La Lanterne (Versailles)
Coordinates: 48°48′14.6″N 2°5′32″E / 48.804056°N 2.09222°E La Lanterne is a hunting lodge in Versailles. It serves as the official retreat of the President of France.
Location
It is located next to the Palace of Versailles, in the city of Versailles.[1][2][3][4] It is four hectares wide, bordered by a tall wall and poplars, and it is forbidden to fly over the property.[1][2] It takes 30 minutes by car to get there from the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the President of France.[1][3]
History
It was built in 1787 for Philippe Louis de Noailles (1752-1819).[1][2][4]
From 1959 to 2007, it was the secondary residence of the Prime Minister of France.[1][2] Michel Rocard, who served as Prime Minister of France from 1988 to 1991, commissioned a swimming-pool and a tennis court.[1] Édouard Balladur, PM from 1993 to 1995, buried his dog in the garden.[1] Lionel Jospin, PM from 1997 to 2002, and his wife Sylviane Agacinski spent most weekends there.[1] Dominique de Villepin, PM from 2005 to 2007, liked its extensive wine cellar.[2] Since 2007, under President Nicolas Sarkozy, it was also used by the French President.[1] His wedding dinner to Carla Bruni took place there.[2]
Bibliography
- Patrice Machuret, Un long dimanche à Versailles : la République à la Lanterne (Seuil, 2010).
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jim Jarrassé, Bertrand Riotord, François Hollande succombe aux charmes de la Lanterne, Le Figaro, 02/08/2013
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mathilde Lemaire, Hollande garde les clés de la résidence de la Lanterne, France Info, July 30, 2013
- 1 2 Didier Micoine, Hollande souffle à la Lanterne, Le Parisien, 05.08.2013
- 1 2 Pourquoi Hollande préfère la Lanterne à Brégançon, Le Journal du Dimanche, August 12, 2013