Photos: Tilly Berendt, PSV Jean Morel
With more than 10 million visitors passing through its gilded gates each year, the Château de Versailles is one of the most visited – and impressive – tourist attractions in the world. But on this sunny summer morning, I’m away from the masses in the Hall of Mirrors. At the rear of the huge estate, I’m standing on a patch of grass that’s seemingly notable only for its relative solitude – but this is a special spot. Here, at the tail of the Grand Canal, looking back towards the colossal palace, is the site where work is about to begin on the arena for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Why Versailles?