Versailles in Paris description. France. Versailles - you haven't been to the king yet

Versailles (Versailles) is the former residence of French kings, now a village located near Paris. The history began with Louis XIV, who turned the hunting area into a palace and park ensemble.

Louis Leveau is the first architect to turn the king's dreams into reality, followed by Jules Hardouin-Mont-Sar. The latter tortured workers and the treasury for thirty years. It was here that the entire royal court settled, and it was here that numerous balls and brilliant celebrations took place.

The area of the Versailles park area occupies 101 hectares. Thanks to the whole system of canals, the village is called “little Venice”. The territory contains a huge number of observation platforms, alleys, and promenades.

How to get to Versailles

You can get to Versailles from three train stations.

From Gare de Paris-Saint-Lazare:

By train on line L to the Gare de Viroflay Rive Droite station, and by bus number 171 from the Gabriel Peri metro station to the castle. You will need to walk a short distance, about 500 meters. The total travel time is about 1 hour.
Take the L train to Versailles - Rive Droite station. The station is almost 2 km away from the castle, which will have to be covered on foot. The total travel time will be about 1 hour.

From Gare d'Austerlitz:

You can take the RER C commuter train to the Gare de Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, which is 950 meters from Versailles. This distance will need to be covered on foot.
The total travel time will be about 1 hour.

From Gare du Nord

First, take the Rer B train two stops to the Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station, then change to the RER C and go to Gare de Versailles Château Rive Gauche
Upon arrival at the station you will need to walk about 1 km to the park area. The total travel time is just over 1 hour.

You can travel to Versailles using a travel pass, a day pass (zones 1-5), and (zones 1-5) will also do.

A single ticket will cost 7.60 euros.

(55.00 €)
(70.00 €)

Accommodation in Versailles

The territory of Versailles is incredibly huge, there really is something to see here, so one day is not always enough to go around everything and enjoy the walk. To enjoy visiting the palace and park complex, take at least two days for a leisurely walk, without fuss. We bring to your attention hotels at the best prices in Versailles.

Sights of Versailles

Many people associate Versailles only with the castle of the same name. It is worth knowing that Versailles is a large complex of buildings, one might say a town, in which all royal needs were provided.

Grand Trianon

This royal palace in Versailles. The name of the palace was inherited from the ancient village of Trianon, formerly located on this territory. Here Louis XIV took a break from court life with Madame Maintenon. The construction of the Grand Trianon lasted 4 years (1687-1691) under the leadership of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and Louis himself independently developed most of the architectural solutions. This is how it appeared, decorated with a balustrade and huge arched windows building decorated with pale pink marble.

The palace consists of two wings connected by a gallery - peristyle, the project of which was developed by Robert de Cotte. The facade of the Grand Trianon opens onto a large courtyard. In this part of the building the peristyle is made in the form of an elegant arcade. Behind the palace there is a park with lawns, fountains, ponds and flower arrangements. On this side, the peristyle is made in the form of double marble columns. The Grand Trianon palace and park complex occupies 23 hectares and is open to tourists.

Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles)

This is not just the main attraction of the palace and park complex, but a symbol of an entire era in the history of the French monarchy, and one of the largest in all respects. Initially, King Louis III liked the lands in this part of the suburbs of Paris, but the idea of building the Palace of Versailles belonged to him son - Louis XIV. Later, his grandson, Louis XV, also contributed to the image of the palace complex. The palace demonstrates to the whole world the power of absolute power. For the construction of the palace and garden and park complex, 800 hectares of swamps were dried. Construction continued for more than half a century by peasants and the national army; the cost of the palace in terms of modern currency cost hundreds of billions of euros. Finishing interior spaces dazzles with an abundance of luxury and unique works of art - frescoes and paintings, wood carvings, marble sculptures, silk carpets self made, a lot of gold, crystal and mirrors. The splendor of the Versailles palace complex made a strong impression on Peter I, and after his visit the Tsar conceived the idea of building the famous ensemble in Peterhof.

