The Palace of Versailles is a royal luxury near Paris. Palace of Versailles (France, Versailles)

Is it possible to find another place as aesthetically harmonious as the Palace of Versailles?! Its external design, the elegance of the interior and the park area are made in the same style, the whole complex deserves to be walked around by representatives of the aristocracy. Every tourist will certainly feel the spirit of the reign of kings, as it is easy to try on the role of a powerful autocrat in whose power the whole country is in the palace and park territory. Not a single photo can convey true grace, since every meter of this ensemble is thought out to the smallest detail.

Briefly about the Palace of Versailles

Probably, there are no people who do not know where the unique structure is located. The famous palace is the pride of France and the most recognizable royal residence in the world. It is located near Paris and previously was a separate building with a park area. With the growing popularity of this place, numerous houses appeared among the aristocracy around Versailles, in which builders, servants, retinue and other people who were admitted to the court lived.

The idea of creating a palace ensemble belonged to Louis XIV, known as the "Sun King". He himself studied all the plans and pictures with sketches, made adjustments to them. The ruler identified the Palace of Versailles with a symbol of power, the most powerful and indestructible. Only the king could personify complete abundance, so luxury and wealth are felt in all the details of the palace. Its main facade stretches for 640 meters, and the park occupies more than one hundred hectares.

Classicism was chosen as the main style, which was at the peak of popularity in the 17th century. Several of the best architects were involved in the creation of this massive project, which went through several stages of construction. Only the most famous masters worked on the decoration inside the palace, creating engravings, sculptures and other art treasures that still adorn it.

The history of the construction of the famous palace complex

It is difficult to say when the Palace of Versailles was built, since work on the ensemble was carried out even after the king settled in a new residence and arranged balls in exquisite halls. Officially, the building received the status of a royal residence in 1682, but it is better to mention the history of the creation of a cultural monument in order.

Initially, since 1623, there was a small feudal castle on the site of Versailles, where the royal people with a small retinue were located while hunting in the local forests. In 1632, the possessions of the French kings in this part of the country expanded through the purchase of a nearby estate. Small construction work was carried out near the village called Versailles, but the global restructuring began only with the coming to power of Louis XIV.

The Sun King became the ruler of France early and forever remembered the rebellion of the Fronde, which was partly the reason that the residence in Paris evoked unpleasant memories in Louis. Moreover, being young, the ruler admired the luxury of the castle of the Minister of Finance Nicolas Fouquet and wished to create the Palace of Versailles, surpassing the beauty of all existing castles, so that no one in the country would doubt the wealth of the king. Louis Levo was invited to the role of architect, who had already proven himself in the implementation of other large-scale projects.

Throughout the life of Louis XIV, work was carried out on the palace ensemble. In addition to Louis Leveaux, Charles Lebrun and Jules Hardouin-Mansart worked on the architecture, the park and gardens belong to the hand of André Le Nôtre. The main asset of the Palace of Versailles of this stage of construction is the Mirror Gallery, in which paintings alternate with hundreds of mirrors. Also during the reign of the Sun King, the Battle Gallery and the Grand Trianon appeared, and a chapel was erected.

In 1715, power passed to the five-year-old Louis XV, who, together with his retinue, returned to Paris and for a long time did not rebuild Versailles. During the years of his reign, the Salon of Hercules was completed, and the Small Apartments of the King were created. A great achievement at this stage of construction is the construction of the Petit Trianon and the completion of the Opera Hall.

Components of the palace and park area

It is simply impossible to describe the sights of the Palace of Versailles, since everything in the ensemble is so harmonious and elegant that any detail is a real work of art. During the tour, be sure to visit the following places:

Grand Trianon (used for outdoor recreation);
Petit Trianon (was the home of the mistress of Louis XV);

Farm of Marie Antoinette;
King's quarters;
mirror gallery.

At the main entrance to the territory of the palace complex, there are gates made of gold, decorated with a coat of arms and a crown. The area in front of the palace is decorated with sculptures, which are also found inside the main building and throughout the park. You can even find a statue of Caesar, whose cult was valued by the French masters.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the park of Versailles, as it is an exceptional place, charming with its diversity, beauty and integrity. Here you can find amazingly decorated fountains with musical arrangements, botanical gardens, greenhouses, and swimming pools. Flowers are collected in unusual flower beds, and shrubs are annually given certain shapes.

Significant episodes in the history of Versailles

Although the Palace of Versailles was used as a residence for a short time, it played a significant role for the country - in the 19th century it received the status of a national museum, where numerous engravings, portraits, and paintings were transferred.

With the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the mansions became the property of the Germans. They chose the Hall of Mirrors to proclaim themselves the German Empire in 1871. The French were offended by the chosen location, so after the defeat of Germany in the First World War, when Versailles was returned to France, the peace treaty was signed in the same premises.

Since the 50s of the 20th century, a tradition has appeared in France, according to which all visiting heads of state were to meet with the president in Versailles. Only in the 90s it was decided to move away from this tradition due to the great popularity of the Palace of Versailles among tourists.

The monarchs of other countries who visited the French landmark marveled at the elegance and luxury of the royal residence and often, upon returning home, tried to recreate no less exquisite palaces with similar architecture. Of course, you will not find a similar creation anywhere in the world, but many castles in Italy, Austria and Germany have some similarities. Even the palaces in Peterhof and Gatchina are made in the same classicism, borrowing a number of ideas.

It is known from historical descriptions that it was very difficult to keep secrets in the palace, since Louis XIV preferred to know what was in the mind of his courtiers in order to avoid conspiracies and uprisings. The castle has many hidden doors and secret passages, which were known only to the king and the architects who designed them.

During the reign of the Sun King, almost all decisions were made in the Palace of Versailles, because statesmen and close associates of the autocrat were here around the clock. To become part of the retinue, one had to live in Versailles regularly and attend daily ceremonies, during which Louis often distributed privileges.

- the residence of the French kings of the dynasty Bourbon. The masterpiece of classicism fascinates with its brilliance, and annually attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. We did not miss the opportunity to join this million.

Versailles - the history of creation

History of creation Versailles sends us back to the era of government Louis XIV who was nicknamed "sun king". And in the light of the sun, the ensemble really looks like a king (however, in rainy weather it looks no less beautiful, maybe a little more modest).

At Louis XIII on the site of the modern palace there was an ordinary hunting lodge, which the king ordered to build for hunting in the area. But his son Louis XIV had their own plans for the area.

