XAVIER PRESTIGE TOUR, PARIS
1. Versailles for saleThe “Hôtel du Grand Contrôle” turned into a luxury hotel |
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The economic point of viewSo, my main concern is to know if it’s the right thing to do, I mean, selling part by part, our patrimony to private operators. To be perfectly clear, what the French government is doing now, is to get rid of our national treasures, and renounce to what belongs to each citizen of this nation. Incidentally, this project and many upcoming others should have been submitted to a vote, before being accepted. And it never happened! When I heard the news that the Hotel du Grand Contrôle would be turned into a 23-bedroom hotel, I was shocked, because I quickly learned that it was the “beginning” of a series of similar projects. The Castle of Fontainebleau and its military complex named “les Héronnières”, and the “Hôtel de la Marine”, on Place de la Concorde are the next targeted places. Normally, 20 sites should be concerned. Is this type of financial operation viable for France?First, I would say yes,
So, why should we worry?On the other hand, there is no limit to such policy, as long as private companies think a project is viable. What’s coming next? Could we turn a gothic cathedral into a night club, because the cost of maintenance is too high? If we consider the economic angle, the government tells us that money is needed to cover the deficits. But, a time will come when our patrimony will be lost forever. Is it really worth the price? A certified public accountant, Jean Roux, reports that the massive privatization led by the government since 1987, made us lose money. Buildings and companies were sold half the price. He adds: “The government doesn’t know how to run such operations. “ Between 2010 and 2013, the state should sell 1700 public properties. In reality, by the end of 2009, only 400 sites were sold on a total of 770. The bids were too low. Since 2005, those sales, have brought back 430 million euro. It was 3 billion euro in reality, but only 15% were affected to the repayment of the debt. Compared to our astronomic deficit of 200 billion euro, those sales represent nothing, a drop in the ocean. Each hour, our debt costs 20 million euro. So, each day, it’s 480 million euro. To conclude, we sell our patrimony to pay the deficit of one day. It’s clearly a short term vision, leading us to a deadlock. 2. Versailles for saleThe “Hôtel du Grand Contrôle” turned into a luxury hotelA beautiful house named “Hôtel du Grand Contrôle”, located 12 rue de l’Indépendance in Versailles has been sold to a private operator “ Ivy International”. This Belgian holding will soon turn this historical house into a 23-bedroom hotel. During the 18th century this house was considered as part of Versailles with its view over l’orangerie and la pièce d’eau des suisses. Today we consider this building independent of Versailles. A little bit of historyThis house formely named “Hôtel de Beauvillier” was probably built in 1684, by Jules Hardouin Mansart. The first owner was the Duke of Beauvillier, Colbert’s son in-law, and one of the king’s advisors. His wedding with Henriette-Louise Colbert, assured him an excellent position close to the king, Louis XIV. Around 1720, during the regency of the Duke of Orléans, this house became the property of Madame Chaumont. She made money out of speculation, financing the first private bank, created by John Law, a British banker, in 1716. In 1714, John Law was asked by the regent, to cover a huge 2 million pounds deficit. Law’s attempt to restore the finances of the kingdom was successful at first, but soon the Prince of Conti, and the Duke of Bourbon asked for their gold back, creating a panic among the shareholders. Riots took place in Paris, weakening the Regent’s position. What a tragic irony, the man who was supposed to restore the kingdom finances, became responsible of the first financial chaos. The Hôtel de Beauvillier was on sale again. The young king, Louis XV, acquired the property in 1720, and changed its name into the “Hôtel du Grand Contrôle”. Since then, famous ministers of finance like Necker, lived there. By a strange irony of fate, Necker was the minister of finance in 1788, a year before the beginning of the French revolution. His popularity was tremendous among common people, the man was known for his wise management and his social justice. On the 11th of July 1789, he is dismissed by King Louis XVI , and it will blaze out the French revolution three days later. Is history repeating itself?I wouldn’t dare to link the history of the past to what’s happening now. However that may be, the house was sold to a Belgian holding, and even if I don’t approve of the government decision to get rid of our patrimony, I wish the best to my Belgian friends. |
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The photos are used with Xavier Prestige Tours permission |
