Only representatives of the royal family have always had the right to die in the chambers of the Palace of Versailles. But for the sake of the Marquise de Pompadour, who was the official favorite, friend and adviser of Louis XV, dedicated to almost all the secrets of Versailles, the king made an exception.
She was smart, prudent, did not let the ruler get bored and relied on his passion for art, inviting the most famous and interesting people of that time to the palace - Montesquieu, Voltaire, Buffon, and others. his dirty work, undermining health, and destroying beauty.
She died at the age of forty-three in the palace chambers and was buried in Paris near her daughter. They say that when the funeral procession headed for the capital, the king, standing on one of the balconies of Versailles in the pouring rain, said: “Well, you chose terrible weather to take a walk for the last time, madam.” There was a deep sadness behind this joke.
The Palace of Versailles is located in one of the most respectable cities in France, Versailles, twenty kilometers from Paris in a southwest direction, at the address: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles. On the geographical map of the world, this unique architectural monument can be found at the following coordinates: 48° 48′ 15.85″ N. w, 2° 7′ 23.38″ in. d.
The history of Versailles began when Louis XIV saw the castle of the Minister of Finance Vaux-le-Vicomte, which in beauty, scale and grandeur far surpassed such royal residences as the Louvre and Tuilre. Such a "king-sun" could not stand, and therefore decided to build a castle, which would be a symbol of his absolute power. He chose the city of Versailles for the construction of a new royal residence not by chance: just recently the Fronde uprising took place in France, and therefore living in the capital seemed to him quite dangerous.
Palace construction
The construction of the palace began in 1661 and more than 30 thousand builders were involved in the work (in order to increase the number of workers, Louis banned all private construction in the vicinity of the city, and in peacetime soldiers and sailors were sent to the construction site). Despite the fact that literally everything was saved during construction, a huge amount of money was eventually spent - 25 million lira or 19.5 tons of silver (almost 260 billion euros). And this, despite the fact that building materials were sold to the king at the lowest prices, and the expenses of the performers, if they exceeded the estimate, were not paid.
Despite the fact that it was officially opened in 1682, construction work did not stop there, and the palace complex was constantly growing due to the construction of new buildings until the French Revolution of 1789. The first architect of this unique monument of Baroque architecture was Louis Le Vaux, who was later replaced by Jules Hardouin-Monsart. For the design of the parks, which was carried out simultaneously with the construction of the palace, Andre Le Nôtre was responsible, and the royal painter Lebrun was responsible for the interior decoration.
The work was complex: first it was necessary to drain the swamps, cover them with earth, sand and stones, and then level the soil and create terraces. Instead of the village located there, it was necessary to equip the city, where the courtiers, servants and guards were to settle.
In parallel with this, work was going on in the gardens. Given that Louis XIV was called the "Sun King", Le Nôtre planned the park of Versailles in such a way that its alleys, when viewed from the upper floors of the palace, diverge from the center, like the rays of the sun. At the initial stage of the work, it was necessary to dig channels and build a water pipe, which was originally intended to supply water to fountains and artificial waterfalls.
Considering that more than fifty fountains and ponds needed to be provided with water, this work was not easy - and the aqueduct, which was originally built, was not enough. In the end, after numerous trials and attempts, a hydraulic system was created, in which water came from the Seine flowing nearby.
Louis XIV died without completing his building in 1715, and after his death, Louis XV, who was then only five years old, and with him the whole court, left for the city of Paris for some time. True, he did not stay there for long, after seven years he returned to Versailles and after a while ordered to continue construction work.
One of the significant changes he made to the layout was the demolition of the Ambassadors' Staircase, the only ceremonial road leading to the Great Royal Apartments - this he did in order to build rooms for his daughters. He completed work on the opera house and, at the insistence of his mistress, Madame Pompadour, built the Petit Trianon.
In the last years of his life, Louis XV took up the reconstruction of facades: according to one project, these were supposed to be works from the courtyards of the castle, in another way, it was supposed to create facades in the classical style from the side of the city. It should be noted that this project lasted an extremely long time and was completed only at the end of the last century.
Description of Versailles
Experts say that the castle of Versailles was a place where the monarchs, and with them the royal court, rested on a grand scale, weaved intrigues, conspiracies and created numerous secrets of Versailles. This tradition was founded by Louis XIV - and it was successfully continued by his descendants, and reached special proportions under Marie Antoinette, who was very fond of having fun with the courtiers and creating the history of France, intriguing and creating the secrets of Versailles.
In the final version, the total area of the palace premises, not including the park, was about 67,000 square meters. 25 thousand windows, 67 stairs, 372 statues were installed in it.
This is the main building in which several generations of French rulers lived. Officially, one could get into the castle through the main entrance - cast-iron lattice gates decorated with gold with the royal coat of arms and crown. In front of the main facade of the castle, from the side of the Mirror Gallery, two equally elongated pools lined with granite slabs were installed.
On the right side of the entrance, a two-story royal chapel was equipped (the second tier was intended for the monarch and members of his family, the courtiers were below). In the northern part there were the Large apartments of the king, consisting of seven salons, in the south - the chambers of the first ladies.
In total, Versailles has about seven hundred rooms for various purposes. The throne room of the palace was called the Salon of Apollo - here the monarch received foreign ambassadors, and in the evening theatrical performances and musical performances were often staged here.
One of the most famous rooms is the Mirror Gallery, which has always played an important role in the life of the palace: significant receptions were held here, for which a silver throne was installed, as well as balls and magnificent festivities (for example, a royal wedding). The courtiers crowded here, waiting for the king, when he was heading to the chapel - this was a great opportunity to petition him.
The mirror gallery has always looked remarkable: its seventeen window openings, made in the form of an arch, overlook the garden, between them there are huge mirrors that visually enlarge the space (in total, the gallery has 357 mirrors). The ceiling is extremely high, about 10.5 meters, and the room itself is 73 meters long and 11 meters wide. Since many mirrors are placed opposite windows, the gallery appears to have windows on both sides. It is interesting that until 1689 the furniture here was made of pure silver, but then it was melted down into coins that covered military expenses.
Grand Trianon
Castle in classical style, lined with pink marble. Monarchs were used for a wide variety of purposes: from meetings with favorites to hunting.
Small Trianon
The palace is a transition from the Rococo style to classicism and was built on the initiative of one of the favorites of Louis XV, the Marquise de Pompadour. True, she died a few years before the end of construction, and therefore another favorite, Countess Dubarry, lived in it. When Louis XVI became king, he gave the castle to Marie Antoinette, where she rested from palace life (even the king had no right to come here without her permission).