At a reception with his Minister of Finance Nicolas Fouquet in honor of the completion of the palace Vaux-le-Vicomte (Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte), Louis XIV was struck by the "royal" luxury and high cost of the building, and even enraged by the open display of all this for show. He himself did not have such a palace, and this struck at the pride of the monarch.

Upon returning from the reception, he called his faithful assistant by name d'Artagnan- a real, not a mythical hero from novels Dumas. Louis commanded d'Artagnan deal with Fouquet, and d'Artagnan figured it out. Fouquet was arrested and imprisoned for life. And his brand new castle was confiscated. So that. And you say "you can't forbid living beautifully."

Inspired by the palace Vaux-le-Vicomte, Louis lured the authors of this work - architects Louis Levo and Andre Lenotra as well as an artist Charles Lebrun on his side, and offered them to build for him a similar palace with a park, only to be "prettier, richer, and bigger." There were no options to refuse - a sad face stood before my eyes Fouquet sitting in a dungeon, and they agreed. And so it appeared.

Construction started in 1661 year and spread over many years. An unprecedented amount of money was swollen. "Sun King" built the same bright and sunny complex as he himself was. Therefore, they are invariably associated with each other, despite the fact that Versailles complex completed even after death Louis XIV his great-grandson and successor Louis XV. Additions were not as global as with "sun king", although they also cost a lot of money to the treasury. Such regular spending became one of the prerequisites for the future unrest of the French people, which will clearly manifest themselves at the end of XVIII century.

Parallel to Versailles Palace Ensemble the city was set up Versailles. It originally housed about 500 person, and by the time of moving Louis XIV along with his entire retinue Versailles castle, already lived in the city 30000 . The main part was made up of service personnel, as well as workers and peasants, supporting the uninterrupted and needless life of the royal French court.

However, back to our favorites 🙂

Having entered the territory through the main gate, we found ourselves on the square, at the head of which is Palace of Versailles. “Here they lived, they didn’t grieve”, I thought. The chambers of the king, queen, as well as guest rooms are located in this place. Where else is he located - not in the forest by the pond.

Finding ourselves on the other side of the fence, we did not understand where to start - we did not have any brochure, and in general we did not have a complete idea of what this entire architectural ensemble consists of. It was logical to first go through the main palace, and then act according to the circumstances.

The place where the hunting castle used to be Louis XIII now called marble yard

But here, too, there was a small problem. Fountains, which we also wanted to visit, work only twice a day - from 11 before 12 and with 15:30 before 17 . Before 15 I did not want to wait, and it was decided to go through one wing of the palace, then go to the fountains and return to inspect the palace. So we did. We went to the right wing, took an audio guide in Russian. I had headphones, and I stuck them into the socket - thus I did not have to walk, leaning the device to my ear, which is very convenient. He looked at everyone, grinning with a satisfied physiognomy.

The people, of course, darkness. Sitting practically on each other's shoulders, we moved from room to room, not forgetting to listen to the audio guide. All this was very educational.

A little less than an hour was enough for us to bypass this wing. The time was approaching 11, we left the palace and headed towards the gardens and fountains. I was immediately alarmed that a man with a serious look was standing at the exit. And if you left, they won't let you back in. Then I did not attach any significant importance to this, as I was in a hurry to the fountains.

Controllers also stood at the entrance to the fountains and checked tickets. There are a lot of controllers there - they stand at each object, because tickets for each object are sold separately, and you can not visit everything, but only what you are interested in.

Well, the time has come, and the music began to play. Fountains flowed, cameras clicked, movement began.

There are many fountains. Wandering through the labyrinths of gardens, you can stumble upon some small fountain. You can walk around and watch, or you can not walk. After the fact, I thought that it was not worth taking tickets for them - they were not impressed. I mean, fountains are like fountains, nothing special. You need to understand when they were built. Since then, they have not changed significantly. Today there are much more advanced and interesting fountains, so it is difficult to surprise people strenuously wandering around them.

We walked through the gardens, reached the big fountain of apollo.

Of course, we took pictures this way and that. That's probably why we got a little hungry. We sat down not far from the fountains on a refreshing marble bench and filled up the prepared sandwiches. After that I read on the official website Versailles that picnics are forbidden, but we were not caught, which is very encouraging.

Having eaten and rested, we went in the opposite direction in order to inspect Palace of Versailles. And then all the fears were confirmed - a man with a serious look refused to let us back in, strengthening his gaze with decisive gestures. He pointed to a sign with the inscription “no entry”, smiled and, completely satisfied with himself, turned away.

Not particularly upset, we decided to go around the palace, assuming that we could enter from the other side. But on the other hand, there were no serious people, no hint of an entrance, and we went to the fence, passing along which we again found ourselves in a huge crowd of people who were eager to get inside.

This is where we started scratching our turnips. What to do next was decidedly unclear. It is quite obvious that we did not go through the whole palace. Plus, there was a strong impression that there were still unseen objects (for a long time I was not so close to the truth, there were still 4 hours of such objects on foot). Standing as if rooted to the spot, and thoughtfully turning our heads in all directions, we were like Stirlitz - close to failure. And then the sign of the tourist information center caught my eye on the left. Somewhere inside the subconscious, a fragile animal called "hope" stirred slightly.

We walked cautiously in that direction. would be in Russia, no problems would have arisen, but we were in France, with the appropriate knowledge of languages. Only English at the level "es, know, idontnow". I still wonder how we even traveled abroad on our own, practically without knowing the language.

With trembling hands, we opened the door and entered. A woman came up and asked something in English. Here I fell asleep. Stumbling, I began my beautiful story about the problem that fell on us like spring snow on our heads.

For half an hour there was a verbal struggle with this woman, or rather with an overseas language. The fight was unequal - the woman obviously knew more words than I did. But I won. Almost on the fingers they explained to us that everything is not so bad. You just need to stand in line again and never leave the palace without seeing it completely. Plus, we were solemnly presented with a plan of the ensemble in Russian, with a brief description and a map. It was only then that I found out that we hadn't seen practically anything yet. Now we were armed with exhaustive information. With a self-satisfied gait, straightening our stooped shoulders half an hour ago, and raising our revived head high, we went to the end of the winding snake of people. The day was revived.

Free advice:

Having defended "serpentine" turn a second time, we again hoped to quickly slip through the inspection of things. But this time our trick failed. They forced me to open my backpack, and found carefully packed provisions there - buns, sausages and lettuce. They offered to hand over the backpack to the storage room and showed the direction with a hand. I thought that, firstly, then it would not be very desirable to go back for a backpack, and secondly, it would be very desirable to eat in a couple of hours. Therefore, on the way to the lockers, I pretended to forget why I was going, and turned off. Expecting the insane calls of the French, I walked without turning around, but no one paid any attention to me. Everything turned out to be very simple. In such a simple way, food was saved, and we calmly went to inspect castle of Versailles.

