The Bal du Siècle, an iconic evening at the Château de Versailles

Join us on 11 December at the Château de Versailles for the first edition of the Bal du Siècle. It’s a journey back in time, from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th, where participants in costume or evening wear can dance the night away in the Galerie des Batailles and enjoy a number of activities.

 

It was sure to be a memorable evening. On 30 June 1923, the Château de Versailles organised the Fête Merveilleuse, an exceptional night to celebrate the completion of its restoration. 100 years after this event, the historic building is doing it again. The grand ball, scheduled to last three hours, will take place on 11 December in the Galerie des Batailles. The atmosphere of the evening will focus on the period between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, from the Vienna waltzes to the Roaring Twenties.

 

The Bal du Siècle from Offenbach to Mistinguett

 

The aim of the evening is clear: to leave a lasting impression. Guests will first be invited to the Galerie des Glaces where, after passing through the Grands Appartements du Roi, dancers from the Ballet Malandain will give a dance performance. On the way to the Queen’s Apartments, actors will offer participants a number of activities, including tarot divination, card games and a lesson in posture. Then it will be the turn of the Royal Opera Orchestra to present a musical programme in one of the sumptuous rooms of the Château.

 

 

From the “tempête” to the Charleston, via the “gigue américaine”, the “fantaisies”, the “Pol Jones”, the “danses animières”, the waltz, the tango and the foxtrot, various dances will be explained.

After these festive and artistic moments, guests will be able to enjoy a fireworks display from the Galerie des Glaces. What could be more iconic…

 

 

But the evening doesn’t stop there, because after midnight it’s time to party ! The Galerie des Batailles will be hosting an after-party to the rhythm of contemporary music.

As this is a prestigious night, a dress code must be respected. Men will have to wear dinner jackets and dress shoes, while women will be dressed in ball gowns or evening wear. To further immerse you in the atmosphere of yesteryear, period costumes are accepted, including silhouettes from the 1850s and the Roaring Twenties. But masks are not on the agenda.

Three ranges of tickets, with three different prices (Sapphire, Ruby and Diamond) are already available on the Château de Versailles website. The Diamond ticket, the most expensive, differs from the Saphir in that it offers unlimited access to the buffet and the champagne bar, seating at tables, a free dramatised tour of the Attiques du Midi and champagne during the after-party.

 

 

Other upcoming festive events

 

On 27 May 2024, as the fine weather approaches, the Château de Versailles will be hosting another fancy dress evening. Called Fêtes Galantes, the event will take place in the Hall of Mirrors, with performances and dance classes, concerts and visits to the private flats of the King, Mesdames and Madame Du Barry. It’s a chance to travel back in time and experience, for a few hours, the splendour of the Sun King’s Court.

In a few days’ time, on 1 and 2 December, the Lille Opera will also be presenting its grand ball to celebrate its 100th anniversary. This more modern evening will feature swing music from the beginning of the last century, as well as voguing, Balkan and Mediterranean music with an electro flavour, and a DJ set to set the dance floor alight all night long.

 

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Featured Photo: © Château de Versailles