The French Château de Lunéville has reopened to the public after a fire ravaged much of the building. Seven years of repair work were necessary after the fire caused the collapse of the vaulted plaster ceiling in the chapel and destroyed most of the roof.
Since the 13th century, the castle site in north-eastern France has existed as a property of the Duke of Lorraine. The castle was rebuilt in the early 1700s to resemble Versailles. The redesigned château became the masterpiece of renowned French architect Germain Boffrand, a genius of his generation.
In 1901, the château was designated as a historical monument by the French government. Over 100 million euros ($135 million CAD) have been spent to repair the guard room, washroom, staircase, vaulted room and chapel, in order to return the château to its former glory.