On the second attempt, we examined the entire castle complex completely - all kinds of chambers of the king and queen, guest rooms, a mirror gallery, and everything else (there are so many rooms that I almost got lost). The scope and luxury are simply amazing - everything is gilded, bright, shiny, beautiful. There I realized the phrase "looks like royalty". I would love to live there for a couple of centuries.

reached the famous mirror gallery. This is what she looks like in the middle of the day

And like this, when there is no one, only ghosts

To be honest, in all these rooms I am completely confused. If not to be a completely boring researcher of architecture Versailles then remembering everything is unrealistic. Who and where lived, what this or that room is for. For the most part, it's not that important. You just walk around and marvel at the wealth and luxury, as well as the taste with which it was all done. Everything is truly beautiful and wonderful.

It served as a prototype for many royal residences, and became a kind of starting point for the architecture of future centuries. Many monarchs who visited Versailles inspired to build their residences. Selflessly spent a lot of money, and even surpassed Palace of Versailles in wealth and grandeur. There are examples in our country - in a certain city on Neva 😉

Palace of Versailles (fr. Château de Versailles)- one of the French royal residences, which was built in the suburbs of Paris, the city of Versailles, in the 17th century. Today it is one of the most popular attractions not only in France but also in the world.

The complex of the Palace of Versailles, which includes several more "small palaces" and a park, is the largest in Europe. Despite the splendor and size, the overall appearance of the Palace of Versailles is holistic, it does not create a feeling of heaps of elements and excess, which allowed it to become a model for other royal residences of the Renaissance. But Versailles itself became a symbol of the immoderate and irrational spending of public money at the peak of the absolute monarchy. This palace is interesting, since it is unlikely that in the next historical period there will be residences anywhere that can outshine Versailles.

Story

The history of the construction of the Versailles complex is quite simple, it can be retold in just one sentence: King Louis XIV, at the peak of both his own power and the strength of France itself, wanted a new residence and built it. But the political background and the role of Versailles in world history is very extensive and interesting.

Location before construction

Versailles was a small village at some distance from Paris, about 20 kilometers from the center of the French capital. The first mention is found in a document of 1038, then a certain feudal lord Hugh de Versailles owned it. The settlement was on the busy road from Paris to Normandy, but plague and war virtually destroyed the village in the following centuries.

The story related directly to the royal palace begins in 1575, when the Florentine Albert de Gondi, who made a career at the court of Charles IX, received these lands in his possession. Then, at the beginning of the 17th century, at the invitation of the Gondi family, Louis XIII came to Versailles to hunt. The king liked the area very much and in 1624 a small royal hunting residence was built here. After the death of the last representatives of the Florentine family, the lands pass into the possession of the crown.

Extension of the Château of Versailles

In 1632, after the annexation of the lands of Gondi, the first expansion of the hunting house takes place. Two auxiliary wings, a wall covering the entrance, and four towers were completed. A moat was dug around, and the territory was protected by a separate wall. Thus, the small hunting lodge was turned into a fortified royal country residence. The future Louis XIV lives here, who became king at the age of 5, was crowned only in 1654 and began to really rule only in 1661. By the beginning of the reign of Louis XIV, the future main palace expanded even more, two large outer wings appeared, several auxiliary buildings, and the outer walls were updated.

In parallel, political processes are taking place, which influenced the fact that it was the Palace of Versailles that in the future became the permanent location of the royal court. Until 1661, his mother, Anna of Austria, and the minister, Cardinal Mazarin, ruled for the king. The future king, who miraculously survived the civil war - the Fronde, understood that he had to concentrate power in his own hands, but acted with extreme caution. After waiting for the death of the cardinal in 1661, Louis XIV announced that he was beginning to rule personally, without the help of the first minister.

In the same 1661, Nicolas Fouquet was arrested, who held the position of Minister of Finance in France, thanks to which he made himself a huge fortune and gained power. Fouquet just in 1661 completed the construction of a personal residence, another famous French palace - Vaux-le-Vicomte. This estate was arrested, and the trio involved in the construction: Louis Leveau (architect), André Le Nôtre (specialist in gardens and parks) and Charles Lebrun (artist, also involved in interiors) went to work for Louis, who was struck by the beauty of the palace of the main financier.

André Le Nôtre is also famous for building the park that later became Champs Elysees.

Construction of the royal palace at Versailles

The transformation of Versailles from a country estate into the palace that we see today was carried out in three stages, each of which began between the wars led by Louis XIV. At the same time, the royal court completely moved here from the Louvre only in 1682, but de facto the king spent much of his time in Versailles even before that.

The construction of a new royal residence pursued many political goals. Firstly, Louis XIV, who supported absolutism, was afraid of betrayals and coups, therefore he preferred to keep the aristocratic elite nearby. Secondly, it was more dangerous to be in Paris than in a country residence if there was an uprising among the people. Thirdly, the king's possession of a palace of this level of luxury strengthened his power not only in France, but also on the world stage. Under Louis XIV, France was at the pinnacle of cultural, political and military power, and the Palace of Versailles was one of the proofs of this.

First stage

The work of the first stage of the reconstruction of the palace and the park of Versailles began in 1664, and ended in 1668, as France began a war with Spain. At this time, the castle and the park were expanded in order to be able to receive a large number of guests, up to 600 people.

Second phase

After the end of the war for the Netherlands, in 1669, a second building campaign began in Versailles, which lasted 3 years. The main changes are the complete restructuring of the central part, which used to be a hunting lodge.

The north wing was converted into apartments for the king, and the south wing for the queen. The western part was turned into a terrace, which would later become the famous Mirror Gallery. A unique luxurious octagonal bath filled with hot water was also equipped. The upper floors were occupied by private rooms, as well as apartments for royal children.

It is interesting and very unusual that the chambers for the king and queen were of the same size and almost mirror-like layout. Given the attitude of Louis XIV to his wife, Maria Theresa, most likely, a political goal was pursued - in the future to unite the two kingdoms on equal terms, but these plans could not be realized.

Third stage

After the end of another war, the Dutch, in 1678, the third campaign for the construction of Versailles began, stretching until 1684. It was during it that the most famous room, the Mirror Gallery, was built on the site of the terrace. It connected the chambers of the king and queen and became famous for its luxurious decoration, which amazes even now, although in fact a significant part of the luxury items were already sold in 1689.