Some time later, next to this palace, the queen built a small village with thatched roof houses, a windmill - in a word, as she imagined the life of the peasants.
Park and gardens
The Palace of Versailles and the park are two inseparable concepts. The gardens of Versailles consist of a huge number of terraces, which gradually decrease as they move away from the castle. They occupy an area of about one hundred hectares, and this whole territory is absolutely flat and it is impossible to find any small mound on it.
There are several palace buildings, among them - the Grand and Petit Trianon, the Empress's theater, the Belvedere, the Temple of Love, the French pavilion, the grotto, as well as viewing platforms, alleys, sculptures, a system of fountains and canals, because of which the gardens of Versailles were nicknamed " little Venice.
The further fate of Versailles
For about a hundred years, the Palace of Versailles was the residence of the French kings. So, it was until, as a result of the uprising of 1789, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were arrested and redirected to the city of Paris, where after a while they laid their heads on the guillotine. After that, the Palace of Versailles almost immediately ceased to be the administrative and political center of France, and he himself was plundered, as a result of which many masterpieces were hopelessly lost.
When Bonaparte came to power, he took the castle under his protection and ordered to start developing a plan to restore the palace complex (furniture from Fontainebleau and the Louvre was brought for this). True, all plans failed, and his empire collapsed. This only benefited Versailles, because the Bourbons returned to power, who began to actively restore the castle, and then transferred it to the museum.
The role of the castle in the life of society was not limited to this, and the secrets of Versailles continued to be created on its sidelines: when the Germans captured Versailles during the Franco-Prussian war, they placed the main headquarters here, and proclaimed the German Empire in the Mirror Gallery. Here, a month later, they signed a peace treaty with France, after which the French government sat in the palace for some time.
After the end of the First World War, the French, in order to take revenge on the Germans, in the Mirror Gallery forced them to sign the Treaty of Versailles. But forty years after World War II, the French-German reconciliation took place in the Palace of Versailles. After the war, the French began to collect money everywhere to restore the castle, and over time, many lost values \u200b\u200breturned to Versailles, UNESCO added it to its list, and at the beginning of the twenty-first century it joined the Association of European Royal Residences.
How to get to Versailles
Those wishing to get to Versailles on their own should take into account that on Mondays the Palace of Versailles is closed for visiting. In addition, knowledgeable people do not recommend going here on Sunday, when the French have a day off, and Tuesday - on this day, most of the museums in Paris are closed, and therefore many people come here. In order to avoid queues, it is better to arrive early in the morning or between 15.30 and 16.00.
Anyone who wants to get to this architectural monument on their own must first get to Paris, which is the closest major city to Versailles. Then there are several options: you can get to the Palace of Versailles by train or by bus.
Then you need to independently drive to the railway station and take one of the three Versailles Paris railway routes (the journey will take about forty minutes). If you use line C, you should take into account that the train leaves from here every fifteen minutes, and you will need to pay about 2.5 euros for a ticket. But the trip from the Paris Saint Lazare station will cost one euro more. In addition, once an hour to the city where the residence of the kings is located, there is a train from the Paris Montparnasse station.
Those wishing to travel by bus to Versailles on their own can be advised to use route number 171, the stop of which is located at the Pont de Servres station at the final station of the ninth metro line. In this case, the journey will take about thirty-five minutes, and the ticket will cost less - about one and a half euros.
Of course, the main attraction of the palace and park ensemble of Versailles is the palace itself. At the entrance to Versailles you will receive a plan of the palace, according to which you can make your route. In the Palace of Versailles, you should definitely visit the Royal Chapel, which is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments of the Baroque era. Passing through the chapel and the network of shining gilding and crystal rooms, you will find yourself in the throne room and the famous Mirror Gallery, in which the Treaty of Versailles was signed after the First World War. In addition, an obligatory point of the program is a visit to the Queen's Chambers in the northern wing of the palace, in which almost every square centimeter of the walls and ceiling is decorated with gilding.
Every room in the palace was given a symbolic meaning, and no room - not even in apartments reserved for courtiers or members of the royal family - was left private. The center of the palace was not at all the throne room or study. Much more importance was attached to what happened in the royal bedchamber. Here the most important ceremonies took place every day, and no one dared to be embarrassed by the nakedness of Their Majesties. To conduct such a ceremony, at least a hundred courtiers were required, who memorized the most complex choreographic rituals.
Of course, you can enjoy the luxury of the interior decoration of the chambers of the palace, but you can have a great day walking in the park of the Palace of Versailles. Well-groomed gardens, fragrant flower beds, musical fountains - there is everything that can please the aesthetic sense. In addition, two more palaces are located in the park of Versailles: the Grand Trianon (a palace in the Italian architectural style) and the Petit Trianon (a more modest building designed for the famous mistress of Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour). The park also houses the village of Marie Antoinette, a small farm with a thatched roof. The modest decoration of the Petit Trianon and the graceful asceticism of the village of Marie Antoinette will give your eyes, weary of the radiance of the Palace of Versailles, a long-awaited rest, and the fountains, synchronized with music, will become a real treat for your ears.
Tourists
The Palace of Versailles is located about 13 km southwest of Paris. The easiest way to get to Versailles is by metro (RER) line C - you will need to get to the station Versailles - Rive Gauche, which is located near the palace itself. In addition, trains leave for Versailles from stations Gare Montparnasse(station Versailles Chantiers) and Gare St-Lazare(station Versailles-Rive Droite). Tickets for the metro and trains cost the same - 2.80€ one way.
The opening hours of the Versailles Palace and Park Ensemble are different in high and low seasons, so be sure to check the palace website before traveling to Versailles: http://www.chateauversailles.fr/homepage. The site is available in several languages, but Russian is not among them.
You can buy tickets on the palace website, in FNAC stores (http://www.fnac.com/localiser-magasin-fnac/w-4), at the tourist office, which is located near the Versailles - Rive Gauche station, and, finally, at the box office of the palace itself.
When buying tickets to Versailles, it is very important not to get confused, as they have many varieties. Firstly, you can visit the palace with a museum card - Paris Museum Pass (http://en.parismuseumpass.com/). Many other Parisian sights can be visited on the same card, but if you are not going to visit all the museums of Paris in a short time, it simply will not pay off.
A full ticket to Versailles costs €25 on fountain days and €18 when the fountains are closed. For 15 € you can visit the Palace of Versailles separately with its famous Mirror Gallery, the chambers of the king and queen, frescoes, paintings and sculptures.
In addition to the main palace, the Versailles palace complex also includes the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon and the village of Marie Antoinette. For 10€ you can buy a ticket to both Trianon and the village of Marie Antoinette. Entrance to the park of Versailles is free, but on the days of the fountains it will cost you 8.5€.
