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Exhibitions

Treasure of the Holy Sepulchre

Treasure of the Holy Sepulchre

Gifts from European royal courts to Jerusalem.

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The palace of Versailles in Arras

Versailles in Arras

Roulez carrosses ! in the musée des Beaux-Arts d'Arras

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Madame Elisabeth

Madame Elisabeth

Exhibition at the Estate of Madame Elisabeth

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Forthcoming exhibitions

Forthcoming exhibitions

Discover the forthcoming exhibitions of the palace of Versailles

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Penone Versailles

Penone Versailles

Exhibition of contemporary art

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The Extraordinary Within the Ordinary

Extraordinary Within Ordinary

Photography exhibition by Ahae at the Orangerie Hall

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Shows

Shows at the palace of Versailles

Shows at Versailles

Discover all the musical programme

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Equestrian Show Academy

Equestrian Show Academy

A centre for equestrian shows and training, directed by Bartabas

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The Centre de musique baroque de Versailles

Centre de musique baroque

Missions and program for the musical season 2012 - 2013

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Versailles Festival

Versailles Festival

Concerts, operas, masked ball, royal carrousel and contemporary art : discover the programme.

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Other events

The publications

The publications

Catalogue of the publications of the palace of Versailles

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Versailles in comic strip form

Versailles in comic strip form

A co-edition palace of Versailles/Glénat

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Trains evoking the palace of Versailles

Trains evoking Versailles

Trains evoking the palace of Versailles

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Opening of the Palace History Gallery of Versailles

Palace History Gallery

Opening of the Palace History Gallery of Versailles

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A year to celebrate Le Nôtre

A year to celebrate Le Nôtre

In 2013, the Palace of Versailles is paying tribute to André Le Nôtre, the creator of the gardens.

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Lire au jardin 2013

Lire au jardin 2013

Reading in the Garden

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Versailles the other visit

Versailles the other visit

A web-documentary about the unknown objects of Versailles.

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The Water Theatre grove

The Water Theatre grove

A contemporary garden for the Water Theatre grove

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Colloquiums

The acquisitions of the Palace

The acquisitions of the Palace

The last acquisitions of the palace of Versailles

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Archaeology in Versailles

Archaeology in Versailles

20 years of archaeological excavations in Versailles

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Symposiums, conferences and workshops

Symposiums and workshops

The scientific activities of the Centre de recherche du château de Versailles

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Restoration and refurnishing

Restoration and refurnishing

Find out about restoration and refurnishing work under way at the palace of Versailles

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The Belvedere and its Rock restored

Restoration of the Belvedere

Restoration of the Belvedere and the Rock in the Estate of Marie-Antoinette.

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The restoration of the Mercury Salon

Mercury salon

Official opening of the restored and refurnished Mercury Salon

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Restoration of the Latona Fountain

Latona Fountain

Restoration of the Latona Fountain

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The apartments of Mesdames

The apartments of Mesdames

Re-opening of the the newly restored and refurnished apartments of Mesdames

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The Belvedere and its Rock restored

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The main phases of the restoration

The Belvedere featured a series of deteriorations and alterations that made it indispensable and urgent, over a century after the previous repairs in the years 1893-1895, to undertake a general restoration programme involving all its exteriors and interiors.

The restoration of the exteriors of the Belvedere principally involved the cut stone walls after the building was completely faced with scaffolding.

The balustrade of the building was in a state of very advanced deterioration, particular the rear side, and there were serious problems concerning the stability of the balusters. To restore it, all the old balusters had to be removed and almost all of them replaced. The work on the balustrade was accompanied by the total repair of the lead roof.

The façades were cleaned, with some localized repairs to the stonework and the joints, as well as fine re-rigging and the harmonisation of the patinas.



All the flights of steps
were likewise restored, with the replacement of slabs showing areas of considerable erosion and the application of water-repellent.

The work on the sculptures concerned the high and low reliefs of the façades as well as the figures of the sphinxes which showed considerable surface deterioration. After a cleaning process using compresses and a biocide treatment, the stonework was reinforced.

The restoration of the interiors of the Belvedere involved firstly the painted decorations on the walls, ceiling and wood panelling in the light of the different alterations that could be identified after prior investigations.

The restoration of the paintings was done in several stages according to the their nature and condition and involved a delicate operation of integration and harmonisation.

The woodwork of the casements was repaired on all the doors and windows. The restoration of the iron and gilt bronze window catches completed these operations.

The polychrome marble floor of the Belvedere was given a complete cleaning to remove all stains. A final treatment involved re-smoothing and waxing.

The restoration of the Rock, built from large stone blocks, after a painstaking examination and diagnosis of its damaged parts, required work on its:

- masonry and cut stone: consolidation and replacement of blocks of stone, with repairs to the joints and the application of harmonisation patinas. To hide the lead piping it was recessed into the walls;

- water supply and fountains: the water features of the Rock were recreated, based on the original design, to produce water pouring in small cascades from several cavities. The water supply for these water features was totally restored by installing new lead pipes and adjustment valves;



- the green spaces and walks: plants offer good ground cover (periwinkle, ground ivy) as well as ferns and rose bushes were planted around the Belvedere and the Rock. The walks around them were also restored.