When the monarchy fell, the bourgeoisie came to power, and the revolutionary-minded Duke of Orleans, Louis-Philippe of Versailles, took the crown in 1830, changed its status and became a museum, over time, the Museum of French History (Musée de l’Histoire de France). The revolutionary period did not have the best effect on the condition of the Palace of Versailles. Many premises were neglected, or even completely destroyed, and furniture and works of art were looted. Restoration work began immediately after the revolution, at the behest of Louis Philippe. Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was also concerned about the fate of the building and regularly allocated funds for its repair. Gradually, the Hall of Mirrors and the luxurious gold panels of the palace were restored, some of the stolen works of art were returned, some of the paintings and interior items had to be recreated. The restoration of Versailles continues - large-scale the reconstruction of the palace, which began in 1952 and lasted almost 30 years, did not solve all the problems. Therefore, in 2003, the French authorities announced the beginning of a 17-year restoration of Versailles. Already, the original layout of the Versailles gardens has been completely restored, and in the inner Marble Courtyard the royal grille has once again shone with gold.

Versailles Park (Parc de Versailles)

Unique landscape compositions that are considered perhaps the most exquisite in the world. In 1661, in parallel with the construction of the palace, King Louis XIV commissioned the landscape architect André Le Nôtre to create a park that would not only be in harmony with the grandeur of the royal buildings, but also surpass all known parks in terms of luxury. The construction of Versailles Park took more than 40 years, but The monarch was pleased with the result obtained - a breathtaking panorama opened up immediately upon exiting the palace through the Marble Courtyard.

After the Great French Revolution, it was decided to open a museum in the Palace of Versailles, and since then, walks along the picturesque alleys of the royal park are available to all tourists.

Ballroom (Salle du Jeu de paume)

From an architectural point of view, it is not particularly remarkable, although it was built next to the Palace of Versailles back in 1686. It is quite possible that in the annals of history this room would have remained as a place where royal meetings took place. sports activities. But Fate decreed differently... Life at the court of the French kings of the 17th century was described by contemporaries as endless receptions with a series of entertainment events. Such a pastime meant not only balls and enchanting performances, but also sports.

The Sun King, known throughout the world, was very fond of playing ball - a kind of analogue of tennis of that time. The courtiers actively supported their monarch in this hobby, therefore, the Ball Game Hall was quite a popular place. However, the Ball Game Hall gained worldwide fame for a completely different reason - in this room in 1789, representatives of French townspeople, under the leadership of Jean Bailly, took a solemn oath to preserve their alliance to create a constitution for the kingdom.

Today, in the Games Hall there is a museum, the exhibition of which tells about the historical event that brought the French Revolution closer: a sculpture of the speaker Jean Bailly, busts of deputies and a huge canvas depicting the Constituent Assembly at the moment of taking the oath.

Petit Trianon

Modern historians believe that the palace was built by Louis XV for the Marquise de Pompadour as a sign of the monarch's favor. The palace was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, a court architect and supporter of classicism. Construction lasted about 6 years and was completed in 1768. The building turned out to be small, simple, architecturally consistent - without the elaborate decoration inherent in the architecture of the first half of the 18th century, however interior decoration The Petit Trianon is designed in the Rococo style.

The two-story palace looks very elegant - classic French windows, pilasters and an Italian balustrade at the top, Corinthian columns and a wide stone terrace at the base.

Today the Petit Trianon is a museum dedicated to Queen Marie Antoinette. Its exhibition features paintings from the 18th century, as well as furniture and interior items that restore the atmosphere typical of that era.

Municipal Museum of Lambinet

Dedicated to the history of the city, it is located near the Palace of Versailles, erected in 1750. The design of the three-story building, developed by Elie Blanchard, included all the stylistic features characteristic of that time - French windows, small balconies with patterned grilles and the crown of the facade, a classic pediment with sculptural composition allegorical themes.

In 1852, the mansion became the property of Victor Lambine, whose descendants, 80 years later, donated the building to the city to organize a museum in it. Today, the exposition of the Lambinet Museum presents three areas - the history of the development of the city, captured in documents from different eras, a collection of art objects of the 16th-20th centuries and the reconstruction of interiors of the 18th century. In total, 35 rooms are available for inspection, and most of them have preserved original finish, and paintings, furniture, sculptures and many interior items - gilded watches and candelabra, dishes, crystal lamps and vases complete the decor, returning visitors to the atmosphere of the 18th century.

