Hôtel de Lille

GUILLAUME BRESSON IN VERSAILLES – MOVEMENT IMMORTALIZED

Categories : In the neighborhood, Gastronomy, Event, published on : 3/11/25

In Versailles, time seems to stand still. Where Horace Vernet’s frescoes glorify 19th-century battles and every wall of the château tells an epic tale, a new tension emerges. A contemporary tension, raw movement, as if frozen in a breathless moment. Guillaume Bresson takes over the Salles d’Afrique, and his art reinterprets the very notion of the instant.

A dialogue between the ephemeral and the eternal

In the spirit of Caravaggio, Bresson elevates chiaroscuro—not with saints and biblical figures, but with familiar faces, urban silhouettes, and bodies in confrontation. Light sculpts gestures, gazes, and tensions in a scene that could unfold here and now.

Within the walls of Versailles, this contemporary painting resonates with history. A choreography between past and present, where each canvas seems to challenge the solemnity of the surroundings.

An experience to extend within the château’s setting

After the exhibition, a walk through Le Nôtre’s gardens becomes a counterpoint to the intensity of the artwork. The perfect order, the illusion of symmetry, the meticulous harmony—a striking contrast with the controlled brutality of Bresson’s paintings.

At Hôtel de Lille Saint-Germain-des-Prés, we are committed to showcasing the major artistic events that bring Paris and its surroundings to life.

Then, a lunch or tea in the château at Ore Pavillon Dufour, facing the Cour d’Honneur, where the impact of the artworks seen just moments earlier still resonates.

Château de Versailles – Salles d’Afrique

January 21 – May 25, 2025
Exhibition included in the Château ticket or the Versailles Passport
More information on the official Château de Versailles 

 

Springtime Recommendations from Hôtel de Lille - Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Restaurants & Fine Dining

  • Restaurant Guy Savoy - La Monnaie de Paris (11 quai de Conti, 6th arrondissement) – A gastronomic experience in a historic setting overlooking the Seine.

  • Localino (10 rue de l’Odéon, 6th arrondissement) – The new chic and understated trattoria on Rue de l’Odéon, offering delicious pasta and creative homemade daily specials.

  • Arpège (84 rue de Varenne, 7th arrondissement) – Alain Passard’s iconic restaurant, where seasonal vegetables are elevated into unforgettable gastronomic creations.

 

Cafés & Sweet Delights

  • Café Varenne (36 rue de Varenne, 7th arrondissement) – A Germanopratin institution, perfect for a morning coffee on the terrace.
  • Maison Mulot (76 rue de Seine, 6th arrondissement) For its magical raspberry charlotte, black magic, and all its delicious seasonal creations.
  • Coutume Café (47 rue de Babylone, 7th arrondissement) – A specialty coffee haven, best enjoyed at the counter or while strolling along the Seine.

 

Neighborhood Walks

  • The newly renovated Seine quays – A walk between the Musée d’Orsay and Pont Alexandre III, perfect for watching the city wake up.
  • Jardin Catherine-Labouré (29 rue de Babylone, 7th arrondissement) – A hidden green oasis, where jasmine and antique roses scent the air.
  • Raspail Market (Boulevard Raspail, 6th arrondissement – Sunday mornings) – A must-visit to discover the flavors of spring.

 

Colombe de la Taille