From the new buildings in Versailles, two large wings appeared, which housed the greenhouse, the chambers of the princes of the blood, as well as rooms for the representatives of the nobility who lived in the palace. In addition, it was during this period that considerable attention was paid to the park part.

The main historical milestone was 1682, when the royal court officially moved to the Palace of Versailles from the Louvre, and the nobility was actually obliged to settle next to the king, which led to an increase in the population and prosperity of the city of Versailles.

Fourth final stage of construction

For a long time, nothing was built in Versailles, as the state budget sank heavily due to wars, and in 1689 an edict was adopted against luxury, and even some of the decoration of the royal palace was sold to sponsor the Nine Years' War. But some time after its completion in 1699, the last building campaign of Louis XIV began, which became the longest and ended in 1710.

Its main goal was the construction of a new chapel, the fifth for Versailles in a row. In addition to her, small changes were made to the palace itself, but they were not significant. At the same time, the building of the chapel greatly influenced the appearance of the palace, because, due to its height and rectangular shape, it changed the appearance of the facade, which caused criticism even in those years. But still, both the architectural style of the Baroque and the rich interior decoration made the Versailles Chapel one of the most interesting elements of the complex.

Palace of Versailles after Louis XIV

Louis XV also made changes to the palace. Their scale is incomparable with the works of his father, but still quite significant. The internal interiors of the main building were redone, in particular - for the construction of chambers for the king's daughters, the Ambassadors' Staircase, the only main staircase of the palace, was destroyed.

Of the main architectural innovations of this period, the Petit Trianon, a separate rather modest palace for the favorite - Madame Pompadour, as well as the Royal Opera are usually distinguished. The project of a permanent theater on the territory of the palace appeared even under its predecessor, but it was Louis XV who found the funds for the theater, which at that time became the largest in Europe and which still functions today.

It is interesting that Peter I visited Versailles. During the trip, he was settled in the Grand Trianon, a separate castle for the king, intended for rest from officialdom. The Russian emperor was inspired by the palace during the construction of Peterhof, but did not copy either the look or the style, but only the general idea.

The reign of Louis XVI was reflected, first of all, in the park of Versailles. It has been significantly altered, mainly because many of the trees have dried up in the hundred years since they were planted. Also, some changes were made to the interiors and facades.

After the revolution

With the beginning of the revolution in France, Louis left the Palace of Versailles and settled in Paris in the Tuileries, and the old residence came under the control of the inhabitants of the city of Versailles. The management was able to protect it from looting, Louis XVI then tried to take out the furniture, but this could not be done.

After the arrest of the king, the Palace of Versailles was sealed, and then a plan was drawn up to reduce luxury and further use of the complex. A significant part of the furniture was sold at auctions, except for especially valuable exhibits that were sent to the museum. The palace itself and the surrounding areas were going to be sold or rented, but in the end they decided to leave it in the possession of the Republic and use it "for the public good." Various confiscated valuables were brought here, which later became the basis of the museum fund. At the same time, the palace itself fell into disrepair, and Andre Dumont took up its restoration, but even then, decor and interior elements were sold to cover government spending.

Napoleon changed the status of the Palace of Versailles back to the residence of the ruler, although he himself did not live in the main building, but in the Grand Trianon. But the exhibits with him were distributed to other museums. Versailles also served as a branch of the Invalides, having received this status even before the emperor came to power.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the palace played an important role in history. Here the German Empire was proclaimed, then the Franco-Prussian peace was signed, and then the famous Treaty of Versailles, which put an end to the First World War.

Global changes were made by Louis Philippe I, who again turned the Palace of Versailles into a museum dedicated to French greatness. This status has actually been preserved to this day, although the museum has been reorganized since that time, and the expositions are built on the basis of scientific rather than political principles. Much for Versailles was made by its curator Pierre de Nolhak, who not only transformed the exhibitions, but also began restoring the pre-revolutionary appearance of the palace.

Nowadays

Today, the Palace of Versailles retains the status of a museum and one of the main attractions of France, but at the same time it retains a number of official state functions. In the 20th century, after the Second World War, the damaged and neglected Versailles had to be restored with money collected from all over France. For certain advertising, absolutely all meetings between heads of state were held here until the 90s.

Now the Palace of Versailles is financially and legally autonomous, and the 5 million people who annually visit this French landmark bring profit to it. Also, between 8 and 10 million visit the park and gardens of Versailles.

Construction cost

One of the most interesting questions regarding the Palace of Versailles is the cost of its construction. At the same time, it is very difficult to give an unambiguous answer, although most of the financial documents have been preserved.

The initial reconstruction of the hunting lodge was financed by the personal funds of Louis XIV, the king at that time was a feudal lord, had personal land plots from which he received direct income. But then the construction began to be financed, including from the state budget.

Despite the unambiguously high amount of costs, during the construction of the Palace of Versailles it was turned into a “French showcase” and all materials, decor, decoration and other elements, at the request of the king, had to be produced only inside France.

A certain part of the interior items is difficult to express in any value, as they are unique works of art. But, based on the total amount of money spent, you can still derive several calculation methods:

The simplest and least accurate is a simple conversion of the amount of silver at modern prices for this metal, it gives an amount of about 2.6 billion euros, which is clearly far from reality.
Another method involves calculating the data on the purchasing power of the then currency and calculating the estimate of Versailles on the basis of these data, according to which the total amount spent on the palace is 37 billion. This is probably the most accurate amount, since it can be assumed that in the modern world for 37 billion euros it is possible to build a similar palace.
The third method is more speculative, it involves comparing costs with the state budget and gives an amount of almost 260 billion euros, which, despite the wealth of the palace, still looks overpriced. With all this, it should be borne in mind that the costs were not one-time, but stretched over 50 years of construction.

Versailles park and palace complex

The administration of the palace divides the entire complex into a number of main areas: the Chateau itself, the Grand and Petit Trianons, Marie Antoinette's farm, as well as the garden and park area. All these parts of Versailles are available for inspection, and you can even walk in the park, with some exceptions, for free.

Château in French is simply a "palace", but at the same time the official name of the main building of Versailles. It makes no sense to go on an excursion to the complex and not visit the royal palace, because most often it becomes the first object that a tourist visits.

Exterior view of the central building - chateau

After passing through the main entrance to Versailles, the visitor enters the courtyard of the Chateau and can go both directly to the palace and get into the park, and see the royal residence later.