Former Royal Hospital (Ancien Hôpital Royal de Versailles)

Also known as Hôpital Richaud, it is located near the local train station; received the status historical monument relatively recently - in 1980. Under Louis XIII, a need arose for buildings of a social nature - in 1636, a small almshouse was built, which existed on rather modest funds received from charitable communities. Under Louis XV, the almshouse was transformed into a royal hospital, financed by the treasury. The hospital premises were rebuilt and significantly expanded by order of Louis XVI.

The design of the new building, carried out by the architect Charles-François-d'Arnaudin, included 3 buildings: in the central part of the building, the elderly were housed, and in the two side ones, the sick. In addition, a church was erected next to the hospital, adjacent directly to the buildings, so that patients could get to church service, without going outside. The service in the hospital was also at the same level - excellent living conditions, good food and repeated cleaning. As a hospital, the building existed until recently, and then part of it was sold to a transport company.

Cathedral of Saint-Louis

It was originally conceived as an ordinary parish church.

However, in 1684, when, after the destruction of the Church of St. Julian of Briuda, the southern part of Versailles was left without a church building, the chapel built in its place had to be given, albeit temporary, the status of a parish church. And since, along with the status, came the name - the Church of St. Louis, it was decided to build a real church worthy of bearing the name of the angel of crowned monarchs. In 1742, the project for the future cathedral was approved by Louis XV and construction began. It is curious that the author of the project turned out to be the hereditary architect Jacques Hardouin Mansart, the grandson of the same Jules Mansart who “invented” the Palace of Versailles in his time.

Construction dragged on for a long time and ended after 12 years. At the inauguration new church the king was not present - the day before, on August 23, 1754, His Majesty’s heir was born, future king Louis XVI. But, a year later, the monarch compensated for the lack of attention by donating 6 bells to the church with the names of the royal heirs. A large organ appeared in the Versailles Cathedral in 1761, and also, thanks to the mercy of the king - Louis personally supervised the manufacture of the instrument the best master of that time Francois Henri Clicquot. True, the Church of St. Louis received the status of a Cathedral much later, in 1843. Today, the Versailles Cathedral is not only a place for regular Catholic masses, but also a kind of concert venue for modern chamber music performers.

Lycee Hoche

Current educational institution, located in a historic building of Versailles.

The building, within the walls of which the Ghosh Lyceum was later located, was erected according to the design of Richard Meek, the royal architect and a great admirer of neoclassicism. The Ursuline Convent (Couvent de la Reine), founded in 1766, was called upon to fulfill a very important mission - to provide an acceptable education to girls whose parents served in the royal court. For 20 years, the monastery, supervised by the queen, enjoyed great success; during this period, hundreds of girls received an excellent education. But in 1789, after the departure of the royal family from Versailles, both the monastery and its activities gradually declined, and after the French Revolution it completely changed its profile and turned into a military hospital.

The authorities of Versailles remembered the successful reputation of the former monastery in matters of upbringing and education in 1802, when the issue of educating children from wealthy families became acute. A year later, a secondary school opens in the building. And some time later, the reconstruction of its premises began, upon completion of which a new French lyceum was opened in 1888, named after Gauche, in honor of General Lazarus Gauche, who was born in Versailles. The lyceum is successfully functioning to this day. And among its graduates there are many celebrities, including former president France Jacques Chirac.

Mansion of Foreign Affairs (Hôtel des Affaires Etrangères)

Stands out among historical buildings Versailles not only as a subject architectural art, but also as a room where negotiations took place, thanks to which the Treaties of Versailles and Paris were signed. This marked the end of the US Colonial War of Independence in 1783. The order for the construction of the mansion came in 1761 from the French Foreign Minister during the reign of Louis XV, Francois Choiseul. The main part of the building was planned to be used as an archive storage room, and the remaining rooms would conveniently house the ministry’s auxiliary services. The development of the project was entrusted to Jean-Baptiste Berthier, an architect favored by the king.

And as it turned out, it was not in vain - the four-story mansion building made of brick and stone has a very representative appearance not only from the outside, but also from the inside. The facade of the building, according to the style of that time, is decorated with pilasters with ornaments in the form of symbols of monarchism, the top of which is crowned with statues depicting War and Peace. The entrance to the building is an impressive-sized door with richly gilded decor. The interior decoration of the premises has been partially preserved in its original form - the front gallery of the first floor with its wood panels and gold trim, archival cabinets built into the walls. Now there is a municipal library, some of the books of which still remember the Palace of Versailles and its first owners - the kings.

