Airelles debuts seventh property with Spa by Valmont at Versailles

Luxury hospitality group Airelles has opened Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle, the first hotel to open within the grounds of the historic French landmark.

The group’s seventh property, which comprises Le Grand Contrôle hotel and The Spa by Valmont, is housed within a building constructed by Louis XIV’s favourite architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, in 1681.

Meticulously restored by architect and interior designer Christophe Tollemer, the hotel will offer 14 bedrooms and suites including a 120sqm signature suite, while The Spa by Valmont, also designed by Tollemer, offers exclusive access to the Château.

With hand-painted fresco and Carrara marble checkerboard floor, inspired by the Palace’s marble courtyard, the spa’s menu features restorative treatments from Swiss skincare experts Valmont alongside Maison Caulieres for the body, Manucurist for nails and Nougatine for children.

Gharieni supplied the treatment beds with textiles from RKF Luxury Linen while Idoine Piscines and Spa provided the 15m indoor swimming pool as well as the hammam, sauna and steamroom. Technogym have equipped the fitness space.

The hotel affords views over the Orangerie, the Pièce d’Eau des Suisses and the Château itself, while guests can also explore the 2,000-acre gardens, palace halls and apartments of Versailles.

Tollemer says he drew direct inspiration for the project from the neighbouring Petit Trianon Palace and Louis XVI’s personal style, focusing on 1788 as a benchmark, the date when Marie Antoinette redecorated Petit Trianon as well as that of Le Grand Contrôle’s last inventory.