If you go to Versailles in the summer, don't forget to bring a hat or cap with you: there is practically no place to hide from the sun in the gardens, so you can easily overheat.
Story
Now it is difficult even to imagine that at the beginning of the 17th century, on the site of the present Palace of Versailles, the gardens of which amaze with their perfect grooming, there were marshy swamps. But despite such unfavorable natural conditions, this area southwest of Paris attracted the attention of Louis XIII, who in 1624 ordered the construction of a small hunting castle here. And in 1661, Louis XIV remembered this castle, to whom it seemed that it was not safe for him to stay in Paris.
According to legend, when King Louis XIV was only 5 years old, he, walking through the picturesque Tuileries Garden, looked into a puddle. The sun reflected in the water. "I am the sun!" the boy shouted happily. From that day on, Louis was affectionately referred to by his subjects and family as the "Sun King". Even in his youth, he dreamed of something big, perfect and unique, such that it would amaze the whole of Europe - better than the Louvre, Vincennes and Fontainebleau combined. It took Louis XIV 50 years to make his dream come true! The "Sun King" turned his father's hunting castle into the largest palace in Europe! The interior decoration was entrusted to the painter Charlevy Lebrun, and the design of the gardens was entrusted to André Le Nôtre.
The "Sun King" was able to arrange a truly sun-like palace in Versailles, worthy of his greatness. Eight hundred hectares of swamps, where the king's father loved to hunt, were drained, and luxurious gardens, parks, alleys and fountains took their place.
In 1682, Louis XIV was already quite uncomfortable in the usual Paris, and the monarch decides to move to Versailles. At that time, the palace was not yet fully completed, and indeed not quite suitable for life, but the autocrat was adamant. The king has dreamed of the Palace of Versailles for so long that he can no longer wait - and the entire royal court is forced to follow Louis.
The palace complex of Versailles was created with the aim of glorifying France, and this initial plan was successfully implemented. The splendor of the interior decoration, ideal gardens and alleys, luxurious fountains, the scale of the palace and park ensemble - all this made the guests of the French court freeze in admiration.
The Palace of Versailles was the center of political life in France until the French Revolution in 1789. Along with the fall of the autocracy, the symbol of which was Versailles, the palace began to fall into disrepair.
- The Palace of Versailles is number 83 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- The days of the fountains turn into real shows: the fountains are synchronized with the music, thanks to which they make an absolutely unforgettable impression.
- Light shows are held on Saturday nights in the summer, featuring fountains and fireworks.
Chronology
- October 5, 1789: The revolutionaries expelled King Louis XVI from the Palace of Versailles.
- 19th century: Active restoration and conservation of the building began, which has not been completed to this day.
- January 18, 1871: King Wilhelm I of Prussia is crowned Emperor (Kaiser) of Germany in the Hall of Mirrors.
- February 26, 1871: A peace treaty is signed at Versailles, ending the Franco-Prussian War.
- June 28, 1919: The Treaty of Versailles is signed, stipulating the conditions for ending the First World War.
The more closely you peer into the history of France, the more you are surprised at the desire of kings to surpass their predecessors in luxury. Everyone tried to make their residence bigger and richer, spending simply fantastic money on landscaping, and Versailles in France is a vivid example of regal splendor that takes your breath away.
Versailles - a respectable suburb of Paris
Today, the Museum of Versailles is known throughout the world thanks to Louis XIII of the Bourbon dynasty, who wished to have his own secluded nest. In 1623, Jean de Soisy sold his lands to the king, on which a small hunting lodge of five rooms grew out of stone, brick and roofing slate.
Apparently, Louis XIII really lacked peace and quiet, since he chose such an unremarkable place. The French philosopher Saint-Simon said of him: "Never before have I seen a more desolate and barren place - without water, land and forest". Indeed, only swamps and sand stretched around, and the population was so small that in the chronicles of the 11th century the settlement is mentioned as a modest, unremarkable village, hidden behind a hill, whose name is explained by the name of the first feudal lord-owner - Hugh de Versailles.
This settlement arose only because it lay on the path from Normandy to, and the travelers had to stop somewhere to rest. Louis XIII liked to spend time here with friends, and later, where the mill once stood, and later the Marble Court appeared, a modest hunting lodge arose. Then it was difficult to predict that one day it would grow and become known as the Palace of Versailles.
Located 17.1 km southwest of the capitals of France, Versailles is now considered an important administrative center of the Yvelines department with a population of over 85,900 inhabitants. Now it is surrounded by lush forests, and a successful layout, laid down in the 18th century, became a model for imitation during the development of Washington.
The first reforms: from the hut to the palace
Since monarchs have always been distinguished by inconstancy, a thirst for change, and the desire for luxury is in their blood, already in 1632 the lands of Gondi were added to the territory of the king, which made it possible to significantly expand the hunting estate. 4 towers, 2 additional wings and a wall covering the entrance join the building. As defensive measures, a wall grows around and a moat appears, and now it is not just a holiday home, but a real fortified castle, ready to soon turn into a royal residence.
Louis XIV, the son of the previous monarch, turned out to be more ambitious, and in 1661 he began to reconstruct his heritage, and then finally moved into it. His desire to prove himself is understandable, because for too long the reins of government were in the tenacious hands of his mother, Anna of Austria, and the minister, Cardinal Mazarin.
Another reason why the Sun King decides to make the Palace of Versailles the center of government of the country is the Fronde of 1648-1653, after which the monarch did not feel too comfortable in Paris.
The inspiration for the construction of the beautiful royal palace was the chic residence of the Minister of Finance Fouquet - Vaux-le-Vicomte. In 1661, the minister was arrested, his property was confiscated, and the trio of architects who worked on his chateau were hired by Louis XIV with the condition that his mansions become a hundred times better.
Architect of the Palace of Versailles
This project turned out to be a swan song for them, because until the end of their days they were engaged in building and improving the Palace of Versailles.
Construction costs of the Palace of Versailles
Such a colossal plan required great human and financial sacrifices. All free hands were involved in the work, including peasants, soldiers and sailors from all adjacent territories. In order to increase the number of builders, any other construction was prohibited during the construction of the chateau, and this provided more than 30,000 people on the site.
As for money, the amount spent on the castle is shocking - almost 26 million livres, which corresponded to 10,521,867 kg of silver, and in terms of modern money, this is about 259.56 billion euros. At the same time, for the king, all materials were sold at exceptionally low prices, and if the performers went beyond the boundaries of the estimate, they were not paid the difference.
