Description of the attraction
Versailles is the most famous royal residence in the world. Surrounded by a famous park, it is located sixteen kilometers southwest of Paris.
Versailles history
The first mention of the castle at this place dates back to the XII century. In 1623, young Louis XIII, who at times needed solitude (he suffered from bouts of agoraphobia, fear of crowds) built a three-story hunting lodge here. By 1632, the king bought all the surroundings from the archbishop of Paris de Gondi, the construction of a new castle began, and gardens were laid out.
When the king died, his four-year-old son could not yet take over. For the first time, Louis XIV arrived at Versailles in October 1641, fleeing a smallpox epidemic. Having married Maria Theresa in 1660, he decided to establish his new residence here.
By 1668, the first phase of the reconstruction, carried out by the architect Louis le Vaux and the king's gardener, André Le Nôtre, was completed. Versailles has become one of the finest palaces in Europe. But his contemporaries criticized him: the place was chosen on quicksand and bog, there are few rooms. The king continued to live in those years in the Louvre.
Soon, the apartments of the king and queen, the famous Mirror Gallery, appeared here. In 1678, the great Jules Hardouin-Mansart took over the reconstruction. He changed the facades of the palace, added magnificent wings to it, updated the interiors, introduced solemn staircases into them, and created the Grand Canal. The residence in the style of classicism with baroque elements has acquired a true splendor.
The Sun King moved to Versailles in 1682. But later he continued to finish building his beloved brainchild. Here his heir, Louis XV, was born, at which the Neptune pool, the royal opera house, Hercules' salon full of masterpieces of painting and sculpture appeared.
In 1770, the future Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were married in the chapel of Versailles. The huge expenses of the royal couple on the construction, in particular, of the Little Trianon, became one of the reasons for the outrage on the eve of the Revolution. On October 5, 1789, the people invaded the residence and took over the royal family. Leaving, Louis XVI asked the manager: "Try to save my Versailles!" But the works of art were sent to the Louvre, the furniture was sold at auction, the Little Trianon was turned into a tavern.
Palace Museum
Even Napoleon failed to fully restore the splendor of Versailles. King Louis-Philippe converted it into a museum of the history of France, officially opened in 1837. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the palace suffered humiliation: the headquarters of the Prussian troops was located here. It is no coincidence that peace with defeated Germany in 1919 was signed here, in the Hall of Mirrors.
Today Versailles is the richest museum. His art collection includes masterpieces by Mignard, Lebrun, Rigaud, Houdon, Renoir, Delacroix, Gerard. The gardens surrounding the palace are a brilliant example of a classic French regular garden with terraces, fountains and sculptures.
The museum is always full, there is a queue for tickets. On excursions you need to be careful: there are dexterous pickpockets in the halls. But the vast areas of the park can be explored by driving around in a rented electric car.
On a note
- Location: Place d'Armes, Versailles
- How to get there: metro-train RER to the station "Versailles-Chantiers" or "Versailles-Rive Droite".
- Official website:
- Opening hours: the park and palaces are open daily from 9.00 to 18.00. The fountains work strictly during certain hours from April to October.
- Tickets: a full ticket with a tour of the palaces and fountains costs 25 euros. Can be purchased separately, the cost will be lower.
