Limestone

Listed in our range under Marble.

Versailles

Versailles is a Belgian breccia limestone from the Ardennes with a grey-blue matrix, white calcite veins and red iron-oxide accents. A historic marble from Philippeville, capable of taking a polish and used for centuries in European château and interior architecture.

Limestone Belgium Frostbeständig 2.680 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs

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Other trade names: Ardennes Grey Marble, Breche De Versailles Marble, Breche Versailles Marble, Calcaire De St. Edouard, GRIS DE ARDENNES, GRIS DE ROCHEFONTAINE, GRIS ROYAL, GRIS VERSAILLES, Golden Age, Grand Antique Marble, Gris De Ardennes Marble, Gris De Hautmont Marble, Gris De Rochefontaine Limestone Marble, Gris De Rochefontaine Marble, Gris De Versailles Marble, Gris Des Ardennes Marble, Gris Devonien Marble, Gris Dévonien, Gris Royal Marble, Gris St. Edouard Marble, Gris Versailles Limestone, Marbre Gris De Philippeville, Opera Fantastica, RO-02-221, Royal Grey Marble, Versailles Gold Quartzite, Versailles Gris Marble, Versailles Kalksteen

About Versailles

Versailles lives on a brecciated material structure: grey to blue-grey stone fragments are embedded in a matrix of white calcite veins that run diagonally across the slab image. Between them, warm rust-orange to copper-red accents flash out from iron-oxide-rich mineral zones. The slab image is not calm — it carries rooms as an autonomous, almost historic material image. It is precisely this expressive, classical appearance that makes the stone of interest for prestigious interior fit-outs, bookmatch wall surfaces, fireplace surrounds, staircases and high-quality bathrooms. The name Versailles refers to the historic use of this marble family in the construction of the Palace of Versailles and comparable premium buildings of European château architecture.

Geologically, Versailles is a dense brecciated limestone from Belgian deposits, mainly from the Franchimont and Philippeville region in the Ardennes (province of Namur). The Ardennes region is among the classic European marble sources and has produced premium marbles for château architecture and prestigious interior fit-outs since the 17th century. In the natural stone trade, related materials also run under the trade names Bréche de Versailles, Breccia di Versailles, Gris Versailles, Royal Grey, Gris des Ardennes and Marbre de Philippeville. The brecciated structure arose from tectonic fractures in the original carbonate rock, into whose fissures calcite solutions later moved — hence the striking white vein lines.

Technically, Versailles behaves like a classic polishable limestone: fine-grained to brecciated, dense structure, high visual depth. With a Mohs hardness of 3-4 the material is softer than granite or quartzite, but has been proven for centuries for wall applications, bathrooms and prestigious floor surfaces. Chemically the stone remains acid-sensitive: wine, lemon juice, vinegar or acidic sanitary cleaners leave etch marks on the polished surface — the red iron-oxide accents and the white calcite veins react most visibly. Frost resistance is given depending on location and build-up; glossy external surfaces lose their gloss over the years.

At ROSSITTIS we stock Versailles as a raw slab for bookmatch wall claddings and fireplace installations, in tiles for floor and wall surfaces, as a tread and riser, window sill, skirting, table top and project-specific cut-to-size. In the choice of finish the application decides: polished emphasises the brecciated depth and the striking play of veins most strongly — first choice for bookmatch wall surfaces and prestigious bathrooms.

Compared with classic Italian breccia marbles such as Breccia Pernice or Breccia Sarda, Versailles brings a very distinctive, urban character through its cooler grey matrix and the warm red accents. Set against more uniform grey marbles such as Bardiglio, Versailles appears considerably more expressive and more historically shaped. For rooms with a classical, historic character or for deliberately staged material statements, Versailles is a very fitting choice.

In stock

Current availability from our warehouse.

7 slabs in stock · plus 1 block

Thicknesses: 2 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: Slabs

Updated daily from our live stock.

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Technical data

Guide values for the stone type, taken from manufacturer and test reports. Natural stone is a natural product — individual batches and slabs can differ. For critical applications, request slab-specific test data.

