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Plan of the main floor (c. 1837, with north to the right), showing the Hall of Mirrors in red, the Hall of Battles in green, the Royal Chapel in yellow, and the Royal Opera in blue. The Palace of Versailles is a visual history of French architecture from the 1630s to the 1780s.
10 Palaces To Visit In Paris includes Palace of Versailles, Luxembourg Palace, Tuileries Palace, Domaine national du Palais,and more. Explore Now!
- Overview
- The palace
Palace of Versailles, former French royal residence and centre of government, now a national landmark. It is located in the city of Versailles, Yvelines département, Île-de-France région, northern France, 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Paris. As the centre of the French court, Versailles was one of the grandest theatres of European absolutism.
The original residence was primarily a hunting lodge and private retreat for Louis XIII (reigned 1610–43) and his family. In 1624 the king entrusted Jacques Lemercier with the construction of a château on the site. Its walls are preserved today as the exterior facade overlooking the Marble Court.
Under the guidance of Louis XIV (reigned 1643–1715), the residence was transformed (1661–1710) into an immense and extravagant complex surrounded by stylized French and English gardens. Every detail of its construction was intended to glorify the king. The additions were designed by such renowned architects as Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Robert de Cotte, and Louis Le Vau. Charles Le Brun oversaw the interior decoration. Landscape artist André Le Nôtre created symmetrical French gardens that included ornate fountains with “magically” still water, expressing the power of humanity—and, specifically, the king—over nature.
To the east of the palace is the Place d’Armes, a wide plaza that in the 21st century served mainly as a parking lot to accommodate the thousands of tourists who visited Versailles each day. In the centre of the Place d’Armes, facing the Avenue de Paris, is a bronze equestrian statue of Louis XIV. Originally located at the apex of the Court of Honour, the statue was relocated to the Place d’Armes in 2009 after an extensive restoration. To the west is the Gate of Honour, a gilded iron gate and stone balustrade that marks the main entrance to the palace complex. Beyond that lies the broad expanse of the Court of Honour, bounded on the north and south by the Ministers’ Wings, outbuildings constructed in the 1680s to house the king’s secretaries of state.
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The Royal Gate, an elaborate gold leaf gate, separates the Court of Honour from the Royal Court at the location where the Louis XIV statue once stood. Unveiled in 2008, the Royal Gate partially re-creates a gate that was designed by Hardouin-Mansart in the 1680s and was destroyed during the French Revolution. Some art historians criticized the Royal Gate as a modern interpretation of the original rather than a true restoration, but it served an undeniably valuable role in directing visitor traffic. Flanking the Royal Court to the south is the Dufour Pavilion, while the Gabriel Pavilion lies to the north. Both areas were extensively remodeled in the 21st century to serve as visitor reception centres. Beyond the Royal Court is the Marble Court, so named for the distinctive black and white marble tiles that adorn the terrace floor. Dozens of marble busts, depicting Roman deities and emperors, adorn the facades overlooking the court, and the central buildings of the palace complex rise around it.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The yellow salon is the most remarkable room of the Queen's House! This large salon gets its name from the colour of the painted silk wall hangings put up for the Empress, Marie-Louise. At the time of Marie-Antoinette, the rooms on the first floor were decorated with golden cornices, white marble fireplaces and walls hung with silk.
Nov 6, 2023 · Exploring the Best Palaces And Castles In Paris. One of the exciting facts about Paris is the many beautiful palaces and castles. They are not only visually stunning and also have a story of their own. Each castle or palace was made with a specific purpose, whether that is for protection or status.
Mar 21, 2024 · In every hidden corner and at all the famous sites, Paris casts a spell of enchantment. One visit may inspire a lifelong passion. Discover what makes the City of Light so captivating and learn about the best places to explore with our list of the top tourist attractions in Paris.
The Palace of Versailles (Chateau de Versailles) is Europe's most spectacular castle and also holds a special place in history due to its famous occupants, including Louis XIV, Louis XVI, and Marie-Antoinette.