Inside the Chateau, the main attraction is the Hall of Mirrors - the central gallery connecting the two wings, decorated with a very rich finish and a large number of mirrors. In addition to him, the royal chambers, private rooms of the king's daughters, the queen's bedroom are shown.

Some of the premises are available for inspection only as part of organized groups or guided tours.

Also in the Chateau there is a museum of the history of the Palace of Versailles, several art galleries, the most famous of which is the Hall of Battles, in which the canvases tell about the main battles in the history of France. Sometimes you can see the interior of the Royal Opera, it depends on the schedule of preparations for concerts.

On the territory of the Versailles complex there are two separate palaces, which are called Trianons. The Grand Trianon is inferior to the size of the Chateau, but not every European monarch had a main palace of a similar size, since the Trianon building itself has almost three dozen rooms, has a separate courtyard and a garden with ponds.

The Great Trianon was used as a place of residence for the king and his relatives outside the strict palace etiquette, in some seclusion. Also, all the rulers who came on visits to France traditionally settled here, among the guests of the Grand Trianon were: Peter I, Elizabeth II, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, etc. And all the French rulers lived in it after the revolution, since the Chateau performed other functions and even Napoleon did not want to use it as the main residence.

Inside the Grand Trianon, visitors will find several rooms that have completely preserved the interiors of past centuries, the empress's bedroom, and several art galleries. The billiard room and the Mirror Salon also look quite interesting.

Small Trianon

But the Small Trianon is really a small two-story mansion, which was occupied by women all the time. Initially, these were the favorites of Louis XV - Madame Pompadour and, after her, Dubarry, and then the young Marie Antoinette received this building. The mansion is distinguished by some modesty even in the interiors, although the interior salons and the queen's bedroom, where visitors are now allowed in, are decorated quite richly.

The Petit Trianon functions as a museum of Marie Antoinette, a significant part of household items and interiors are original, others have been restored by restorers. Tourists are also shown the technical premises where the servants worked - during construction, they tried to isolate the attendants as much as possible, it was assumed that even a served table would be raised to the dining room by a special mechanism, but this idea was never implemented. Also in the Petit Trianon is a small personal theater of the Queen, where her performances were staged, in which Marie Antoinette herself played on stage.

Marie Antoinette, who had a lot of free time, built a small village near her mansion. Of course, this is not a real village, but a small and even caricature settlement, reflecting an idealized idea of \u200b\u200bpeasant life.

But the farm was fully functional, consisted of 12 residential buildings, goats, cows, pigeons, chickens and other farm animals also lived here, there were gardens and beds. The queen personally milked the cows and weeded them, although the animals were bathed daily, decorated with bows, and the “peasant women” living here were ordered to keep a pastoral look all the time.

Part of Marie Antoinette's farm

The farm has been preserved almost unchanged, various animals still live here and, in fact, now it is a small petting zoo. In general, the place looks very nice, since many houses were built in the form in which they were depicted by artists of the 18th century in pastoral landscapes.

For a larger entourage, houses were artificially aged, for example, cracks were painted on the walls with paint.

Park of Versailles

The park part of the palace complex attracts almost as many tourists as the palace itself, especially since the entrance to the park is often (when the fountains are not working) free of charge. The territory of the park itself is very large, about 5 square kilometers, and it is divided into several conditional zones, two main ones:

Garden - the part directly adjacent to the palace with neat bushes, paths and pools
Park - classic dense plantings with paths, places to rest, etc.

Almost the entire park area of Versailles is full of fountains, pools and canals. It makes no sense to list them all, but there are a number of the most famous and notable ones: the Neptune Fountain, the Grand Canal, the Apollo Fountain.

Fountains do not work all the time. They are turned on most often on weekends, at which time the entrance to the park becomes paid.

It is very difficult to go around the entire park at one time, many do not even have time to reach the Trianons, so you can take 2 days to travel to Versailles, especially since special tickets are sold for this.

Events

Various events are regularly held in Versailles, some of them on a regular and permanent basis during the "hot" tourist season.

musical fountains

Every weekend, as well as on some other holidays and not only dates, all fountains are turned on at full capacity, a musical show is arranged. This is the best time to visit Versailles as the 18th century fountains are truly impressive.

Night show of fountains

During the tourist season (from May to September), every Saturday after the closure of Versailles for the bulk of tourists, a fountain show with music, lighting is arranged, and everything ends at 11 pm with fireworks over the Grand Canal.

Ball

Before the start of the night show, a real ball is arranged in the Hall of Mirrors. Musicians and dancers perform classical French music and demonstrate dances traditional for royal balls. Historical costumes, gallant gentlemen and beautiful ladies, of course, are an integral part of this performance.

Other events

Other events are also held at the Palace of Versailles. Firstly, these are various temporary exhibitions. Various art exhibitions of both contemporary artists and authors of the past, themed rooms, etc. are exhibited in the galleries of the palace or other buildings on the territory of the complex. Secondly, plays and concerts have been staged at the Royal Opera recently (after reconstruction). Also, master classes, performances by artists, etc. are held in Versailles, it is recommended to find out the details on the official website.

Information for tourists

	en.chateauversailles.fr
How to get there:	The main way to get to Versailles from Paris is by RER trains, line C, Versailles Rive Gauche station. From the stop to the entrance to the complex about 10 minutes on foot. There is a direct bus from the Pont de Sevres metro station, its number is 171, the stop is the final one. Numerous shuttle buses are also organized by various travel agencies.
Visit cost:	Full ticket (Chateau, Trianons, farm) - 18 € or 25 € on the days of the fountains; Two-day full ticket - 25 € or 30 € on the days of the fountains; Chateau only – 15 € Big and Small Trianons, farm – 10 € Park - when the fountains are turned off the entrance is free, when the ticket is turned on it costs 9 € Night show of fountains – 24 € Ball – 17 € Ball + night show - 39 &euro. For children from 0 to 5 years old, entrance to Versailles is free. Students, children from 6 to 17 years old, people with disabilities receive discounts.
Working hours:	Chateau - from 9:00 to 17:30 (18:30 in high season); Trianons and farm - from 12:00 to 17:30 (18:30); Garden - from 8:00 to 18:00 (20:30); Park - from 8:00 to 18:00 (during the high season from 7:00 to 20:30). The entire complex is always closed on Mondays. There are also three additional days off: January 1, May 1, December 25.
Facilities:	On the territory of Versailles there is a cafe with a terrace and takeaway food, as well as several outlets with jacket potatoes and fresh juices. There are two restaurants near the Grand Canal. To move around the park, you can rent a segway, a bicycle or take a ride on a tourist train that will take you from the Chateau to the Trianons for 7.5 €. You can also rent a boat to explore the Grand Canal and Little Venice.