Rohdichte 2.680 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 108,7 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 11,7 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,32 %

Frostbeständig Ja

Säurebeständig Nein

Suitability by application

Suitable with limitations

Küche & Arbeitsplatten △ Limited
Bodenbelag △ Limited

Finishes

Versailles is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Polished

Polishing is the most classic finish for marble and limestone — a glossy surface with the highest possible colour intensity and a pronounced depth to the veining. Depending on the mineral composition, the effect can be matte-gloss in places. Acid-sensitive — wine, lemon and vinegar leave etch marks after prolonged contact.

Care & fabrication

Versailles is an acid-sensitive limestone. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, sanitary cleaners or descalers leave etch marks on the material surface — visible as matt shadows or a loss of gloss. The light calcite veins and red iron-oxide zones react most visibly to acids.

For all applications, an impregnation on a silane or polysiloxane basis is mandatory. It prevents the penetration of water, oil and colouring substances and reduces staining — but it does not remove the acid sensitivity. We recommend refreshing the impregnation every 1-2 years. The brecciated structure with its fine veins and mineral inclusions benefits particularly from a high-quality impregnation — it prevents soiling from penetrating the fine fissures between breccia fragments and calcite veins.

Daily care is carried out with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft microfibre cloth. Avoid vinegar-based cleaners, cement haze removers, acidic sanitary cleaners and strongly alkaline agents. Wine, coffee, oil, lemon juice or cosmetic products should not be left to act on polished surfaces for long — wipe off immediately and wipe again with clear water.

For kitchen worktops, Versailles is only suitable to a limited extent. Anyone who wants the iconic, historic breccia material image and accepts patina as character can use the material in show kitchens. Anyone who needs maximum everyday security should choose a grey quartzite or granite.

For freely weathered polished external surfaces, Versailles is not suitable — the polish loses its gloss over the years. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Frequently asked questions

Is Versailles suitable for the kitchen?

Only conditionally. As an acid-sensitive limestone with a brecciated structure, Versailles works as a kitchen worktop only where patina is accepted, impregnation is consistent and acids are removed immediately. Anyone who loves the iconic historic material image and accepts patina as character is right with Versailles. For carefree kitchen worktops we recommend a grey quartzite or granite.

Which finishes are available for Versailles?

The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.

Where does Versailles come from?

Versailles originates from Belgian deposits, mainly from the Franchimont and Philippeville region in the Ardennes (province of Namur). This marble family was historically used in the construction of the Palace of Versailles — hence the name. In the market, related materials also run under Bréche de Versailles, Breccia di Versailles, Gris Versailles or Gris des Ardennes.

What is the brecciated structure of Versailles?

Brecciated means that the rock consists of angular fragments of older rock which were later re-bonded by a calcite matrix. In Versailles the grey stone fragments are arranged diagonally and separated from one another by white calcite veins — a very lively, almost graphic material structure that turns the slab image into a picture carrier.

How do I clean and care for Versailles?

Impregnation is mandatory. Daily care with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a microfibre cloth. Consistently avoid acidic cleaners, descalers, vinegar and citric acid — they attack the calcite veins and iron-oxide accents in particular. Wipe off wine, coffee or oil immediately.

Is Versailles frost-resistant and suitable for outdoor use?

In sheltered external locations with a honed or antiqued finish, and with professional installation to a fall, Versailles can be used under moderate loading. Freely weathered glossy external surfaces lose their gloss over the years and are not to be recommended.

Versailles or Bardiglio — which suits better?

Both are acid-sensitive grey limestones/marbles with a similar maintenance requirement. Bardiglio from Carrara has a calm, cloudy veining and a more uniform base tone — more modern and more urban. Versailles brings considerably more historic character and more expressive movement through its brecciated structure with white veins and red accents. For classical interior architecture, Versailles; for modern, reduced rooms, Bardiglio.

What does Versailles cost?

The price depends on the batch, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — with natural stone there is no serious flat rate per square metre. Business customers see prices once their B2B account is activated; private customers receive a complete quote through a fabricator near them.