Construction of the Palace of Versailles
At times, the construction subsided, but not for long, and Louis again directed his gaze to the future palace, wanting to complete the grandiose project as soon as possible. Until 1682, he constantly moved between and Versailles, until he decides to completely move to a new residence with the whole court.
This decision is dictated by several reasons. Firstly, the Sun King understood that the only way to prevent a conspiracy in the bud was to keep the aristocratic elite in front of his eyes. Secondly, there was constant unrest in Paris, and it became dangerous to stay there. Thirdly, luxurious mansions demonstrated France to the whole world as the main player in the military, political and cultural field.
The stages of construction are marked by periods of wars. The first phase of perestroika work lasted from 1664 to 1668, when the war broke out with Spain. By this time, the palace was able to receive up to 600 people.
In 1669, after the battle for the Netherlands, the second three-year period of improvement began: the central part, the former hunting lodge, was being changed, and the surrounding territories were being remade. The southern wing was converted into the chambers of Queen Maria Theresa, and is almost identical to the northern wing of the Sun King, and the western zone became a terrace. An octagonal soaking tub and children's rooms on the upper floors were also provided.
In 1678, the Dutch War ends, and the third part of work on the palace begins until 1684. At this time, the western terrace turns into the Mirror Gallery, connecting the separate chambers of the crowned couple. It is distinguished by true chic and richness of design even today, although a large batch of decor was sold as early as 1689.
New outbuildings for princes and nobles appear, and a greenhouse is located in two huge halls. This stage in construction is also marked by the fact that the surrounding land is gradually being transformed into the beautiful gardens of Versailles.
1682 becomes the year of the official move of the royal court to a new residence, and this led to an increase in the population of the suburbs, an improvement in its well-being.
Until 1699, construction came to a halt, as previous military campaigns and stages of work had eaten a solid hole in the state budget. To support the Nine Years' War, which lasted until 1710, some elements of luxurious decor had to be sold, but after its completion, Louis XIV proceeds to the fourth stage of arrangement.
This time was marked by the construction of another chapel, which became the fifth on the territory of Versailles. Differing from the rest in its rectangular shape and height, it changes the facade of the main building, causing criticism of the surroundings. However, later it turned into the most interesting element of the architectural complex.
Construction of the Palace of Versailles under the leadership of Louis XV
By the time the five-year-old Louis XV (nicknamed the Beloved) ascended the throne after the death of the Sun King in 1715, the Palace of Versailles was already impressive with its majestic architecture, vast areas and royal interior decoration. Peter I, who visited France in 1717, does not hide his delight from what he saw and, looking at the mansion with the park adjacent to it, lights up with the idea of building something similar in St. Petersburg.
Under the Beloved, significant changes also take place with the architectural complex, although not as colossal as under his parent.
The first thing he did was complete the salon of Hercules. Under him, the Chambers of Madame, the Dauphin and his wife appeared, as well as the Small Chambers of the King on the lower, second and third levels.
His notable achievements were the completion of the Petit Trianon, the Opera Hall and the dismantling of the Staircase of the Ambassadors leading to the Great Royal Apartments in order to equip the princesses' rooms in its place.
As for the park, unlike Louis XIV, his son paid little attention to the park, and the only significant element of it was the Neptune pool, built in 1738-1741. Radical changes in the park area took place already under Louis XVI, because for a hundred years the trees had time to dry out, and the need to rejuvenate the green spaces pulled new grandiose design ideas.
The culmination of innovative ideas in the last years of his reign was the refurbishment of the premises on the advice of the leading architect Gabriel - from the side of the city, the facade was to take on a classic look. Work on this project continued until the twentieth century.
Impact of the Revolution and the Time of the First Empire
In early October 1789, under the leadership of Lafayette, the National Guard and a crowd of people broke into the Palace of Versailles demanding that the royal family and the National Assembly be expelled to Paris. In order not to inflame passions even more, the top of the country submits, moving to the Louvre and, and Versailles loses the status of an administrative and managerial center and is sealed.
From this moment begins the decline of the castle. While Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are in custody awaiting execution, according to a plan to get rid of luxury and use the building for the needs of the new government, the usual looting is going on.
Many items of interior decoration were simply taken away until control was established. After that, some of the items were sent to auction, others to exhibitions.
Thinking about the fate of the palace, they offered to rent it or sell it, but in the end they decided to leave it under the control of the republic, and until they figured out a better purpose for it, art objects were brought here, which later replenished the storerooms of various museums.
And yet, individual decorative elements continued to disappear from the walls of the once luxurious mansion - they were sold to fill the state treasury.
The building of the former royal mansion experienced a period of decadence until it attracted the attention of Napoleon I, who returned the status of his residence, but now the emperor.
In 1806, he ordered the architect Jacques Gonduin to take up restoration work, but Bonaparte rejected both of his projects, and only in 1808 was gold and mirror panels recreated, and furniture was brought from Fontebleau and the Louvre.
Versailles receives museum status
When in 1814 - 1815. and the Bourbon dynasty comes to power again, the last French king, Louis Philippe I, who had several nicknames, sits on the throne: "king-citizen", "king-bourgeois", and finally "king-pear". He turns the Palace of Versailles, built on the orders of Louis XIV, into a museum, which exhibits historical values, paintings with battle scenes, portraits and busts.
But the insidious time has prepared a few more shocks, which, from the height of the passed years in the canvas of history, look like a spectacular addition. So, when France turned out to be the losing side in the Franco-Prussian war, the German army was headquartered in the palace (1870-1871), and in order to further humiliate the French, on January 18 in the Mirror Gallery announced the German Empire, and its Kaiser - Wilhelm I. But already in February, a peace treaty was signed in the same gallery, and a month later the French government returned to Versailles to settle here until 1879.
However, the offense was not forgotten, and in order to return the “debt”, at the end of the First World War, the Mirror Gallery is not chosen in vain to conclude a preliminary truce and the Vienna Treaty with defeated Germany. The Palace of Versailles in France served as a place of reconciliation between the Franco-German sides after the Second World War.
Since 1952, its global restoration begins, for which the government allocated 5 million francs, and also announced through all means of communication about the search for patrons and called for voluntary donations from citizens. In 1979, the architectural complex became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2007 the post of President of the Palace of Versailles was introduced, which was taken by the Minister of Culture Jean-Jacques Aiagon.
Exterior architecture and interior design of the mansion
Since Versailles received the status of a museum, millions of tourists have flocked to it every year to see with their own eyes the grandeur, splendor and abundance of the palace, where conspiracies and intrigues were the norm, from generation to generation cunning plans were perfected, behind-the-scenes gossip were woven and the secrets of Versailles were created. .
