An angry wedding chauffeur took his rage out on the ornate gates of the historic Chateau de Versailles after he was told he could not drive the bride and groom in for some scenic photographs.

"/> An angry wedding chauffeur took his rage out on the ornate gates of the historic Chateau de Versailles after he was told he could not drive the bride and groom in for some scenic photographs.

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VERSAILLES

Wedding crasher at Versailles Palace

An angry wedding chauffeur took his rage out on the ornate gates of the historic Chateau de Versailles after he was told he could not drive the bride and groom in for some scenic photographs.

Published: 5 June 2012 09:00 CEST
Wedding crasher at Versailles Palace
Sarah Ackerman

Regional newspaper Midi Libre reported that security guards told the newly married couple they could not enter the grounds for the photographs on Saturday evening.

An argument broke out between the couple’s chauffeur and the guards.

Things escalated when the chauffeur jumped back in the Porsche he was driving and drove it into the gates.

Another fight followed that and punches were thrown.

The chauffeur and three other vehicles then made a quick getaway from the scene.

Damage to the gates has been estimated at 20,000 euros ($25,000). It is not known how much damage was done to the Porsche.

Police caught up with the 23-year-old shortly afterwards in Saint-Cyr-L’Ecole, a nearby suburb. He will appear before magistrates.

The Chateau de Versailles was once the centre of political power in France. It lies 20 kilometres to the west of Paris and was the home of the French royal family from 1682 until the revolution in 1879.

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VERSAILLES

Versailles Palace to finally receive delivery… 400 years after losing its marble

A misplaced block of red marble ordered by France's former royal residence in the 17th century has been found in a quarry on the other side of the country, more than 400 years later. And it's finally on it's way to the customer.

Published: 20 February 2019 15:26 CET
Versailles Palace to finally receive delivery... 400 years after losing its marble
Photos: AFP

The next time you order something online and it gets lost in the post, spare a though for the royal architect who in 17th century France ordered a block of red marble, only to never receive it during his lifetime.

A few weeks ago in the southern department of Aude, a full 782 kilometres from the Palace of Versailles, a team of diggers working at a quarry finally stumbled upon the mislaid delivery.

After a thorough cleanup, initial expert investigations were able to conclude that this was indeed the lost regal block.

“The marble was commissioned for a set of 12 columns that were to be part of a chapel,” Kharid Massoud, president of the marble-promoting association Marbres en Minervois, told Le Parisien.

“The project was eventually abandoned.”

Photo: Joe de Sousa/Flickr

Despite that fact, and a delay that clearly deserves a place in the record books, the delivery to the majestic royal palace will resume as soon as possible.

However, the logistics team behind the move have decided that transportation of the marble block should adhere to the standards and practices of the 1600s.

That means taking it by horse and chariot to the famous Canal du Midi, then by raft along the canal through the cities and towns of Carcassonne, Castelnaudary, Toulouse and Bordeaux.

From there it will be transported up to Rouen in Normandy and finally down the Seine river to Paris and then Versailles.

Fortunately, there shouldn’t be anyone at the palace eagerly waiting to get their hands on the block of marble, as the estimated time of arrival in Versailles is four to five years.

Better late than never, we suppose.  

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