Church of Our Lady (Eglise Notre-Dame)

It is no coincidence that it rises next to the Palace of Versailles: the palace was listed as an official parish of the church, therefore, all the main events in the life of the royal family took place within its walls. It was here that the newborn heirs of the king were baptized, as well as where the relatives of the monarch were married or seen off on their last journey. The urgent need to have the opportunity to visit a church in accessible proximity arose for Louis XIV in parallel with his move to the Palace of Versailles. Being an ardent supporter of Catholicism, the king first of all took care of his spiritual refuge.

Louis entrusted the creation of the project to his trusted architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and in 1684 the construction of the church began. In 2 years, the Versailles Church of the Virgin was completely built.

Judging by the records of the parish register, representatives of the monarchical dynasty visited the church regularly. From the point of view of architects, the Church of Our Lady is a vivid embodiment of the traditions of French classicism; from the point of view of parishioners and tourists visiting the church, it is a little massive, but surprisingly beautiful and harmonious a two-tier building. And under the pediment crowning the church with a symbolic image of angels holding the royal crown above the sun, there is a clock, the gilded hands of which count the time in the same rhythmic manner as under Louis XIV.

Madame Elisabeth's Castle (Château du domaine de Montreuil)

That was the name of his last owner - Elizabeth of France, granddaughter of Louis XV and sister of the last French monarch. The sad story of the life of Princess Elizabeth evokes a special attitude towards everything that surrounded her, and the Montreuil estate even more so. The history of the Montreuil estate goes back to XII century. At first, it was a fortress, then, by order of Charles VI, it was a monastery of the Celestians. Centuries later, the estate became part of Versailles - Louis XVI acquired it to give it to his beloved younger sister. It was then that these lands, with an area of 8 hectares, received their new name - the estate of Madame Elizabeth.

The castle in which the princess spent most of her life is not distinguished by either the originality of its architectural solutions or the richness of its exterior. Visually, the building can be divided into three parts - two symmetrical three-story buildings connected by a two-level pavilion. But for Elizabeth, the external decoration did not play a special role - she sincerely cared about people and even opened a special room in the palace in which the doctor received the poor in order to help them necessary help. When did it start French Revolution, the patriotic Elizabeth did not want to leave the country and the people close to her, and shared the fate of the royal family, sentenced to execution.

Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville)

It appeared in Versailles only in the 18th century, when orders stopped coming from the Palace of Versailles regarding the way of life of the townspeople. In 1670, a mansion was built for the French Marshal Bernardin Gigot. In fact, this building, which in the future was to become the building of the city administration of Versailles, was a real palace, the main entrance of which, according to etiquette, was facing the royal palace. It is not surprising that when the opportunity arose, Louis XIV immediately purchased this mansion for his illegitimate daughter of the Princesse de Conti. From that moment on, it became a tradition to organize lavish receptions, balls and simply any celebrations in the mansion-palace. This continued even after the princess was replaced by a new owner, the nephew of Louis XV, Louis IV Henry, better known as the Duke of Bourbon-Condé. But the French Revolution swept through the country like a hurricane, destroying to the ground not only the old political building, but also many buildings associated with it. The Conti mansion was also among the objectionable ones. The building in which the modern local administration of Versailles now carries out its duties, although it was built on the same site, is just a stylization of the era of Louis XIII. But this is the first real Town Hall of Versailles.

Théâtre Montansier

It was built on the initiative of Queen Marie Antoinette and with the full approval of King Louis XV. However, the author of the idea of creating a new theater hall in France belongs to the talented actress Madame Montansier. Madame Montansier's theatrical experience before meeting the French queen was not the most successful: either her ideas did not find a response, or her successes haunted her competitors. Nevertheless, Madame Montansier persistently sought the opportunity to realize her dream - the creation of a theater that was not similar to those already known. Thanks to connections at court, Madame Montansier obtained a reception from the queen and was able to awaken her interest in her plan.