Versailles on the map

A photo

The striking palace in the suburbs of Paris has become a symbol of the absolute monarchy and luxury of the last French kings.

He made such a strong impression on his contemporaries that many rulers of other states ordered their architects to create something similar for them.

Although all visitors to Versailles associate this palace primarily with the personality of the legendary Louis XIV, the dignity of this town was appreciated even by the grandfather of the Sun King, King Henry IV, who loved to hunt in the local forests. Henry's son and heir, Louis XIII, in 1623 ordered the construction of a small hunting pavilion there. In the early 1630s, the king bought the territory adjacent to his possessions from the Gondi family and the archbishop of Paris, and ordered a new, more representative building from Philibert Leroy.

The palace of Louis XIII was completed in 1634. It was a rectangular two-story building with two wings perpendicular to the main building.

In the central part there was a royal bedroom, it was surrounded by halls for receptions. Fragments of this layout can be seen in the building of the palace that exists today: the facades around the so-called Marble Court (Cour de Marbre) differ from all others with dark red brick lining, contrasting with light architectural details - window framing, cornices and decorative elements made of cream sandstone.

Favorite residence of Louis XIV

When his father died in 1643, Louis XIV was barely four years old and moved frequently. Officially, the Louvre was still the main royal residence, but the young king did not like Paris. Every year, together with his court, he left the capital for several months and lived in the castles of Vincennes, Fontainebleau, Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

He first visited Versailles only in 1651, and since then this place has become his favorite residence. Soon the king decided to rebuild it in order to be able to spend time together with the whole court for various entertainments. To realize this plan, he invited artists and architects.

The building was designed by the famous architect Louis Levo. two artists were involved - Charles Errard and Noel Coypel, the redevelopment of the gardens fell to André Le Nôtre, whose task also included the design of the greenhouse. The work began in 1661, and three years later the king was already able to invite guests to the first palace celebrations dedicated to theatrical performances, including Moliere's plays. At this time, Louis XIV decided to further rebuild the palace. According to the project of Levo, in 1668-1681 enveloppe were erected - two massive wings, north and south, which surrounded and almost absorbed the palace of Louis XIII. The wings, located parallel to the central axis of the palace and park complex, were oriented towards the entrance from the city, and the so-called Royal Court (Cour Royal) was located on the space formed between them. From the side of the garden facade, between the risalits of the two wings, Levo placed an arched enfilade, above which he arranged an open terrace on the upper tier. The southern wing was intended for the apartments of the ruler, while the northern one served the queen and her ladies-in-waiting.

Hall full of mirrors

Louis XIV not only made Versailles his permanent residence, but also decided to transfer the government there. To accommodate a large retinue and officials, another large-scale rebuilding was required, which began in 1678. Levo had already died by that time, and was replaced by another royal architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart. He designed the impressive Mirror Gallery (Galerie des Glares), built on the side of the garden between the projections on the site of the former observation deck. The gallery overlooks the garden with seventeen high semicircular windows, opposite which mirrors are placed on the inner wall, corresponding in shape and size to the windows.

During the day, when the garden was reflected in the mirrors, the gallery turned into an arched pavilion, surrounded on both sides by extensive flower beds, while in the evenings the mirrors multiplied the lights of the candles illuminating the gallery, increasing their brightness. On the plafond were presented plots glorifying the Sun King and his military achievements. This decoration, completed in 1686, was made from sketches and under the direction of the famous painter Charles Le Brun.

On both sides of the gallery, on the first floor of the risalits, designed by Levo, two luxurious halls were arranged - the Hall of War in the apartments of the king and the Hall of Peace in the wing that belonged to the queen.

Hardouin-Mansart also designed two massive wings with courtyards, located perpendicular to the central axis of the entire structure. The southern wing was completed in 1684, but the construction of the northern wing was suspended due to the ever-increasing cost of the project and resumed only in the 19th century. The architect rebuilt two pavilions built on the left side of the city, which were located separately from the city, placing a spacious courtyard between them, which was called the Court of Ministers (Cour des Ministres).

Louis XIV with his court moved to Versailles on May 6, 1682, when construction work was in full swing and even the royal chambers were still unfinished. Despite the inconveniences associated with life on the construction site, the king did not change his place of permanent residence, and the Palace of Versailles remained the residence of the French rulers until the 1789 revolution.

The last completed part of the Hardouin-Mansart project was the Royal Chapel, conceived by the architect as an independent building, connected to the northern wing of the palace.

Monarchs' private quarters

Despite numerous reconstructions, the Palace of Versailles looks like a harmonious whole from the inside, the features of classical baroque dominate in a single sustained style. The interiors - in particular, the so-called Grands Appartaments of Louis XIV and his wife, consisting of many rooms and connected by the Mirror Gallery - amaze with the luxury of decoration, an abundance of sculptures, stucco, gold and wall paintings representing the exploits of the Olympian gods.

In the palace and park ensemble of Versailles there was a place for other buildings. After the purchase and demolition of the small village of Trianon in 1668, Louis Leveaux built the Porcelain Trianon in its place - an ensemble of pavilions lined with white and black faience tiles.

More than ten years later, Jules Hardouin-Mansart received a decree from the king to build a new palace, which was intended for the personal needs of the ruler. In the lower part of the vast complex, located between the courtyard and the garden, you can see recreated village buildings, and elegant sculptural decorations and pink marble cladding the facade and colonnades give the entire structure an intimate sophistication.

The Trianon Palace became known as the Great (Grand) when a new residence of a similar design, called the Small (Petit) Trianon, appeared nearby. It was ordered to be built in 1761-1768 by Louis XV, the great-grandson and heir of the Sun King, for his favorite, Madame de Pompadour. Jacques-Ange Gabriel was the author of the Petit Trianon. In comparison with other buildings of Versailles, the palace really looks small, and its interiors combine features of rococo and classicism. The Petit Trianon was the favorite residence of Queen Marie Antoinette, who received it as a gift from Louis XVI.

