Cultural sponsorship
The Château de Versailles
The hall of mirrors
From 2003 to 2007, VINCI managed the largest cultural sponsorship operation ever carried out by a French company – an investment of €12 million – to restore the Hall of Mirrors at the Château de Versailles. It was the first comprehensive restoration of the Hall of Mirrors, a showcase of 17th century French know-how and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In addition to its exceptional financial support, VINCI was also involved in the restoration work under a skills-based sponsorship arrangement. We contributed our project management expertise by supervising the work and harnessed the know-how of our specialist companies: restoration of marble panelling and bronzes, installation of site facilities, masonry, electricity and lighting were all provided by VINCI subsidiaries. Despite the scope of the project, the Hall of Mirrors remained open to visitors at all times thanks to a scenographic installation concealing the scaffolding on which the restorers worked. To give people a better idea of what the restoration entailed, the different stages and the challenges it involved, we organised visits throughout the project and developed numerous educational initiatives for young people. We also associated all our employees and their families, as well as members of the Shareholders' Club, with this operation by giving them a free pass to the Château de Versailles for the duration of the project.
The fully restored Hall of Mirrors was officially reopened on 25 June 2007 by Christine
Albanel, French Minister for Culture and Communication. Overall, this project demonstrated that by clearly defining the assignments and prerogatives of both
parties, corporate sponsorship can develop into a genuine partnership for the benefit of the community and promote new ways for the public and private sectors to work together.
The visitors centre
Repeating the unique collaboration implemented to restore the Hall of Mirrors, in 2008 VINCI again used its know-how to build the visitors centre at the Château de Versailles in barely three months – a financial investment of almost €2 million for VINCI.
This new centre is only a temporary structure - it will be used for three years pending redevelopment of the visitor space, scheduled for completion in 2011 – but is nevertheless a singular and ambitious piece of architecture. It is the first time since the 19th century (when the Dufour pavilion was built) that a contemporary structure has been erected at the Château de Versailles.
From 2003 to 2007, VINCI managed the largest cultural sponsorship operation ever carried out by a French company – an investment of €12 million – to restore the Hall of Mirrors at the Château de Versailles. It was the first comprehensive restoration of the Hall of Mirrors, a showcase of 17th century French know-how and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In addition to its exceptional financial support, VINCI was also involved in the restoration work under a skills-based sponsorship arrangement. We contributed our project management expertise by supervising the work and harnessed the know-how of our specialist companies: restoration of marble panelling and bronzes, installation of site facilities, masonry, electricity and lighting were all provided by VINCI subsidiaries. Despite the scope of the project, the Hall of Mirrors remained open to visitors at all times thanks to a scenographic installation concealing the scaffolding on which the restorers worked. To give people a better idea of what the restoration entailed, the different stages and the challenges it involved, we organised visits throughout the project and developed numerous educational initiatives for young people. We also associated all our employees and their families, as well as members of the Shareholders' Club, with this operation by giving them a free pass to the Château de Versailles for the duration of the project.
The fully restored Hall of Mirrors was officially reopened on 25 June 2007 by Christine
Albanel, French Minister for Culture and Communication. Overall, this project demonstrated that by clearly defining the assignments and prerogatives of both
parties, corporate sponsorship can develop into a genuine partnership for the benefit of the community and promote new ways for the public and private sectors to work together.
The visitors centre
Repeating the unique collaboration implemented to restore the Hall of Mirrors, in 2008 VINCI again used its know-how to build the visitors centre at the Château de Versailles in barely three months – a financial investment of almost €2 million for VINCI.
This new centre is only a temporary structure - it will be used for three years pending redevelopment of the visitor space, scheduled for completion in 2011 – but is nevertheless a singular and ambitious piece of architecture. It is the first time since the 19th century (when the Dufour pavilion was built) that a contemporary structure has been erected at the Château de Versailles.