The new theater opened in November 1777 in Versailles, next to the royal palace. The ceremony was attended not only by Marie Antoinette, but also by King Louis XV himself, who was pleased with the visit to the theater. The king and queen were especially impressed by the semicircular shape of the stage, excellent acoustics, realistic decorations and the use of mechanisms, which at that time was regarded as innovation. The decoration of the hall did not go unnoticed - thanks to the soft blue background of the interior, the gilded decorative elements looked very solemn. And the possibility of direct exit from the theater directly to the royal palace finally endeared the king to the Theater.

Today, the Montansier Theater is an officially registered institution, as well as an officially recognized historical monument.

Tickets to Versailles

There are several types of tickets: passports for one or two days, as well as tickets for visiting individual attractions.

One day ticket: 20 euros
Two-day ticket: 25 euros
One-day ticket with visit to the music gardens (April-October): 27 euros
Ticket for two days with a visit to the music gardens (April-October): 30 euros
Ticket to the Palace of Versailles: 18 euros
Ticket to the Grand and Petit Trianon: 12 euros

How to get there

Address: Place d'Armes, Paris 78000
Website: chateauversailles.fr
RER train: Versailles - Chateau

Until the end of the 16th century, Versailles was a small village near Paris. Louis the Thirteenth first built a hunting lodge there, then a small castle, and in 1632 he bought the entire village. His son, Louis XIV, the Sun King, built a huge palace complex at Versailles and turned it into the main residence of the French monarchs.

The history of the emergence of Versailles as one of the symbols of France

In 1682, the royal court moved to Versailles, which became not only the de facto capital of France, but also a symbol of absolutism. From that moment on, all European rulers, wanting to emphasize their greatness, built palaces in the “Versailles” manner.

Louis XIV had reasons to strive away from Paris. The capital looked too provincial for the powerful European power that France became during these years. In addition, the king could not forgive the Parisians of the Fronde, he did not trust them and wanted to protect himself from the rioting crowd in the future.

The development of Versailles began back in 1661, lasted for decades and required enormous expenses, almost ruining the country.

Description of Versailles - severity in everything

The complex was planned around three roads leading to Paris and the royal estates of Saint-Cloud and Sceaux. At the point of their connection, in front of the main entrance to the Grand Palace of Versailles, there is an equestrian statue of Louis XIV.

Parks of Versailles - geometric strictness of lines and proportions

On the other side of the palace, as if continuing the middle road, stretches the main alley with swimming pools and the Grand Canal (1520 m). It clearly divides the huge park into two symmetrical halves.

Geometric rigor of lines and proportions - distinguishing feature Versailles ensemble. It reflected the passion of French architects for utopian architecture, which originated from the fantastic “ideal cities” of the Renaissance.

It seems that the park is drawn according to a line, but at the same time it does not look boring or monotonous. It is enlivened by flower beds, sculptural groups, cascades, grottoes and especially fountains, the construction of which was the pinnacle of engineering of its time. Particularly impressive to visitors is the Apollo Fountain (sculptor Tyubi), depicting the chariot of the ancient god.

Luxurious halls of the Palace of Versailles

Inside, the Grand Palace consists of a suite of luxuriously decorated halls filled with exquisite furniture, jewelry, and works of art. Separately, it is worth noting the 73 m long Mirror Gallery. Its 17 mirror panels reflect the light of 17 huge windows facing the park. This sparkling hall hosted ceremonies, balls, receptions and royal weddings.

It is also necessary to visit the Royal Chapel, the Salon of Venice, the Salon of Apollo, the Royal Opera, and the Grand and Petit Trianon palaces.

The architect Andre Le Nôtre created a completely new type of park landscape at Versailles, called the French regular (i.e. regular) garden. Such a garden, embodying the ideals of harmony, grandeur and unchanging order, became a model for the famous imperial ensembles of Peterhof and Sans Souci (Potsdam).

Like Versailles, these parks have one characteristic feature: from certain points in them you can observe a “clear linear perspective” of a properly organized space.

Gardens and parks of Versailles

The gardens and parks of Versailles, with a total area of 101 hectares, served as a grandiose stage for the court nobility: holidays, festivities, masquerades and other amusements took place here, in the shadow of which intrigues and palace intrigues wove.

