Once the epicenter of French royalty, the elegant estate has undergone several transformations since its conception in the 17th century. It was signed on June 28, 1919, in Versailles, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Asked by George Washington to design the layout of a “Federal City” of the United States of America in 1791, L'Enfant proposed a complex plan that paid unmistakable homage to the Garden of Versailles. The history of the Palace started in 1623, when Louis XIII bought a piece of land in Versailles to build a hunting lodge, which was very little for someone who knows the customs of the Royal House of France. All the most important figures visited this room, so they could leave with the greatest impression of the King and his amazing tastes. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. In 1682, however, King Louis XIV—the son of Louis XIII—moved the aristocracy to Versailles, making it his permanent residence and laying the foundation for the palace as we know it today. Hyacinthe Rigaud, “Louis XIV of France,” 1702 (Photo: Wiki Art Public Domain). They had to pump the water out of the Seine river. These panes were perfectly placed to reflect and highlight the opulent gallery's gilded moldings, marble walls, crystal chandeliers, and large garden windows. In the morning, the courtiers wait in the antechamber for the King to wake up. that the palace could have cost anywhere between US$200-300 billion—a completely unthinkable amount by today’s standards. Within the many walls are a host of funny stories, bizarre facts, and fascinating quirks that you probably didn’t know about, so click through the following gallery and get acquainted with one of the most incredible palaces in the world. Ferdinand Magellan: Facts and Information, 13 Easy DIY Halloween Decorations – Ideas and Inspiration, 10 Creative DIY Star Wars Christmas Holiday Crafts, Christmas in Germany: Facts About German Christmas Traditions, TT Rockstars Tips: How to Get Better at Times Tables Rock Stars. To illustrate the grandeur of France, workers had to work day and night. Stock Photos from Takashi Images/Shutterstock. The Palace of Versailles, situated just over 12 miles (20 km) from the center of Paris, is world-famous for its stunning opulence. Israel Silvestre, “Garden facade of the Château of Versailles as built by Louis XIII,” 1660-1664 (Photo: Wiki Art Public Domain). The Gardens of Versailles span across 800 hectares, comprised of 1,400 fountains, 400 sculptures, … My article about the 10 amazing facts about the Palace of Versailles is now over! It is about 15 miles south west of Paris and easily reached by train. The Palace of Versailles was the principal royal residence of France from 1682, under Louis XIV, until the start of the French Revolution in 1789, under Louis XVI. These had to come by sea and reach the Seine river, because the routes of the time were of poor quality. Palaces you can visit without marrying a royal. It is located in the city of Versailles in northern France, 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Paris. The Palace of Versailles boasts a grandiose history. While Louis XIV is responsible for much of the estate that we see today, Marie Antoinette has an equally important legacy.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. After lunch, around 2 pm or 3 pm, you should head to the Palace to visit it, as it will be a lot less crowded, making this an efficient way of visiting the Palace of Versailles. Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Stock Photos from Alexandra Lande/Shutterstock. Nothing was charming about the place before Louis XIV’s great project! Near the temple, Marie Antoinette had a private grotto built, which was a secluded cave-like area with two entrances, leading to many theories about secret meetings. On the vault, one can see paintings that represent the exploits of the reign. That’s how they gave the illusion everything was working as expected. Princes, courtiers and ministers lived in Versailles with him. The Treaty brought World War I to a close, ending the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. Check out the exclusive rewards, here. He had over 200 servants to carry out various duties such as emptying the Royal chamber pot. The garden once hosted 400 botanical species from around the world, including pineapples, vanilla, coffee, and more. Intended as an escape from courtly life, this small “village” comprises rustic cottages nestled next to streams that feed into grottos, a pond, and a mill wheel. It was very important to be present when the King woke up, to hear but also to be seen by the King. Want to advertise with us? In 1979, the entire Palace of Versailles domain was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Paris to Versailles: the perfect day trip, Top 5 French cities to see (except Paris). However, it was located so far away from the dining room that the King’s meals were often served cold.
Louis XIV gathered around him the most important figures of the kingdom. They satisfied all the desires of the King and made all his dreams come true with the help of the workers. Second only to the Louvre and more popular than even the Eiffel Tower, this is its contemporary crowning achievement. According to scholar Godfrey Fox Bradby’s book ‘The Great Days of Versailles: Studies from Court Life in the Later Years of Louis XIV,’ all the visually pleasing marble in the large and lofty rooms made life in Versailles uncomfortably cold in the winter months, despite even the 1,200 fireplaces.
You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Years later, he'd return to the forested spot, which was “ideally situated between his principle residence at Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Paris [and] surrounded by woods that were noisy with pheasants, boars, and stags” (Chateau de Versailles). It remained there until 1789 when a mob marched on the palace which started the French Revolution. To support our blog and writers we put affiliate links and advertising on our page. Around 10 million people visit the palace every year, averaging over 27,000 people per day, and yet many secrets and anecdotes have been kept relatively quiet since Louis XIV first commissioned André Le Nôtre to design the intricate grounds back in 1661.
We’re also on Pinterest, Tumblr, and Flipboard. It is also rated as an UNESCO World Heritage. Located away from the city of Paris, as if he wanted to protect the monarchy from the quivers and the conspiracies of the capital, the stunning palace is a symbol of power. Learn how your comment data is processed. In general, when a new construction was undertook, people used the materials found on site. The King Louis XIV is the creator of this unique palace. The grounds also contained two smaller palaces, both elaborately decorated and furnished. Versailles resisted until the French Revolution (1789 – 1799), being not only famous for its strategic place but also as a symbol of the absolute Monarchy system. In 1799, the French Revolution ended and Napoleon Bonaparte took power of France. Chamber pots were the toilet of the time, and royal families tended to luxurize the experience by having a small, separate room that housed a sort of chair which had the pot under a seat with a hole. For the King, the Palace of Versailles was the reflection of his power and the image of monarchy, so it was very important that everything looked sublime and mesmerizing. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. While there were hardly limits to food and drink on offer at Versailles, King Louis XV reportedly really just wanted hot chocolate. The Palace of Versailles is a royal castle, located in the Ile de France region of France. If you decide to go in this time of the year, I highly suggest you start by visiting the gardens, the fountains and the Grand Canal while the other visitors finish their visit of the Palace. The Palace was not restricted only for the King and his court.
Versailles was one of the few castles in France that wasn’t located near a river. During the French Revolution, the gate was dismantled. The organization sums up its significance: “The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. For a project of this dimension, the workers had to adapt the technical and scientific tools. Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the Kings of France from Louis XIV in 1682 until the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. The apartment of King Louis XIV was known as the Apartment of the Planets, as each room inside was devoted to each of the then-known seven planets and the Roman deity connected to it.
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