Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is a grand old palace that was once the home of the French kings. It is located in a town called Versailles, just a short distance from Paris, the capital of France. The palace was first built by King Louis XIII as a small hunting lodge in 1623. His son, King Louis XIV, turned it into a huge palace that grew bigger over many years.

In 1682, Louis XIV moved the French court and government to Versailles, making it the real capital of France for many years. Kings continued to live there until 1789 when they returned to Paris during a big change in France called the French Revolution. After that, the palace was mostly empty and its treasures were taken away.

Today, the Palace of Versailles is owned by the French government and is one of the most visited places in the world, with around 15 million people coming to see it each year. In 1979, it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its important history as a center of power, art, and science in France.

History

The Palace of Versailles began as a small hunting lodge built in 1623 by King Louis XIII, about 19 kilometres west of Paris. It was a favorite spot for hunting but considered too simple for a king. Over time, it was turned into a larger home.

Later, King Louis XIV expanded it into a grand palace. He was inspired by another impressive home and brought in talented designers to help him. The palace grew with beautiful gardens, grand rooms, and many buildings. It became the main home for the French royal family and a center for important events and decisions.

Throughout history, the palace has served many purposes. It was a symbol of French culture, a place for royal ceremonies, and even a museum. Today, it is one of the most visited places in the world, owned by the French government and cared for by special teams who work to preserve its beauty.

Architecture and plan

The Palace of Versailles shows how French architecture changed from the 1630s to the 1780s. The oldest part, called the corps de logis, was built for Louis XIII using brick, marble, and slate. In the 1660s, it was surrounded by another building inspired by old Italian homes. Later, more parts were added, including styles from the Neoclassical period in the 1770s.

The palace was mostly finished by 1715. It has a U-shaped design with long wings on each side. The building covers a large area and has many windows, chimneys, and staircases. The palace and its gardens inspired many other important buildings around the world.

Royal Apartments

The Palace of Versailles grew when King Louis XIV added new rooms for himself and the queen between 1668 and 1671. These rooms, called the Grand Apartments, included special spaces for the king and queen. They were placed on the main floor of the new part of the palace, with rooms facing the garden.

The king's Grand Apartment had seven rooms, each linked to one of the known planets and Roman gods. The queen's apartment had a similar setup. After the Hall of Mirrors was added between 1678 and 1684, the king's apartment was reduced to five rooms, and the queen's to four.

The queen's apartment was home to three queens of France: Maria Theresa of Spain, Maria Leszczyńska, and Marie Antoinette. It was also used by Princess Marie-Adélaïde of Savoy, the duchess of Burgundy, from 1697 until her death in 1712.

Ambassador's Staircase

The Ambassadors’ Staircase was built between 1674 and 1680. It served as the main entrance to the palace and the royal rooms until it was removed in 1752. The staircase had tall, open spaces lit by natural light from a skylight. The walls and ceiling were decorated to honor King Louis XIV’s victories, with paintings and sculptures celebrating his achievements.

The State Apartments of the King

The Hall of Mirrors, built between 1678 and 1686, changed the State Apartments into spaces for displaying fine paintings and hosting gatherings. During the season from November to Easter, these events happened three times a week in the evenings.

The Salon of Hercules

Originally a chapel, this room was redesigned starting in 1712 to show two important paintings given to Louis XIV by Venice. The ceiling painting, finished in 1736, gave the room its name.

The Salon of Abundance

This room led to a space showing Louis XIV’s collection of rare and valuable items. A painting on the ceiling shows scenes of abundance and generosity.

The Salon of Venus

Used for light meals during evening events, this room features a large statue of Louis XIV dressed as a Roman emperor. The ceiling has a painting showing Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

The Salon of Mercury

This was the original bedroom for the king when he moved the court to Versailles in 1682. The ceiling shows the god Mercury and other important figures. An elaborate clock made in 1706 shows figures representing Louis XIV and fame.

The Salon of Mars

Used by royal guards and later as a concert room, this space has a military theme with decorations showing helmets and trophies. Today it displays portraits of King Louis XV and his queen.

The Salon of Apollo

This was the throne room for formal meetings under Louis XIV. The ceiling shows the sun god Apollo in his chariot.

The Salon of Diana

Used as a billiards room by Louis XIV, this room has decorations showing scenes from the life of the goddess Diana.

Private apartments of the King and Queen

Private apartments of the King

The king’s private rooms were used for important ceremonies, like the formal “waking up” and “going to bed” events attended by courtiers. The king’s bedroom was where he died in 1715, and later used by Louis XV and Louis XVI for their own ceremonies.

Private apartments of The Queen

The queen’s private rooms were designed for her personal use. They were first used by Maria Theresa of Spain, then changed for Maria Leszczyńska and Marie Antoinette. Both the king’s and queen’s private rooms had seven rooms each, with ceilings painted with mythological scenes.

Hall of Mirrors

Main article: Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors is a long room at the far west end of the palace, with views of the gardens outside. It was built between 1678 and 1681, replacing an earlier terrace. The walls are covered in marble and have 578 mirrors that face 17 windows, letting in lots of light. The ceiling has a large painting that shows important moments from the first 18 years of King Louis XIV’s rule, including his victories in battles.