Louis, who turned his life into a magnificent performance, patronized the classical theater - operas by Lully and plays by Racine and Moliere were staged at Versailles. This tradition was continued by his successors, especially the wife of Louis the Sixteenth, Marie Antoinette, who built her own theater and acted in it herself.

The main palace complex, created in the style of French classicism, amazes with its scale. The ensemble consists of three successively located courtyards - the Ministers, the Royal Court, where only the carriages of the monarch could enter, and the Marble Court, where the buildings of the hunting castle of Louis the Thirteenth were preserved.

Versailles is the history of France

The history of Versailles is not limited to the lives of kings. It was here that in June 1789, deputies of the Third Estate proclaimed themselves the National Assembly, and later the Constituent Assembly. That same year, on August 26, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was adopted at Versailles.

Here, six years earlier, the document approving the independence of the United States was signed. On June 28, 1919, a peace treaty was signed at Versailles, ending the First World War.

Since 1837, Versailles has officially been the Museum of French History.

Ten years ago, the Palace of Versailles became part of a large-scale restoration project of the palace, under the patronage of Jacques Chirac. According to the plan, within 20 years the interior of the Opera and the façade were to be renovated, the original layout of the gardens was restored, the gilded King's Grille was returned to the inner Marble Court, etc.

However, life makes its own adjustments and today restoration work is limited to maintaining the palace in working order.

Palace of Versailles – VIDEO tour

Versailles is a palace and park ensemble in France, the former residence of French kings in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris. The total area of the entire territory with gardens, fountains, pools, cascades, grottoes, sculptures and elegant palaces is truly royal, more than one hundred hectares.

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The Chateau de Versailles or Palace of Versailles is recognized as the largest historical museum in the world.

The palace is listed worldwide cultural heritage UNESCO. Most of it is open to tourists.

Before the construction of this architectural masterpiece, Versailles was considered a village. These days, Versailles is a suburb of Paris, where tourists from different countries. In 1623, Louis XIII built a hunting castle in the village of Versailles. The castle was intended for recreation. small building in the form of a hunting castle became the basis for the construction of the most expensive and extravagant building in the world.

Construction of the palace began by Louis XIV in 1661. The king's actions caused some controversy among the starving people and ministers, but no one dared to openly express their discontent. The best architects of that time, Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin, took part in the construction. The construction of the gardens was carried out according to the design of Andre Le Notre. ABOUT interior and park sculptures were cared for by Charles Lebrun. A huge area of 14,970 hectares was cleared for construction and the construction of gardens, paths, and fountains.

Throughout the palace there are 1,400 fountains, as well as 400 stunning sculptures. More than 36,000 workers took part in the construction. Once completed, the Chateau de Versailles could accommodate up to 5,000 people. However, despite the amount cash, and this is more than 250 billion euros (by modern standards), the palace has some disadvantages. It was possible to live in it only in the summer; in the winter, living in it was impossible, because... there was no heating, most of the fireplaces were not usable.

The construction of the Palace of Versailles was finally completed towards the end of Louis XIV's life. It was the residence of the royal family from 1682 to 1789.

The grandeur of the Palace of Versailles shows how powerful and rich the monarch was. The king's apartments were located in the center of the palace, which symbolized the absolute power of the monarch. The Sun King was confident that God himself had chosen him as the ruler of France.

It is worth noting that Peter the Great had the opportunity to stay at the Palace of Versailles as a guest in 1717. The splendor of the buildings and gardens delighted Peter I. Upon returning to Russia, Peter the Great adopted some ideas that were used in the construction of the Peterhof Palace.

During the war, a significant part of the buildings was damaged. But, despite the precarious financial situation in the kingdom, Louis XVI allocated part of the funds for the restoration of the palace and gardens. In 1760, most of the damage was repaired.

After the fall of the monarchy, the Palace of Versailles fell into the hands of the new government. As a result, in 1792, some of the furniture and other luxury items were sold, and the works of art were transferred to a museum, namely the Louvre.

Among the architectural structures of the palace complex, the Small and Grand Trianon are distinguished.

The Grand Trianon was built in 1687 by order of Louis XIV. Now the Grand Trianon is used by the President of France to receive important guests.

The Petit Trianon was built between 1762 and 1768. Louis XV's mistress Madame de Pompadour lived in Petit Trianon. Later, in 1774, Louis XVI gave the building to Queen Marie Antoinette.