Surrounded by walls that remember the first cry of the kings born here: Philip V, Louis XV, XVI and XVIII, Charles X, you expect that one of the crowned sons of France will appear from around the corner, surrounded by courtiers to the rustle of silk and knock heels.
Such a huge area once belonged to the monarchs, and today the halls of Versailles receive curious visitors. To navigate the large areas (67 thousand square meters), you should know that the complex has several zones: the Chateau, the Small Trianon with the Big Trianon, the territory of the Marie Antoinette farm and the garden and park area. In total, 372 statues, 67 stairs and 25 thousand windows were installed in the palace premises.
The main building and the main attraction of the entire complex, where all tourists strive to get is the Chateau. Passing the main entrance, you will find yourself in its courtyard, from where you can go to the park or to the palace itself, where the Hall of Mirrors is its heart. In fact, this is a passage 73 m long and 11 m wide, uniting both wings of the castle.
The highlight of the Mirror Room is 357 mirrors located opposite 17 windows. The reflection creates the illusion that the garden surrounds the gallery from two sides, and in the evening they once sparkled with the lights of thousands of candles. It was decorated with figured floor lamps, candelabra, bronze-cut silver vases, crystal chandeliers and live orange trees, while the walls and ceiling were painted with scenes from mythology and history, in which the great dramas of court life were played out. Moreover, Louis XIV himself was certainly portrayed as an ancient hero.
Even the furniture here was made of pure silver (as Lebrun intended), which speaks of the original scale, but in 1689, unfortunately, it had to be melted down into coins to support the army.
Also here are the royal chambers, in which the central part is occupied by a bed located at the intersection of three highways connecting the Palace of Versailles with Paris.
The queen's bedroom is also located in the Chateau, and an impressive canopy bed and other interior items are decorated with gilding. Princess apartments are also nearby.
Halls of the Palace of Versailles
There are several interesting halls in the mansion, for example, the Hall of War, where you can see paintings that tell about past epic battles.
Not far from the entrance is the Royal Chapel. Its floor is decorated with a family coat of arms, lined with colored marble, and around the altar there are sculptures of ancient Greek gods made of bronze. The upper tier of the chapel was occupied by the crowned family, while the lower tier was occupied by the courtiers. After the service, the king retired to one of the chambers open today to curious visitors.
The Apollo Hall (or the Throne Hall) - ambassadors were received here, holidays or theatrical performances with musical accompaniment were held in the evenings, in which the monarch often took part.
Billiards were usually played in Diana's Hall. The Salon of Abundance served as a pantry, an exhibition of the royal collection of coins and paintings by Karachi, Veronese and Titian, and in the Hall of Venus, the main exhibit is a statue of Louis XIV.
The Bull's Eye salon is also of interest. Such a dissonant name was given to a room with an opening that looks like a bull's organ of vision. It served as a window through which the courtiers could observe the monarch in his apartments.
The greenhouse, designed by Hardouin-Mansart, has a U-shape, where more than 200 gardeners worked, caring for fruit-bearing exotics, among which there were 3,000 pomegranate, tangerine and orange trees.
At certain times, the Royal Opera House is available for viewing the interior, but this depends on the concert schedule. There are other places where you can only go with a guide.
Palace of Versailles inside
Grand and Petit Trianon at Versailles
The Versailles Museum has two separate palaces. The Grand Trianon has more than 30 rooms, a private patio and a park with ponds. It served as a chamber for the king and his family, where they could feel more frivolous, without adhering to strict etiquette.
At one time there were guests: Peter I, Elizabeth II, Gorbachev, Yeltsin and other political figures.
Petit Trianon was a kind of women's territory. The cozy two-story mansion was originally inhabited by the favorite of the Beloved King - Madame Pompadour. This is the only woman who was allowed to spend her last days at Versailles. Louis really was attached to her, and when she died of a lung disease, he saw her off, standing on one of the balconies of the palace in the pouring rain.
His parting words to her were: “Well, you chose terrible weather to take a last walk, madam.”.
Later, the Petit Trianon was occupied by Dubarry and, finally, by Marie Antoinette. With the exception of the bedroom, this part of the mansion has a more modest decoration, but it had its own theater, where performances were staged with the participation of the queen. Now it has been turned into a Marie Antoinette museum with original personal and interior items, and only a few have been recreated by decorators.
Those in power have their own quirks, and Marie Antoinette had a small village right on the territory of Versailles near her palace. Having a lot of free time, she amused herself by milking cows, weeding beds, feeding birds or decorating animals with colored ribbons.
Stalls for goats and cows, a dovecote and perches for chickens were built here, and 12 houses were also inhabited, and the "peasants" were strictly ordered to observe a pastoral appearance.
This village has been recreated with animals and is open to the public.
Gardens and park of Versailles
The park part surprises with a perfectly flat surface. Even when construction began, the architects leveled the site so carefully that not a single hillock remained on it. The gardens of Versailles cover about 5 sq. km, replete with paths, green bushes and trees, fountains and lakes, impeccable lines of green lawns.
Sitting on the balcony of his chambers, the king liked to watch theatrical performances that took place in the Court of Marble, and it was here that Molière first staged The Misanthrope. And above the windows of the chambers of Louis, the clock counted down, but was stopped at the time of his death.
The monarch liked to walk under the arches and among the marble columns, or arrange dinner meals among them. The theme of ancient gods was close to him, and the gardens of Versailles are generously decorated with their figures.
Directly in front of the Mirror Gallery, two oblong pools stretched parallel to each other, behind which the Great Staircase leads down, and at its foot, surrounded by four stone vases, there is a reservoir with a fountain of Latona, decorated with many gilded figures.
Further, an alley with mighty trees along it leads to a spacious green meadow, behind which, in a large pool, Apollo drives a chariot drawn by four of Neptune's own water horses - hippocampi. The Apollo Fountain was formed under the guidance of the sculptor Tyubi, who took as a basis the sketches of Ch. Lebrun.
To the north of the palace stands the parterre, decorated with the figures of Crouching Venus and the Grinder. From them, a staircase leads to the pools "Sirens" and "Crown", which have a rounded shape, as well as to the fountain "Pyramid", in which gilded dolphins with newts splash.
To see how the “Dragon” fountain throws a stream of water 47 meters high, you need to go along the famous “Water Alley”, created by J. Hardouin-Mansart, and which has a different name - “Water Theater”. It is notable for the fact that it is framed by 14 small round reservoirs, creating a single stepped ensemble with bronze images of children holding a bowl filled with flowers and fruits.