After the French Revolution broke out in October 1789, the royal family had to leave Versailles and the palace was looted. It regained its brilliance during the time of Louis Philippe, who ordered that a museum of the history of France be built here. After the final overthrow of the monarchy, the meetings of the Congress and the parliamentary elections of the President of the Republic were held in Versailles, and the Trianon Palace served as a venue for diplomatic meetings. In the Mirror Gallery on June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending the First World War.

famous gardens

The modest garden that once surrounded the palace, erected by Louis XIII, was constantly changing during the reign of his heir - it was expanded and brought to perfection, so that with its luxury it would correspond to the splendor of the building itself. André Le Nôtre, designing the garden in 1661, outlined its main features that remained unchanged during the 40 years of the project. Painters and sculptors worked together with Le Nôtre - the environment of the palace had to meet the aesthetic requirements embodied in its interiors. Closer to the garden façade, floral parterres with a strict chess composition were placed, which passed into higher so-called cabinets and bosquets, formed by trellises of sheared shrubs and trees topped with crowns of a strictly defined shape. Parterres created a frame for two fountains, decorated with sculptural compositions. Closer to the palace is a multi-tiered fountain dedicated to the goddess Leto (Latone), the mother of Apollo and Artemis. A wide alley with lawns stretches from it to the fountain of Apollo. In the center is a statue of the sun god driving a chariot, surrounded by tritons and dolphins. The author of these sculptures is Jean-Baptiste Turby.

A harmonious combination of strict geometric figures of greenery and water surface is also characteristic of the far part of the garden, where Le Nôtre built two canals intersecting at right angles. The larger one, called the Grand Canal, ended in an oval pond.

Channels, numerous small fountains, waterfalls and artificial grottoes, since 1664, constituted an important part of the scenery of all kinds of performances and palace celebrations. Along the Grand Canal, in addition to traditional sailing boats, gondolas floated, which Louis XIV received as a gift from the Venetian doges. It is noteworthy that during the time of this ruler, the costs associated with the creation and maintenance of the water system amounted to one third of the cost of building the entire Versailles.

The garden complex, maintained in strict geometric proportions, with clearly marked viewing platforms, decorated with many statues and flowerpots on pedestals, became the quintessence of the features of the “French garden”, which in the 17th and 18th centuries was laid out in many residences in Europe and America. The garden occupies an impressive area of 93 hectares, but in Versailles itself it is called the Petit Pare, because beyond it there is an incomparably large area - more than 700 hectares - the Grand Parc, where the garden surrounding the Grand Trianon Palace is located. It is arranged according to a similar geometric principle and is decorated with parterres reminiscent of oriental carpets.

Quote message UNESCO World Heritage: France. Palaces and parks of Versailles. Part 1

The UNESCO World Heritage List in the French Republic includes 37 items (for 2011), which is 3.8% of the total (936 for 2011). 33 properties are listed by cultural criteria, with 17 of them recognized as masterpieces of human genius (criterion i), 3 properties are listed by natural criteria, each of which is recognized as a natural phenomenon of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance (criterion vii), and 1 mixed property , also meeting criterion vii. In addition, as of 2010, 33 sites in France are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List. The French Republic ratified the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on 27 June 1975.

UNESCO experts have decided that the French gastronomic culture, with its rituals and complex organization, is worthy of being included in the prestigious Intangible Cultural Heritage List. For the first time in the world, this status was given to national cuisine, which indicates "its universal recognition".
The experts of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO satisfied the request of France in the art of Alencon lace - included in the List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Food is part of the French national identity. Normandy, Provencal, Burgundy and Alsatian cuisines differ from each other in the same way as the inhabitants of these regions. “It must be said that French cuisine is subject to numerous influences, which allows it to create new dishes and new tastes. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this openness, especially given the characteristics of modern society,” says Hubert de Canson, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to UNESCO.

Versailles Palace and Park

Versailles is a palace and park ensemble in France (fr. Parc et château de Versailles), the former residence of the French kings in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris; tourism center of world importance.

Versailles was built under the leadership of Louis XIV from 1661, and became a kind of monument to the era of the "Sun King", an artistic and architectural expression of the idea of absolutism. The leading architects are Louis Le Vaux and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the creator of the park is Andre Le Nôtre. The ensemble of Versailles, the largest in Europe, is distinguished by a unique integrity of design and harmony of architectural forms and the transformed landscape. From the end of the 17th century, Versailles served as a model for the ceremonial country residences of European monarchs and aristocracy, but there are no direct imitations of it.

From 1666 to 1789, until the French Revolution, Versailles was the official royal residence. In 1801 it received the status of a museum and is open to the public; since 1830, the entire architectural complex of Versailles has become a museum; in 1837, the Museum of the History of France was opened in the royal palace. In 1979, the Palace of Versailles and the park were included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

Many significant events in French and world history are associated with Versailles. So, in the 18th century, the royal residence became the site of the signing of many international treaties, including the treaty that ended the American War of Independence (1783). In 1789, the Constituent Assembly, which worked in Versailles, adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.

Chapel_and_Gabriel_Wing_Palace_of_Versailles
northern view

South facade. Versailles 2

In 1871, after the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, the creation of the German Empire was proclaimed in Versailles, occupied by German troops. Here, in 1919, a peace treaty was signed that ended the First World War and laid the foundation for the so-called Versailles system - the political system of post-war international relations.

View of the palace from the park

Versailles_-zicht_op_de_Écuries
The history of the Palace of Versailles begins in 1623 with a very modest hunting castle like a feudal one, built at the request of Louis XIII of brick, stone and roofing slate on the territory purchased from Jean de Soisy (Jean de Soisy), whose family owned the lands from the 14th century. The hunting castle was located in the place where the marble courtyard is now located. Its dimensions were 24 by 6 meters. In 1632, the territory was expanded through the purchase of the Versailles estate from the Archbishop of Paris from the Gondi family, and a two-year rebuilding was undertaken.

La Victoire sur l "Espagne Marsy Girardon Versailles

Louis XIV

Since 1661, the "Sun King" Louis XIV began to expand the palace to use it as his permanent residence, since after the Fronde uprising, living in the Louvre seemed unsafe to him. The architects André Le Nôtre and Charles Lebrun renovated and expanded the palace in the classicist style. The entire facade of the palace from the garden side is occupied by a large gallery (Gallery of Mirrors, Gallery of Louis XIV), which makes an amazing impression with its paintings, mirrors and columns. In addition to it, the Battle Gallery, the palace chapel and the Royal Opera are also worthy of mention.

Louis XV

After the death of Louis XIV in 1715, the five-year-old King Louis XV, his court, and the Regency Council of Philippe d'Orléans returned to Paris. The Russian Tsar Peter I, during his visit to France, stayed in May 1717 at the Grand Trianon. The 44-year-old Tsar, while at Versailles, studied the arrangement of the Palace and parks, which served as inspiration for his creation of Peterhof on the shores of the Gulf of Finland near St. Petersburg (Verlet, 1985).

