DIOR RESTORES A PART OF VERSAILLES

Dior has sponsored an intensive and delicate three-yearlong restoration of the Maison de la Reine at the Château de Versailles in Paris, a rustic retreat framed by glorious English-inspired gardens that was built for Marie-Antoinette. Here she sought refuge from the pressures and rigidity of court life. Since 1848, the Maison de la Reine was closed to the public due to the fragile state of the buildings. Now, thanks to Dior, plenty of French expertise and incredible human skills, for the first time in two centuries, visitors can soak up the beauty of the Maison de la Reine, nestled in a hamlet built by Richard Mique for Marie-Antoinette, between 1783 and 1787. The contrast between the picturesque, rustic exteriors and the awe-inspiring luxurious interior offers a striking surprise element. In this unique setting, the troubled French Queen would spend time with her friends in a more rural, natural and laid-back atmosphere compared to the strictness of the Versailles reality.