In addition to many lakes and pools with fountains, the gardens of Versailles are replete with terraces, and the farther from the palace, the level gradually decreases. In addition, it is pleasant to walk along the alleys, imagining how Marie Antoinette once walked along the same path, admiring the sculptures and the play of water jets released by mythological animals.
The park, filled with grottoes, pavilions, a system of water channels, vegetation and viewing platforms, looks so well thought out that it has been called "little Venice".
Events of Versailles
It is worth visiting the grandiose "nest" of monarchs once, and this event will become the main event in your life for a long time. The entertainment that is held here will allow you to plunge into the colorful past of France, visit a real ball at the court, where gallant ladies and gentlemen in magnificent costumes dance to classical music in the same way as several centuries ago.
After that, every Saturday (May-September), when most tourists leave the Palace of Versailles, a night show begins for ticket holders with illuminated fountains and music, and the final scene at 23:00 is a grandiose fireworks blooming over the Grand Canal.
Musical fountains are a wonderful sight, caressing the eyes and ears, and they are turned on on weekends and holidays.
In addition to the delightful shows, permanent and temporary exhibitions of paintings by contemporary painters and artists of past eras are worthy of attention, thematic rooms are open, and after the reconstruction, the Royal Opera House was opened, where plays are staged and concert performances are held.
Service Offered
To quickly move around the vast territory of the complex, you can rent a bicycle for 6 euros, a segway, an electric car (if you have international rights) or for 7.5 euros you can ride from Chateau to Trianon on a tourist electric train.
Visitors are offered to rent a boat and take a pleasant walk along Little Venice and the Grand Canal.
If you are tired and hungry, you can have a snack in a cafe with an open veranda. Several outlets offer takeaway juices, potatoes and other snacks, and if you want to sit in comfort, check out the restaurants near the picturesque places of the garden.
To visit Versailles itself is a dream that comes true once in a lifetime, and far from everyone, and therefore, in memory of the trip, I want to keep a souvenir. In the museum shop you can buy candles, books, albums, tapestries for pillows with original embroidery, bags, medals and coins, dishes, figurines, even a jar of raspberry jam in a gift box and other items.
Tickets to Versailles
Tickets to Versailles for visiting the farm, Chateau and Trianons - 18 euros, with working fountains - 25 euros.
Buy tickets to Versailles at low prices
A ticket for two days with a full visit to all attractions - 25 euros, with working fountains - 30 euros.
- Chateau - 15 euros.
- Farm and Trianons - 10 euros.
- A park without working fountains - admission is free, with fountains - 9 euros.
- Ball and evening show with fountains - 39 euros.
- Evening show only - 24 euros.
- Only the ball - 17 euros.
- Free admission for children under 5 years old.
Benefits are used by students, persons with disabilities and children aged 6-17.
Purchasing the FORFAIT LOISIRS card will allow you to travel on public transport for free and will serve as an entrance ticket to the Palace of Versailles and its park area.
Note: you can make video and photography only after an additional payment.
Opening hours of Versailles
- The garden and park area is open 8:00-18:00 (during the busy tourist season 7:00-20:30)
- Farm and Trianons - 12:00-17:30 (18:30)
- Chateau - 9:00-17:30 (18:30)
- Closed on Mondays, May 1st, January 1st and December 25th
Panorama of Versailles
From Paris to Versailles on my own
When choosing a day to visit the palace, one must take into account that it is especially crowded here on weekends. Tuesday is also a high attendance, because in most museums it is a day off, and people come here. Also, in order to avoid long queues, it is better to take the tour early in the morning or at 15:30-16:00.
Palace of Versailles (Photo)
Photo gallery of Versailles
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Fabulous Palace of Versailles is a testament to the extravagance of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The palace and its beautiful formal garden became the main model for palaces throughout Europe.
- From Paris: 22 km from Paris, 35 minutes by car.
Versailles opening hours:
April - October:
- Palace 9:00 - 18:30, last entry 18:00, ticket office closes at 17:50. Closed on Mondays.
- Trianon Palace and Marie Antoinette Manor - 12:00 - 20:30, closed on Mondays.
- Garden - daily 8:00 - 20:30.
- Park - daily 7 - 19 for vehicles and 7 - 20:30 for pedestrians.
November - March
- Palace 9:00 - 17:30, last entry 17:00, ticket office closes at 16:50. Closed on Mondays.
- Trianon Palace and Marie Antoinette Manor - 12:00 - 17:30, closed on Mondays.
- Garden and park - daily, except Mondays, 8:00 - 18:00.
Entrance to Versailles:
- A ticket to the Palace of Versailles costs 15€ for adults (including audio guide), reduced price - 13 €, under 18s free of charge.
- "Hidden Versailles" - with a guide, private apartments - 16 €.
- Trianon Palace and the estate of Marie Antoinette - 10 € (preferential - 6 €).
- Complete Versailles: 18 €(25 € on days of music concerts).
- Forfaits Loisirs combo ticket (all of Versailles + tickets from Paris and to Paris)- 21.75 € weekdays, 26 € weekends. You can buy at the SNCF railway ticket offices. (the best way).
In summer after 15:00 entrance to the territory of the palace (park) is free.
The first Sunday of every month from November to March - a free tour of the apartments, the coronation room, the Trianon Palace and the Marie Antoinette estate.
How to get to Versailles:
From public transport, the most convenient way to get to Versailles is by direct train:
- : stop Versailles Rive Gauche(ticket zone 1 - 4, regular T+ is not valid).
- : Versailles-Chantiers(from) or Versailles-Rive Droite(trains from Gare St-Lazare). Travel time is about 20 minutes. Then walk to Versailles following the signs - 15 minutes.
Train ticket to Versailles: 7.10 € in both directions, at the ticket machine you need to select the final destination - Versailles Rive Gauche.
Tickets are valid: Paris Visite (1 - 5 zones) - from 11.15 € / day.
Train timetable to Versailles - RER C:
Route map RER C (download PDF):
Maps of Versailles:
A Brief History of Versailles
Versailles is located about 20 kilometers from Paris. The first mention of the city and the estate was in 1038, when the name appeared in the charter of the abbey of Saint Pere de Chartres. At the end of the 11th century, Versailles was a provincial village comprising the castle and the church of Saint-Julien, which remained prosperous well into the early 13th century. After the Hundred Years War, however, only a handful of people lived there.
royal presence
In the 16th century, the Gondi family became the rulers of Versailles, and the city became popular when the future King Louis XIII visited the place and was fascinated by its beauty. In 1622 he bought land in the area and set about building a small house of stone and brick.