The masterpiece of the Palace of Versailles is the Hall of Mirrors, whose area is 73 meters. The 17 windows of the Hall of Mirrors offer stunning views of the park. The hall got its name due to the presence of seventeen arches with mirrors. The hall held important events and celebrations.

In general, the interior design is luxurious. Everywhere you can see wood and stone carvings, painted ceilings, expensive furniture, and the walls are decorated with numerous paintings by famous artists.

The park of Versailles deserves special attention. It took 10 years to build the park. Versailles Park is a great example French garden design. Flower beds and alleys are made in strict symmetry.

The trees had strict geometric shapes. The crowns were formed in the form of balls, pyramids, and squares.

The flower beds were always fragrant. As soon as the flowers withered, they were replaced with new ones. Trees and other plants were brought from all provinces of France. Thousands of people participated in the creation of the garden.

The Grand Canal, whose length is 1670 meters, also deserves attention. Work to create the canal lasted 11 years. The channel was created under the leadership of Andre Le Notre. The Grand Canal was the site of numerous water spectacles during the reign of Louis XIV. Currently, anyone can take a boat ride on the canal near the Palace of Versailles.

The king forced the aristocrats to live in Versailles, keeping everyone under control. Whoever left the palace lost all privileges, the opportunity to receive posts and ranks.

After the death of Louis XIV (1715), his five-year-old son and the Regency Council of Philippe d'Orléans return to Paris.

The walls of the palace also remember the visit of Peter I to the royal mansion. Russian Tsar studied the building in order to apply what he saw during the construction of Peterhof.

Louis XV did not change the building much, he only completed the Salon of Hercules, begun by his father, the Opera Hall, and the Petit Trianon Palace. Louis XV decided to build part of the building for his daughters, so the Staircase of the Ambassadors, the official road to the Great Royal Apartments, was destroyed. In the park, the king completes the construction of Neptune's Pool.

Around the palace, a city grew over the years, the population of which grew to 100 thousand, including the artisans serving the king and his vassals. Three rulers (Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI), while living in the palace, did everything so that all subsequent generations would admire the beauty and uniqueness of the architectural ensemble of Versailles.

In 1789, Louis XVI and the National Assembly, under pressure from the National Guard led by Lafayette, moved to the capital of France. Versailles ceases to be the political and administrative center of the country. Napoleon Bonaparte, having come to power, takes care of Versailles. In 1808, golden mirrors and panels were restored, and furniture was delivered from Fontainebleau and the Louvre. Plans for reconstruction were not destined to come true: the First Empire collapsed, the Bourbons again took the throne.

During the time of Louis Philippe, the palace became a historical museum of the French nation. Paintings of battles, portraits, busts of commanders and prominent figures countries.

Versailles also happened to be the representative office of the main headquarters of the German troops from October 1870 to March 13, 1871. In the same year, France is defeated by Germany, and the German Empire is proclaimed in the Gallery of Mirrors. A greater humiliation for the French could not be imagined! (Revenge would be just as humiliating at the end of World War I). A peace treaty signed a month later allows the French government to make Versailles its capital. Only in 1879 was Paris restored to its status as the main city of the country.

Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the harsh terms of which included large payments and recognition of the sole guilt of the Weimar Republic.

It just so happened that Versailles throughout its history reconciled the French and Germans. So after the Second World War, he witnessed the restoration of peace between the two countries. Since 1952, the Versailles architectural ensemble begins to gradually be restored with money from the government and patrons. " Gemstone"regains its glory, splendor and value.

In 1995, the Institution of the National Museum and Property of Versailles was created. Since 2010, the name of the body has changed to the Public Institution of the National Estate and Museum of Versailles. This status gave the palace financial autonomy and rights legal entity. Since 2001, Versailles has been a member of the Association of European royal residences. Versailles has its own president. Its first president was Jean-Jacques Ayagon, and since 2011 this position has been occupied by Catherine Pegard.

Not a single palace in the world bears any resemblance to the Palace of Versailles; only a few were created under the influence of this unique, luxurious building. Among them are Sanssouci in Postdam, the Rapti estate in Luga, Schönbrunn in Vienna, and palaces in Peterhof.