Home

The Public Establishment

Our missions

Since 1995, the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles have, collectively, been a public establishment of an administrative nature, with administrative and financial autonomy. It is under the supervision of the French Ministry of Culture and Ministry of the Budget.

The Establishment comprises the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon, the historic Estate of Marly, the gardens and park, the Royal Tennis Court, Gallery of Coaches and Gallery of Sculptures and Mouldings. It is headed up by Catherine Pégard, the President of the Public Establishment.

The annual consolidated budget of the Public Establishment is around €100 million. Operating expenses are covered from the Establishment’s own resources, notably the revenue it earns from ticket sales and its commercial activities. Investment spending is financed in part by an annual State grant, with the remainder covered by the Establishment’s own self-financing efforts. All profits are reinvested in the running and upkeep of the Palace and its estate.

Château de Versailles Shows, which stages operatic events and the fountains shows, is a subsidiary of the Establishment.

In addition, the Establishment is a founder member of the Palace of Versailles Research Centre, which is now a Public Interest Group.

Annual reports and eco-responsible public services annual review

Annual reports

Eco-responsible public services annual review

In addition to the annual report, the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles publishes an annual review of its performance in relation to the 20 practical measures set by the State to be implemented by eco-responsible public services:

Decisions of the Executive Board

Management and signing authorities

President of the Public Establishment
Catherine Pégard

Director of the National Museum
Laurent Salomé

Executive Officer of the Public Establishment
Thierry Gausseron

Public Establishment Decision no. 2019-6 with delegated power of signature

Public Establishment Decision no. 2018-2 with delegated power of signature

Public Establishment Decision no. 2017-3 with delegated power of signature

Public Establishment Decision no. 2017-1 with delegated power of signature

Public Establishment Decision no. 2015-3 with delegated power of signature

Public Establishment Decision no. 2012-1 with delegated power of signature

Organisational chart

Consult the organisational chart of the Establishment

Executive Board

Articles 11 and 14 of the Decree of 11 November 2010 relative to the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles stipulate the composition of the Executive Board.

As at 30 June 2020, the Executive Board comprised the following members:

Voting members

  • Catherine PÉGARD, President of the Public Establishment
  • Luc ALLAIRE, Secretary-General of the French Ministry of Culture
  • Jean-François HÉBERT, Director-General of Heritage and Architecture, French Ministry of Culture
  • Anne-Solène ROLLAND, Assistant to the Director-General of Heritage and Architecture, Head of the Museums Service of France, French Ministry of Culture
  • Romain PAGÈS, representing the Director of Budgets, French Ministry of the Economy and Finance
  • Jean-Jacques BROT, Prefect of the department of Yvelines
  • Antoine POUILLIEUTE, State Councillor
  • Rémi FRENTZ, Chief Advisor to the French Court of Auditors
  • Lan YAN, Qualified Person, Head of Greater China Investment Banking, Lazard
  • Gérald HARLIN, Qualified Person, Deputy Director-General of the AXA Group
  • Marie-Cécile ZINSOU, Qualified Person, President and Founder of the Zinsou Foundation
  • Bernard RAMANANTSOA, Qualified Person, former Director-General of HEC Paris
  • Simon PIÉCHAUD, General Curator of Heritage, member of the Heritage Inspectorate (College of Historical Monuments)
  • Frédéric LACAILLE, Chief Curator of Heritage at the National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon
  • Virginie SOYER, CGT-Culture trade union
  • Laurence PICOULEAU, SUD-Culture Solidaires trade union
  • Mélissa HASPER, SNSC-UNSA trade union
  • François de MAZIÈRES, Mayor of Versailles

Members serving in an advisory capacity

  • Laurent SALOMÉ, Director of the National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon
  • Thierry GAUSSERON, Executive Officer of the Public Establishment
  • Eric le CLERCQ de LANNOY, Ministerial Budgets and Accounts Controller, French Ministry of Culture
  • Jean-Noël PINEAU, Accounting Officer of the Public Establishment
  • Thierry ORTMANS, President of the Friends of Versailles

Acquisitions Committee

Article 5 of the Decree of 11 November 2010 relative to the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles provides for an acquisitions committee:

As at 11 January 2019, the Acquisitions Committee comprised the following members:

  • Laurent SALOMÉ, President of the Acquisitions Committee, Director of the National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon
  • Sophie JUGIE, General Curator of Heritage, Director of the Department of Medieval, Renaissance and Modern Sculpture, Louvre Museum
  • Christiane NAFFAH-BAYLE, Honorary General Curator of Heritage
  • Adeline COLLANGE-PERUGI, Curator, Nantes Museum of Art
  • Maryvonne PINAULT, Collector, Donor, Member of the Arts Council of National Museums
  • Gwenola FIRMIN, Chief Curator of Heritage, National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon
  • Elisabeth MAISONNIER, Curator of Heritage, National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon
  • Xavier BRAY, Director, The Wallace Collection, London 

At major department director level:

  • Jannic DURAND, General Curator of Heritage, Director of the Department of Objets d’Art, Louvre Museum

At national museum director level:

  • Vincent DROGUET, General Curator of Heritage, Director of Heritage and Collections, National Museum of the Palace of Fontainebleau

From the associations sector:

  • Jean GUÉGUINOU, Diplomat, Member of the Executive Board of the Friends of Versailles

Scientific Committee

Article 20 of the Decree of 11 November 2010 relative to the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles stipulates the creation of a scientific committee within the Public Establishment.

As at 1 July 2017, the Scientific Committee comprised the following members:

  • Laurent SALOMÉ, President of the Scientific Committee, Director of the National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon
  • Denis VERDIER-MAGNEAU, Cultural Development Director of the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles
  • Alexandre MARAL, General Curator, Deputy Director of the Palace of Versailles Research Centre
  • Elisabeth CAUDE, General Curator, National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon
  • Béatrice SARRAZIN, General Curator, National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon
  • Yves CARLIER, General Curator, National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon
  • Jean-Pierre BABELON, Qualified Person, former Director-General of the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles, Member of the Institute
  • Hans OTTOMEYER, Qualified Person, former President of the Deutsches Historisches Museum Foundation
  • Geneviève BRESC-GAUTIER, Qualified Person, Honorary General Curator, Louvre Musem
  • Philippe CIEREN, Head of the Heritage Inspectorate

The Executive Officer of the Public Establishment, Thierry Gausseron, attends committee meetings.

Intranet

Officers of the Public Establishment may access the intranet by clicking on this link and using their usual login credentials.

Tickets
Plan your visit
Calendar