We tested the fabulous tea time at Les Airelles Château de Versailles - Le Grand Contrôle

Have you always dreamed of living the life of a château? Then why not spend an afternoon in the Salon Rouge at Les Airelles Château de Versailles - Le Grand Contrôle , enjoying a timeless moment and savoring Marie-Antoinette's delights?

As soon as we arrive, we're welcomed like honored guests. The staff, dressed in period costume, transport us back to the days of the monarchy. At Les Airelles Château de Versailles, no detail is left to chance. And it's not "Monsieur Dominique", the hotel's ambassador, who will tell you otherwise. The history of this historic building, which once belonged to Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the architect of the Dôme des Invalides who became King Louis XVI's Superintendent of Buildings, is explained in detail. Hardouin-Mansart was also responsible for completing the Château de Versailles, the Galerie des Glaces and the Grand Trianon.

Monsieur Dominique, in between anecdotes, tells us that this hotel, adjoining theOrangerie du Château, with just 14 incredible rooms, has been restored in the style of the Grand Siècle. All the hotel's furnishings are period pieces. Among a few historical reproductions, real works of art and authentic paintings adorn the walls, the wooden floors echo those of the Château, and Pierre Frey fabrics beautifully adorn the walls. The result is remarkably coherent, far from any artifice or artificially-created universe, this hotel shines by its harmony imbued with authenticity. There are no false notes, just a leap back in time.

So it's in the Salon d'Audience, comfortably seated in a cosy banquette facing the large, luminous bay windows overlooking the large terrace, that we settle down to savor this exceptional tea time. The Salon Rouge, richly decorated with gilding, thick curtains and 18th-century furniture, is the ideal setting for an afternoon tea that pays homage to the tastes of Marie-Antoinette. There's a fine selection of hot beverages, including refined teas, but above all delicious chocolate from the Alain Ducasse factory, delicately scented with orange blossom, just as Marie-Antoinette liked it, if you like.

Tea time is served in several courses, starting with the savory part. Brioche bread with avocado and orange segments, blinis with horseradish cream and smoked salmon with citrus condiment, sucrine with olive condiment - buckwheat seeds and quail egg - and a small croque of veal pastrami await us, and we're in for a treat.

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It's a fine way to start the day, before the generous sweet score arrives in style. We discover a pistachio bouchée with almond paste and a flowing chocolate-praline heart, coated in pistachio cream. The tartlet of the moment is a citrus meringue tart with lemon caviar. A second mango-coconut tartelette also awaits us, accompanied by an incredible vanilla Savoy cake. We finish with a sublime cocoa puff pastry brioche, the heart of which conceals a chocolate ganache from the Alain Ducasse factory, of course, and the milk chocolate in-shell madeleines with a praline-hazelnut chocolate heart.

Incredibly well-crafted and expertly dosed with sugar, these sweets, created and imagined by pastry chef Aymeric Pinard and Alain Ducasse, are truly delicious. It's a real Editor's favorite that we warmly recommend for an enchanted interlude. This tea time is served every day from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., so make sure you book ahead!

Tea time at Le Grand Contrôle is the perfect opportunity to sample courtly specialties while soaking up the royal ambience of Versailles. In summer, a superb terrace overlooks theOrangerie gardenat the Château de Versailles. And if you're lucky enough to stay at the hotel, exclusive guided tours of the Château de Versailles and Trianon await you outside opening hours. Stroll through the almost deserted Hall of Mirrors, or take part in the Grand Bal Costumé in a VIP area. Last but not least, the venue also conceals a Michelin-starred restaurant, orchestrated by Alain Ducasse. For a candlelit dinner in a grand siècle atmosphere, this is an experience that's sure to leave a lasting impression.

So, who's ready for the castle life?