The distance from the king's seat to the kitchen was allegedly so far away that his meals were often served cold. It would then be changed by staff when they got round to it. It was one of the most innovative and contemporary projects. The Galerie des Glaces is my favorite example of what the King wanted to achieve with this project. In general, when a new construction was undertook, people used the materials found on site. Also known as the Théâtre Gabriel, the theater was made of wood but painted to resemble marble, and the floor of the orchestra level could be raised to the level of the stage to become a ballroom. 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. The King Louis XIV is the creator of this unique palace. Earthwork and levelling were essential for the construction to begin. The Grand Canal is about one mile (1.6 km) long and 203 feet (62 m) wide, making it the largest body of water on the grounds. 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. The Gardens of Versailles span across 800 hectares, comprised of 1,400 fountains, 400 sculptures, … You will be able to enjoy a beautiful walk around the Palace of Versailles in peace. They had to invent new techniques and hydraulic methods. He had over 200 servants to carry out various duties such as emptying the Royal chamber pot. The research activities conducted at Versailles were reportedly crucial to the eventual creation of veterinary schools. While there were hardly limits to food and drink on offer at Versailles, King Louis XV reportedly really just wanted hot chocolate. The life of the King Louis XIV was exposed for everyone to see. Whoever did not follow these rules was not allowed to walk the Palace. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! This showed everyone the wealth of the King. To support our blog and writers we put affiliate links and advertising on our page. The King Louis XIV used to live in the Louvre, but since it is located right in the center of Paris, surrounded by buildings, it didn’t allow him to enlarge his residence. However, in 1994, it was. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It was very important to be present when the King woke up, to hear but also to be seen by the King. ’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. In 1678, Louis XIV left the Louvre for Versailles. Louis XIV gathered around him the most important figures of the kingdom. During the Enlightenment period, both Louis XV and Louis XVI were passionate about science and gathered quite a collection of instruments used during experiments in horology, astronomy, and cartography, among other fields of study. But you need to be aware that you will have to wait in queues that can go up to three hours, only to get in! The garden once hosted 400 botanical species from around the world, including pineapples, vanilla, coffee, and more. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Wherever she goes, she always tries to experience each city as locals do. In 1979, the entire Palace of Versailles domain was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The King couldn’t show his elegance and the greatness of monarchy, so he wanted something bigger that would express his grandeur. Realizing the plot of land's potential, he decided to build a brick and stone hunting lodge on the premises in 1623. This exploit was extraordinary for the time. Stock Photos from Everett Historical/Shutterstock. Embellished by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators and landscape architects, it provided Europe with a model of the ideal royal residence for over a century.”, Stock Photos from Cynthia Liang/Shutterstock. The room was originally lit with as many 20,000 candles, transforming it into a “corridor of light,” but there was a dark story attached to it. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Construction of the distinctive Hall of Mirrors began in 1678 under the architect Jules Hardouin Mansart, and had an impressive 357 mirrors. They satisfied all the desires of the King and made all his dreams come true with the help of the workers. The Palace of Versailles cost about $2 billion in today’s money. 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. The land on which the King wanted to build his impressive palace was not fit for the construction. Being the home to the Kings of France between 1662 and 1789, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most important landmarks in French history. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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. On the other side of the world, French-American architect and engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant was looking to Versailles for unexpected inspiration. The grounds were initially bought by Louis XIII (1601–1643) to host a lodge where he could stay after hunting if it was getting too late to return home. These had to come by sea and reach the Seine river, because the routes of the time were of poor quality. As he wakes up, members of the court come to assist “this ceremony”. The huge gardens were just as spectacular as the palace itself. They had to find solutions for all the obstacles the construction had to face: for instance, the water. “Women’s March on Versailles,” 1789 (Photo: Bibliothèque nationale de France via Wiki Art Public Domain). But it was not enough. The palace was built in the late 17th century as a home for France’s king at the time. Visiting Versailles is a great idea if you have some time left in France. It is located in the city of Versailles in northern France, 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Paris. Visit My Modern Met Media. It is about 15 miles south west of Paris and easily reached by train. But what makes it so rich is the history of it all, as it was passed along several rulers, played a huge role in the French Revolution, and preserves the opulence of the 17th- and 18th-century palace life. In 1631, Louis XIII decided to rebuild the lodge, transforming into a small palace the royals used as a getaway. Louis XIII’s hunting lodge was situated on a narrow plateau with many swamps around it. It took six months for the marbles to get to Versailles. 10 amazing facts about the Palace of Versailles. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It is about 15 miles south west of Paris and easily reached by train. As you now know, everything about Versailles was extravagant. Anna was born and raised in Paris. Also, traveling early in the morning is the best option, since you will be less likely to get stuck in traffic. This involved thousands of workers and extraordinary methods. However if you really want to visit the Palace of Versailles, there are a few things you should take into consideration. 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. If you are traveling to Paris for a short time, I recommend you postpone your trip to the Palace of Versailles for a next time, as it will take more than one day to visit everything. One of Louis XIV's most important contributions to the Palace of Versailles is the Galerie des Glaces, or the Hall of Mirrors. Princes, courtiers and ministers lived in Versailles with him. That’s when one of the greatest architectural masterpieces Europe has ever known began. It is also rated as an UNESCO World Heritage. When tensions rose about the severe class divide and Marie Antoinette's loathed lavish lifestyle, the gate was an obvious target. For a project of this dimension, the workers had to adapt the technical and scientific tools. 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 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. A fitting design for the Sun King! Here, we explore some fascinating facts about the story of this national treasure, beginning with its humble roots and concluding with its lasting legacy. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. As such, the king’s favorite became the palace staple, especially since the cocoa drink was a delicacy back then and was thought of as exotic. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.