Statue of Louis XIV
Ten years later, he became the master of Versailles and began expanding his lodge. He soon acquired more land as well as the property of Gondi. Louis XIII died in 1643.
Sun King
In 1662, the new king - Louis XIV - was very interested in Versailles. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, distrusted the Parisians and wanted to move his royal residence away from the Louvre, which was constantly at the center of political fuss. The Sun King was largely responsible for the expansion of Versailles, which resulted in the building that still stands today. He hired the architect Louis Le Vau and the painter Charles Le Brun to build this Baroque masterpiece that has become a typical example of all palaces in Europe. The famous gardener André Le Nôtre was responsible for the unrivaled garden of Versailles.
royal chapel
After the death of the architect Le Vau, Jules Hardouin-Mansart was ordered to triple the size of the palace. Under his watchful eye, the north and south wings, the Orangerie, the Grand Trianon (castle) and the royal chapel were built. Later, an opera and the Petit Trianon (a small castle) were added, which was built between 1761 and 1764 for Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour.
French revolution
During the French Revolution, the incredible collection of paintings, antiques and other works of art that had been accumulated at Versailles were donated to and other important items were sent to the National Library and the Conservatory of Arts and Crafts. Most of the furniture, according to historians, was sold at auction.
Royal Palace
After the Revolution, Napoleon spent his summers at Versailles until he abdicated. Later, Louis-Philippe lived here, who in 1830 turned the castle into a grand museum dedicated to the "Glory of France". The Chapel, the Opera House, and the Hall of Mirrors were preserved, but many of the smaller rooms were demolished to make way for spacious exhibition halls. However, in the 1960s, the curator Pierre Verlet managed to get some of the furniture back and restore a number of royal apartments.
Today, visitors can visit Versailles, see much of the interior of this magnificent palace, as well as the world-famous garden.
Versailles Museum:
Notable numbers include:
mirror hall
Some call the Hall of Mirrors Louis XIV's most notable contribution to Versailles. The main feature of the hall is the seventeen mirrored arches that reflect the seventeen arcade windows that overlook the no less magnificent garden of Versailles. Each arch contains twenty-one mirrors, for a total of 357 mirrors in the room. This magnificent hall is 73 meters long, 10.5 meters wide and 12.3 meters high. Statues and busts are displayed along the walls. The Hall of Mirrors has always played an important role in history, including in 1919, when the First World War officially ended, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles in this hall.
royal chapel
Currently, the chapel is already the fifth in a row in the palace. Construction began in 1689 and was completed around 1710. Here is a "tribune" on the same level as the royal apartments, overlooking the nave, where the kings sat while participating in mass. The architecture is a combination of Gothic and Baroque. Many details of the chapel are reminiscent of the cathedrals of the Middle Ages, including the gargoyle and gabled roof, colored marble tiles on the floor, columns and carved pillars.
Grand Apartment
Originally known as the apartments of the planets (each of the 7 salons of this apartment has a painting of the planets), it was the apartments of King Louis XIV. While all the apartments are mesmerizing, the most notable are the ceilings painted by the King's painter Charles Lebrenoy and his team of artists.
Royal Opera
The auditorium of the Opera is clad entirely in wood, making it one of the most acoustically live theaters in the world. Although it was a court theater and was not intended for a huge audience, it seats over 700 people. Gold, pink and green dominate the decor of the Opera, whose construction was finally completed only in 1770. It was first used for the wedding ball of the future King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and boasts a unique mechanical system that elevates the floor to stage level. Today, the Opera is still used for concerts and opera performances.
park geometry
Spread over 100 hectares, the garden of Versailles is the largest palace garden in Europe. It was created in the 17th century by landscape gardener André Le Nôtre, who designed what can be considered the quintessential French formal garden. The garden is laid out in the form of a geometric pattern created by paths, shrubs, flower beds and trees. Le Nôtre also drained the swampy, sloping terrain and created a series of pools and a large channel known as the Grand Canal.
Fountain of Laton
Several fountains adorn the pools. The most famous are the Laton Fountain - with a statue of the goddess Latona - and the Apollo Fountain - named after the sun god and depicting the sun king riding in chariots. There are several other fountains in the garden such as the Neptune Fountain. The fountains were installed to entertain the many guests invited to the lavishly organized balls of King Louis XIV.
Another notable decoration in the garden is the Colonnade, a circular row of marble columns designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart.
Small Trianon
In Versailles there are also several smaller palaces located in the garden: the Great Trianon and the Petit Trianon. About 10,000 people worked in the Palace of Versailles, so you could not count on privacy. Therefore, King Louis XIV ordered the construction of the Grand Trianon, a palace almost as luxurious as the main palace, where the king could escape the formalities of the court and arrange a rendezvous with his mistress. His successor, King Louis XV later built an even smaller palace - the Petit Trianon - for the same reason.
Until now, Versailles, this masterpiece of the Sun King Louis XIV, is considered a real treasure of culture. Many attempts were made to create a semblance of Versailles (for example, a palace near St. Petersburg, built on the orders of Peter, who dreamed of building a Russian Versailles). However, all the same, it is this structure of France that remains a unique work of architectural art.
Location of Versailles
Before the Versailles palace complex was erected, the area itself was of little note. Here is how Saint-Simon spoke of her: "Never before have I met a more despondent and ungrateful place - without water, without land, without forest." The terrain was really sandy and. Before the palace complex was erected on the lands of Versailles, there was nothing remarkable here.
The oldest village of Ile-de-France Versailles is mentioned in historical documents of the 10th century. It says that it was even "not a village, but a very modest village, hidden behind a hillside, there are a great many of these scattered around the capital."
Versailles was crossed by the road leading from Normandy to Paris, which was about 18 km away. That is why travelers often stop here. The village of Versailles went down in history due to the fact that Catherine de Medici met here with the future King Henry IV.
Henry's son, Louis XIII, enjoyed spending time at Versailles with his friends. Historians noted that by nature Louis was a very timid person, and he liked solitude. It was here that a small hunting lodge was built on the site of a former windmill, which later grew into a magnificent Palace.
History of Versailles
Versailles (the administrative center of the Yvelines department) - a village 24 kilometers from Paris, was chosen by King Louis XIII for the construction of a modest hunting castle. However, his more ambitious son Louis XIV, dissatisfied with his other palaces (among which were the Tuileries), in 1660 decided to rebuild Versailles into a luxurious palace and park ensemble. Everything here was supposed to amaze with splendor and scope - after all, the king wanted the entire royal court to be located here. Construction work began in 1661. For the first two years, Louis XIV, who went down in history as the Sun King, spent countless sums of money from the treasury.
