A historic and royal city par excellence, Versailles was built around its château, the former residence of the reigning families and a reminder of their royal destinies. Versailles is a great place to live, thanks to its magnificent parks and forests, its many shops and its famous market. Surrounding towns such as Le Chesnay, Louveciennes, Marnes-la-Coquette, Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, etc., which are also highly appreciated for their proximity to Paris. Emmanuel du Rivau, manager of the Daniel Féau Versailles agency, comments: "Many of our buyers are Parisian families, or those returning from expatriation, who have come to take advantage of our exceptional quality of life. The market is buoyant, particularly for older apartments, as well as for fine stone and millstone houses."