EoW November 2011

A labour of love for the French heritage

Vincent, chief executive officer of Nexans, and Athem’s team (the project’s design and communication agency) as they went through each stage of the modernisation of the Chateau de Versailles. Nexans – it appears – felt compelled to undertake the works at their own expense, a generosity normally lacking and out of the ordinary in this day and age. The other reason we were there was to unveil the huge canvas, due to be draped over the main court of the castle while the work is being carried out. This huge structure now envelops the Versailles’ Royal Courtyard, covers some 1,000m 2 and welcomes visitors with an artistic and surprising sight that shows off the architecture and gardens.

A few hours on Eurostar and the Metro (Parisian tube network), trying to remember my French (I have lived in the UK for three years now) and I finally walked through the gold plated gate of the majestic baroque castle from the 17 th Century. I have, being French, been to the great Versailles before but in 2007 Nexans signed, for the first time in its history, an agreement of sponsorship to renovate the technical networks of the Château and Estate of Versailles. Because protecting the building also meant protecting the site and visitors, Nexans expect this year to renovate the electrical networks, meaning: • Upgrading the medium voltage installations • Attaining the highest safety standards • Modernising the electrical networks • Reorganising the Groves • Renovating the power system.

Sponsorship

n 2007: Great Versailles Palace Renovation of the power, data and communications network n 2011: Electriciens sans frontiers Mission to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged population providing electricity and water. Nexans will supply 50% of ESF’s annual cable needs for low and medium votage power cables n 2011: The Louvre-Lens Museum Nexans is providing the low and medium voltage cables and data cables for the museum’s new project

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This we learned about from Jean-Jacques Aillagon, Versailles’ president, Frédéric

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EuroWire – November 2011