved after the departure of the athletes.
Preserving the heritage of the Palace of Versailles will be a major challenge for the Olympic Games. What guarantees have you obtained from the Organizing Committee?
LOUIS-SAMUEL BERGER. We have established, with all the actors involved, a series of principles: all the developments will be either ephemeral or reversible. And everything will have to be restored to its original state after the Games. We work there with the DRAC (Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs), architects of the Buildings of France. Without forgetting the gardeners, who are the heirs of skills dating from the 17th century and the best connoisseurs of our fauna and flora.
Louis-Samuel Berger is the deputy general administrator of the castle. LP/Julie Menard
How are you preparing for site remediation?
We make topographical surveys, in order to find after the tests the initial relief of the domain. Then, the restoration will last several months.
Will the Palace of Versailles website change?
It will even be improved. What we see today is not what Louis XIV saw! We will therefore take advantage of this restoration to find the historical topography of the royal star. It’s an exceptional chance, we obviously wouldn’t have done it if the Games hadn’t been organized here. The park will be even more beautiful than before! It will know a new youth, in addition to having been seen by four billion viewers…
What is the progress of the work?
The work is expected to be completed in the spring. We will then do a new test-event, this time around the competition area (in the center of the royal star). Everything should be ready.
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