The construction of Versailles lasted several decades and required not only incredible financial expenses, but also the involvement of many thousands of workers. In the midst of construction work in Versailles, there was a shortage of workers, so soldiers and sailors were often called in to help.
The first architect of Versailles was Louis Leveau, later he was replaced by Jules Hardouin-Monsart, who led the construction for thirty years. The design of the parks was entrusted to André Le Nôtre.
It all started with the titanic work of draining the swamps, putting earth, sand and stones in their place, leveling and creating artificial terraces. Then the workers began to dig canals and build water pipes, which, already in the initial period of the construction of Versailles, was intended for fountains and cascades, which later would glorify the Palace of Versailles.
Five pools full of water were built on the first terrace, various artificial flowers made of gilded copper “floated” in them. On the other terrace there were also five pools full of water, and in the water were a sea horse and people, from whose mouths water spouted. Around the pools are stone frogs and monkeys. Below, the builders installed a round pool around which are sculptures symbolizing the four seasons. Each season had its own animals that blew water out of their mouths.
Louis XIV died in 1715. His heir, Louis XV, hired Jacques Ange Gabriel as court architect. Among his many works at Versailles, one should mention the Opera House and the famous Petit Trianon - an elegant, miniature castle in which Marie Antoinette later lived. Under Louis XVI, an elegant library was added to it.
In a certain sense, the entire palace and park ensemble was a grandiose stage where the royal court rested on a grand scale. This tradition was continued by Louis's successors, especially Marie Antoinette. She built her own theater here, where she later liked to have fun with friends.
During the years of the great French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles was plundered several times, many masterpieces were lost. In 1837, by order of Louis Philippe, the giant palace complex was restored. It opened the Museum of the History of France.
Features of the architecture and interior of Versailles
The parks of Versailles are spread over an area of 101 hectares. Thanks to the open layout, it is perfectly visible, since the entire territory is perfectly flat - it is impossible to find a mound or a hillock on it.
In the palace park of Versailles, there are many viewing platforms, alleys and promenades, there is even a Grand Canal, or rather, a whole system of canals, which was called "little Venice". In front of the facade of the palace, in front of the windows of the famous Mirror Gallery, in a completely open space, two strongly elongated pools, enclosed in granite frames, symmetrically spread out. These pools immediately catch the eye. Behind these pools began the descent of the Grand Staircase. At its foot there is a space on which, among the giant green stalls, decorated with four “antique” vases, there is a round pool with the “Lato Fountain” (in honor of the nymph Lation, beloved of Zeus, who was forced to flee, fleeing from the persecution of jealous Hera). This fountain is a large sculptural group of lead gilded in places.
A central alley leads from the Latona Fountain to a wide green lawn framed by clumps of ancient trees. In the depths of the lawn is the famous pool with the figure of Apollo riding in a chariot to meet his mother. "Fountain of Apollo" was created by the sculptor Tyuby based on the sketches of C. Lebrun. Under high pressure, the central jet is thrown up with force to a height of 25 meters, and fifteen-meter side jets, rushing up, draw a lily flower - the emblem of the French kings.
To the north of the Palace of Versailles is the Northern parterre, decorated with bronze sculptures "Grinder" and "Squatting Venus". From the northern parterre, a staircase leads to the round pools "Crown" and "Sirens" and to the fabulous in design and beauty of the "Pyramid" fountain with gilded newts and dolphins.
The famous “Water Alley”, which is also called the “Water Theatre”, was designed by J. Hardouin-Mansart. It is bordered by fourteen small round-shaped white marble ones, following one after another in steps. They are decorated with bronze figures of children holding a bowl filled with fruits and flowers. "Water Alley" leads to the highest fountain of the Versailles park - the "Dragon", the central jet of which beats up to 47 meters.
The Palace of Versailles itself is also striking in its size: the length of only one park facade is 640 meters. The main palace complex (Chateau de Versailles) was built in the 17th century by King Louis XIV, who wanted to move here from insecure Paris. Luxurious rooms richly decorated with marble, velvet and wood carvings really impress even the sophisticated visitor.
The main attractions here are the Royal Chapel, the Salon of Venus and the Salon of Apollo. The design of the front rooms was dedicated to the Greek gods. The salon of Apollo was originally the throne room of Louis.
Colonnade - a circle of marble columns and arches, located within the gardens, continues the theme of the gods of Olympus. The place was the king's favorite outdoor dining area.
The Petit Trianon is one of the many love nests built by King Louis XV for Madame de Pompadour. Later, the Petit Trianon was occupied by Marie Antoinette, and even later by Napoleon's sister.
Marble Court - the main chambers of the king came out here. Theatrical performances were played out in front of Louis's balcony. On this "stage" Molière's troupe played "The Misanthrope" for the first time. Above the high windows of the royal chambers, a clock was installed, which stopped at the time of the death of the king. Until the middle of the 17th century, they showed the hour of Louis's death.
The Mirror Gallery is the largest room in Versailles. It is 73 meters long, 12.8 meters high and 10.5 meters wide. Royal birthdays and marriages were celebrated in this hall, luxurious balls were held, and foreign ambassadors were received. The Hall of Mirrors contains 17 huge mirrors, reflecting tall arched windows and crystal candelabra.
The painting of the Mirror Gallery was entrusted to Lebrun, who was endowed with complete independence of creative activity. On the walls of the gallery, the artist placed 12 medallions and 6. Important events of that time are depicted here: reforms, restoration of navigation, etc. There were also scenes from mythology. The hero of each composition is the king, who can appear in the image of some ancient hero. The ceiling paintings by Lebrun exalt the exploits of Louis XIV between 1661 and 1678.
Salon of Abundance - during official receptions it was used as a pantry, on ordinary days a collection of Louis coins was kept here. It also houses paintings by Titian, Veronese and Karachi.
Throne Hall - audiences of the king, ceremonial receptions, meetings with ambassadors were held here. It was here that the huge throne of Louis was installed in the idea of a canopy chair.
Orangery - was built according to the project of Hardouin-Mansart. It is shaped like the letter "P". Here, at the behest of the king, various rare plants were grown. The pride of the royal greenhouse was 3,000 orange, tangerine and pomegranate trees. More than 200 gardeners served this greenhouse.
Of course, the construction of a chic complex in Versailles cost France a round sum. During the time of Louis, more than 80,000 livres were spent on the construction of Versailles, which was simply a colossal amount. However, she did not lose anything, but on the contrary, she only gained. In 1830, the ensemble of the Grand Palace of Versailles became the National Museum of France. Now Versailles is a real treasure, which is considered not only the property of France, but also the cultural value of all mankind.