On each end of the Hall of Mirrors are two smaller rooms. The Salon of War celebrates France’s victories in battles, with marble walls and golden decorations. The Salon of Peace has similar decorations but focuses on themes of peace instead.

Royal Chapel

Main article: Chapels of Versailles

The Royal Chapel of Versailles is found at the far end of the north wing. It stands very tall, reaching 40 metres high, and stretches 42 metres long and 24 metres wide. The chapel mixes old French Gothic styles with the grand French Baroque style seen throughout the palace. Its ceiling features three beautiful paintings made by famous artists.

King Louis XIV asked for this chapel to be built in 1683–84, and it was finished in 1710. It was the last big building added to Versailles during his time as king. The chapel had a small tower taken off the roof in 1765, and it was carefully fixed up between 2017 and 2021.

Royal Opera

Main article: Royal Opera of Versailles

The Royal Opera of Versailles was first planned by King Louis XIV in 1682. It was supposed to be built at the end of the North Wing, but the idea was stopped because of the cost of wars. Later, King Louis XV brought the idea back in 1748, but it was put aside again.

The opera was finally built quickly to celebrate the marriage of the future King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. To save money and time, the opera was made mostly of wood, which made the sound very clear. The wood was painted to look like marble, and the ceiling had a painting of Apollo, the god of the arts. The opera officially opened on May 16, 1770, as part of the wedding celebration.

During the French Revolution in 1789, the King held a dinner for his guards in the opera before leaving for Paris. After the Franco-German War and the Paris Commune, the French National Assembly met in the opera until the government returned to Paris.

Museum of the History of France

Main article: Musée de l'Histoire de France (Versailles)

After becoming king in 1830, Louis Philippe I turned the palace into a museum to show great moments in French history. He wanted visitors to see paintings and sculptures of famous battles and heroes. Many rooms were changed to show these stories, with big galleries filled with artwork.

Some paintings came from the Louvre, while others were made just for the museum. Even today, visitors can see the Gallery of Battles, which shows important French victories through large paintings. The museum also has rooms about King Louis XIV and his time, with furniture, art, and models to help people learn more.

Estate of Versailles

The Estate of Versailles includes the palace, buildings around it, and its park and gardens. As of June 2021, the estate covers 800 hectares (8.0 km²; 2,000 acres). The park and gardens are south, west, and north of the palace. The palace is reached from the east by the Avenue de Paris, which is 27 kilometres (17 mi) long from Paris.

The estate was started by King Louis XIII as a place to hunt, with a small park west of his château. King Louis XIV expanded it greatly. At its largest, it included the Grand Parc, a hunting area of 15,000 hectares (150 km²; 37,000 acres), and the Petit Parc with gardens covering 1,700 hectares (17 km²; 4,200 acres). A wall 40 kilometres long and 3 metres high surrounded the estate.

Gardens

Main article: Gardens of Versailles

The gardens of Versailles were designed by André Le Nôtre. They were created in the 1630s by Jacques Boyceau and Jacques de Nemours, then rearranged by Le Nôtre. The gardens feature straight paths, flowerbeds, hedges, and ponds, showing the French formal garden style.

Subsidiary structures

Main article: Subsidiary structures of the Palace of Versailles

One of the first buildings near the palace was the Versailles Menagerie, built between 1662 and 1664. It was later demolished in 1801. The Versailles Orangery was built in 1663 and later enlarged.

In 1679, Louis XIV asked for the Château de Marly to be built, about 8 kilometres from the palace. It was finished in 1686 but later demolished.

La Lanterne, a hunting lodge, was built in 1787.

The Grand Trianon

Main article: Grand Trianon

The [Grand Trianon](/wiki/Grand_Trianon) with courtyard and gardens. The wing at left is a residence of the [President of France](/wiki/President_of_France).

The [Grand Trianon](/wiki/Grand_Trianon)

Interior of the [Grand Trianon](/wiki/Grand_Trianon)

In 1668, Louis XIV replaced a small village with the Porcelain Trianon, designed in a style called Chinoiserie. It was replaced in 1687 by the Grand Trianon, made of marble. It has been a home for French leaders.

Petit Trianon

Main article: Petit Trianon

Aerial view of the Petit Trianon and its gardens

West façade of the [Petit Trianon](/wiki/Petit_Trianon)

The French Pavilion of the Petit Trianon

The [Belvedere](/wiki/Belvédère_\(Petit_Trianon\)) in the park of the Petit Trianon

The Petit Trianon was built between 1762 and 1768. Later, Marie Antoinette used it and changed its gardens.

The Queen's hamlet and Theatre

The [Queen's Theatre](/wiki/Théâtre_de_la_Reine)

The Queen's Hamlet

Near the Trianons are the French Pavilion, the Queen's Theatre, and the Queen's Hamlet. These were built for Marie Antoinette, including a small farm and a theatre hidden in the gardens.

Modern political and ceremonial functions

See also: Treaty of Versailles (disambiguation)

The Palace of Versailles still plays an important role in government events. Leaders of other countries are welcomed in the Hall of Mirrors. The French Parliament, made up of the Senate and the National Assembly, sometimes meets together at Versailles to change important rules. This tradition started in 1875.

Presidents have also used Versailles to speak to the nation in special times. For example, after serious events in 2015, a president gave a speech there. The palace is also used for important visits from other countries.