The Palace of Versailles in Paris was evacuated temporarily on Tuesday afternoon due to plumes of smoke seen during renovation work on the roof near the Marble Court. Although there was no fire, the smoke was coming from a “hot zone” in the wood of the roofing. Local firefighters quickly extinguished the smoke, and there were no injuries or damage reported to the building or heritage collections. The Palace, a popular tourist attraction with 8 million annual visitors, had visitors evacuated as a precaution, but they were allowed back in shortly after.
The incident at Versailles brought back memories of the devastating fire at Notre Dame cathedral in 2019, which caused the spire to collapse. The restoration of Notre Dame is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the smoke at Versailles.
The Palace of Versailles holds great historical significance and is a symbol of France’s rich cultural heritage. The quick response from firefighters and the lack of serious damage is a relief for both authorities and tourists visiting the iconic site. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures during renovation work on historical buildings.
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