Hundreds of Visitors forced to Evacuate from Versailles Palace

On June 11, 2024, several hundred people were evacuated after a fire broke out on part of the roof under construction, but was quickly put out.

The fire started in the marble courtyard and was detected at 3.13pm in a construction area. Hundreds of tourists were ordered to evacuate and actually evacuated safely without any damage to the collection.

The fire was reportedly at a very early stage, as the extinguishing action would have required very little water.
The building dates back to the 17th century and is one of the most visited monuments in France.
The initial fire that gave rise to the event, which appears to have caused no damage to either people or the rich historical and artistic heritage that characterizes the castle, reminds us that the construction site areas and the work taking place, especially in historic buildings , perhaps constitute the element of greatest danger for these delicate goods.
The need to keep the structures, systems and finishes of these buildings in a good state of conservation over the years, which are often subject to an intense load due to being frequented by thousands of people every day, exposes them to frequent work. It is precisely these processes that require extraordinary attention to safety, as demonstrated by the frequent accidents linked to construction sites.