Welcome to Versailles
As the President of the French risk management association AMRAE, Gilbert Canameras is delighted to welcome
members to one of France’s most celebrated sites, Versailles. The name
Versailles is associated with the glittering royal palace and its Hall of
Mirrors; many visitors do not realise that the city with its lovely avenues
lined with magnificent plane trees was designed at the same time as a sumptuous
setting for the palace.
Louis XIV, known as
the Sun King, took what had been a modest royal hunting large, enlarged it for
pleasure and had the grounds transformed. He settled there with his entire
court in 1682, and this large, new population inevitably required a substantial
infrastructure. Despite this royal grandeur, the municipality created in 1787
succeeded in preserving Versailles’ heritage from destruction during the
Revolution and after.
Today the city
remains an oasis. It boasts 167m2 of green space per inhabitant thanks to the
grounds of the palace, the squares of the town and extensive forests outside
the city. Yet it is only 12km from Paris and is easy to reach thanks to three
auto routes and five ways to get the train from the capital.
This is France, so
stunning visual pleasures combine with those designed for the inner risk
manager. The city has more than 60 restaurants, including several with Michelin
stars.
The court of the
Sun King at Versailles was known as La Cour des Senteurs or Court of Scents
because of its extensive use of perfumes. To mark this history, the Mayor has
decided to create a new Cour des Senteurs which will be located near the Palais
des Congrès where FERMA will hold the seminar. Dedicated to fragrances and rare
essences, the Cour des Senteurs is due to open early next year.
