Great encounters

I discovered this fascinating profession through a civic service programme after my studies. This experience allowed me to immerse myself in a world that was very different from the one my studies had predestined me for. At the time, I was graduating from engineering school with a specialisation in artificial intelligence. The combination of a very strong attraction for this potential new path and an unprecedented ecological awareness in my life eventually led to this change of trajectory.

Véronique, a wrought iron craftswoman based in Carrières-sur-Seine, founded her Brindilles workshop, where she creates decorative objects, signage and metal signs. After nearly 30 years as a graphic designer in magazines and advertising, she felt the need to move from the virtual to the concrete, and naturally turned her attention to creating real objects.

I’m Christophe Thomas, head gardener of the Marly estate, attached to the public establishment of the Château de Versailles, under the Department of Heritage and Gardens. My main role is to conserve and embellish this 17th-century heritage site, so that it can be passed on to future generations. This mission also includes a cultural mediation component: organising tours and raising public awareness of the garden’s history and architecture.