Versailles changed during the reign of Louis XV, but not as extensively as it was under Louis XIV. In 1722, the king and his court returned to Versailles and the first project was the completion of the Salon of Hercules, the construction of which was begun in the last years of the reign of Louis XIV, but due to the death of the latter was not completed.

The Small apartments of the King are recognized as a significant contribution of Louis XV to the development of Versailles; The chambers of Madame, the chambers of the Dauphin and his wife on the first floor of the Palace; as well as the private quarters of Louis XV - the small apartments of the King on the second floor (later rebuilt into the apartments of Madame Dubarry) and the small apartments of the King on the third floor - on the second and third floors of the Palace. The main achievement of Louis XV in the development of Versailles was the completion of the construction of the Opera House and the Petit Trianon Palace (Verlet, 1985).

Petit Trianon Palace

Small apartments of the king. Office of the golden service

Playroom Louis 16

Madame Dubarry
An equally significant contribution is the destruction of the Ambassadors' Staircase, the only ceremonial route to the Grand Royal Apartments. This was done for the construction of apartments for the daughters of Louis XV.

One of the gates

The inviolability of power. The French royal court.

In the decoration of the gate, the symbols of the king-"sun"

Golden Gate.

Palace of Versailles; stone Saint Leu,

There were no significant changes in the Park, compared with the times of Louis XIV; the only legacy of Louis XV in the parks of Versailles is the completion of the Neptune Basin between 1738 and 1741 (Verlet, 1985). In the last years of his reign, Louis XV, on the advice of the architect Gabriel, began the reconstruction of the facades of the courtyards of the Palace. According to another project, the Palace was to receive classical facades from the city side. This Louis XV project also continued throughout the reign of Louis XVI, and was only completed in the 20th century (Verlet, 1985).

mirror hall

All accounts related to the construction of the palace have survived to our time. The amount taking into account all expenses is 25,725,836 livres (1 livre corresponded to 409 g of silver), which in total amounted to 10,500 tons of silver or 456 million guilders for 243 g of silver / Recalculation to the modern value is almost impossible. Based on the price of silver at 250 euros per kg, the construction of the palace absorbed 2.6 billion euros / Based on the purchasing power of the then guilder as 80 euros, the construction cost 37 billion euros. Putting the cost of building the palace in relation to the state budget of France in the 17th century, we get the modern amount of 259.56 billion euros.

Facade of the palace. Clock of Louis 14.
Almost half of this amount was spent on the creation of interior decoration. The best masters of the era Jacob, Jean Joseph Chapuis created luxurious boiserie. [source not specified 859 days] These costs were distributed over 50 years, during which the construction of the Palace of Versailles, completed in 1710, was going on.

Emperor Augustus

Roman busts

The site of the future construction required a huge amount of land work. Recruitment of workers from the surrounding villages took place with great difficulty. Peasants were forced to become "builders". In order to increase the number of workers in the construction of the palace, the king banned all private construction in the vicinity. Workers were often imported from Normandy and Flanders. Almost all orders were carried out through tenders, the expenses of the performers, exceeding those originally named, were not paid. In peacetime, the army was also involved in the construction of the palace. Finance Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert kept an eye on frugality. The forced presence of the aristocracy at court was an additional precaution on the part of Louis XIV, who thus secured for himself complete control over the activities of the aristocracy. Only at court was it possible to receive ranks or posts, and those who left lost their privileges
Fountains of Versailles

On May 5, 1789, representatives of the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie gathered in the Palace of Versailles. After the king, who by law was given the right to assemble and dissolve such events, adjourned the meeting for political reasons, the deputies from the bourgeoisie declared themselves the National Assembly and retired to the Ballroom. After 1789, the Palace of Versailles could only be maintained with difficulty.

Architectural elements of the decoration of the palace
On October 5-6, 1789, first a crowd from the Parisian suburbs, and then the national guard under the command of Lafayette, came to Versailles demanding that the king and his family, as well as the National Assembly, move to Paris. Subject to forceful pressure, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, their relatives and deputies moved to the capital. After that, the importance of Versailles as the administrative and political center of France declined and was not restored in the future.
Since the time of Louis Philippe, many halls and rooms have been restored, and the palace itself has become an outstanding national historical museum, which exhibited busts, portraits, paintings of battles and other works of art of predominantly historical value.

Proclamation of the German Empire in 1871

The Palace of Versailles was of great importance in German-French history. After the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, from October 5, 1870 to March 13, 1871, it was the residence of the main headquarters of the German army. On January 18, 1871, the German Empire was proclaimed in the Mirror Gallery, and Wilhelm I was its Kaiser. This place was deliberately chosen to humiliate the French.

The peace treaty with France was signed on February 26, also at Versailles. In March, the evacuated French government moved the capital from Bordeaux to Versailles, and only in 1879 again to Paris.
At the end of the First World War, a preliminary truce was concluded at the Palace of Versailles, as well as the Treaty of Versailles, which the defeated German Empire was forced to sign. This time, the historic site was picked up by the French to humiliate the Germans.

The harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles (including huge indemnity payments and recognition of sole guilt) laid a heavy burden on the shoulders of the young Weimar Republic. Because of this, it is widely believed that the consequences of the Treaty of Versailles were the basis for the future emergence of Nazism in Germany.

Marble Court of Versailles
After World War II, the Palace of Versailles became the site of German-French reconciliation. This is evidenced by the celebrations on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Elysee Treaty, which took place in 2003. Palace of Versailles

born in the palace

The following kings and members of their families were born in the Palace of Versailles: Philip V (King of Spain), Louis XV, Louis XVI,
Many palaces in Europe were built under the undoubted influence of Versailles. These include the castles of Sanssouci in Potsdam, Schonbrunn in Vienna, the Great Palaces in Peterhof, the Rapti Manor in Luga, Gatchina and Rundale (Latvia), as well as other palaces in Germany, Austria and Italy.

Palace interiors
Busts and sculptures

Bust of Louis XIV by Gianlorenzo Bernini

Busts in the Hall of Mirrors

Buste de Louis XV, Jean-Baptiste II Lemoyne (1749), apartments of the Dauphine, Louis 15

Madame Clotilde

Buste de Charles X, 1825, Francois-Joseph Bosio

Marie Antoinette

Francois Paul Brueys

mirror gallery

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