It is located in the city of Versailles, Yvelines dpartement, le-de-France rgion, northern France, 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Paris. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Palace-of-Versailles, Art Encyclopedia - Palace of Versailles, France, UNESCO World Heritage Convention - Palace and Park of Versailles, Academia - Palace of Versailles UNESCO heritage site: Survivor of the French Revolution, LiveScience - Palace of Versailles: Facts and History, Khan Academy - Chteau de Versailles, France, Official Site of the Palace of Versailles, France, Palace of Versailles - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [40] In 1748, Louis XV began construction of a palace theater, the Royal Opera of Versailles at the northernmost end of the palace,[85][86] but completion was delayed until 1770;[86][87] construction was interrupted in the 1740s by the War of the Austrian Succession and then again in 1756 with the start of the Seven Years' War. The principal feature in this room is Jean Warin's life-size statue of Louis XIV in the costume of a Roman emperor. A new town founded at the will of King Louis XIV, Versailles was the de facto capital of the Kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789, before becoming the cradle of the French Revolution. From 1951 until France's withdrawal from the NATO unified command in 1966, nearby Rocquencourt functioned as the site for SHAPE. The eight-foot-high silver throne was melted down in 1689 to help pay the costs of an expensive war, and was replaced by a more modest throne of gilded wood. From then on, Versailles lost a good deal of its inhabitants. [54][89], The Palace of Versailles was key to Louis XIV's politics, as an expression and concentration of French art and culture, and for the centralization of royal power. Le Ntre's gardens were preceded by a simple garden laid out in the 1630s by landscape architects Jacques Boyceau and Jacques de Nemours,[194] which he rearranged along an eastwest axis that,[195] because of Louis XIV's land purchases and the clearing of woodland,[44][188][177] were expanded literally as far as could be seen. The town developed around the 17th-century Palace of Versailles, built by Louis XIV, the principal residence of the kings of France and the seat of the government for more than 100 years. Most visitors to Versailles will only see a two roads, Avenue de l'Europe and Avenue de Paris. For economy and speed, the new opera was built almost entirely of wood, which also gave it very high quality acoustics. The role of Versailles as an administrative and judicial center has been reinforced in the 1960s and 1970s, and somehow Versailles has become the main center of the western suburbs of Paris. [153], This was originally a chapel. Little by little came to Versailles all those who needed or desired to live close to the maximum power. Versailles was never an industrial city, even though there are a few chemical and food-processing plants. Visit the Former Royal Palaces in France - Visit European Castles Destinations Hotels Travel News Cruises Forums Trip Ideas. Versailles is historically known for numerous treaties such as the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolution, and the Treaty of Versailles, after World War I. [16][18], When Louis XIII died in 1643, Anne became Louis XIV's regent,[19] and Louis XIII's chteau was abandoned for the next decade. [68] Three years later, however, the even more expensive War of the Spanish Succession began and,[77] combined with poor harvests in 169394 and 170910,[78][79] plunged France into crisis. Some of the objects in the collection are depicted in Ren-Antoine Houasse's painting Abundance and Liberality (1683), located on the ceiling over the door opposite the windows. [113], As soon as the royal family departed, the palace was closed. She moved the court back to Paris,[20] where Anne and her chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin, continued Louis XIII's unpopular monetary practices. It was constructed in 1623 and transformed and expanded by Louis XIV - today, it is a stunning example of 17th- and 18th-century French architecture and art, with many rooms to peruse. The Germans remained in the palace until the signing of the armistice in March 1871. It is officially recognized as a Remarkable Garden of France. French royal residence in Versailles, France, "Versailles" redirects here. [207][209] On 1 June 2009, the grounds of the Chteau de Marly were ceded to the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles. For the commune, see, 19th century history museum and government venue, Modern political and ceremonial functions. [203], In late 1679,[204] Louis XIV commissioned Mansart to build the Chteau de Marly,[99] a retreat at the edge of Versailles's estate, about 5 miles (8.0km) from the palace. [18][61] In 1670, d'Orbay was tasked by Louis XIV with designing a city, also called Versailles,[9] to house and service Louis XIV's growing government and court. [17] From 1661, Louis XIV expanded the estate until,[186][187] at its greatest extent, the estate was made up by the Grand Parc[fr], a hunting ground of 15,000 hectares (150km2; 37,000 acres),[185][177] and the gardens, called the Petit Parc,[177] which covered 1,700 hectares (17km2; 4,200 acres). [122], The end of the 19th and the early 20th century saw the beginning of restoration efforts at the palace, first led by Pierre de Nolhac, poet and scholar and the first conservator, who began his work in 1892. Both Louis XV and Louis XVI continued to use the bedroom for their official awakening and going to bed. Northern Region(Allied occ.) Versailles Palace (Chateau de Versailles) - U.S. News Travel He obtained permission to establish four annual fairs and a weekly market on Thursdays. [197][d] After a long period of decay, it was demolished in 1801. The decoration includes several paintings set into the paneling, including a self-portrait of Antony van Dyck.[158]. Palace of Versailles History - Versailles.Paris The Royal Chapel of Versailles is located at the southern end of the north wing. [64] The Nine Years' War, which began in 1688, stopped work altogether until 1698. The cityscape changed considerably under kings Louis XV and Louis XVI. [173], In October 1789, early in the French Revolution, the last banquet for the royal guardsmen was hosted by the King in the opera, before he departed for Paris. With his passing came Louis XIV who expanded the chteau into the beginnings of a palace that went through several changes and phases from 1661 to 1715. On 6 October 1789, from the balcony of this room Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, joined by the Marquis de Lafayette, looked down on the hostile crowd in the courtyard, shortly before the King was forced to return to Paris. mrt Original Poster Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 482 Likes: 0 Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts Versailles in early October. [21] In the aftermath of the Fronde, Louis XIV became determined to rule alone. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919 at the Palace of Versailles in Paris at the end of World War I, codified peace terms between Germany and the victorious Allies. How the Versailles Treaty Contributed to Hitler's Rise - ThoughtCo The theatre was the site of a lavish banquet for royal guardsmen on October 2, 1789, and the pro-monarchy excesses on display were reportedand likely exaggeratedby the Revolutionary press. Charles de Gaulle. [125], In 1978, parts of the palace were heavily damaged in a bombing committed by Breton terrorists.[126]. Sanssouci is often considered to be the German equivalent of Versailles (see below), although its features a more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart. One part of the initiative, the restoration of the Hall of Mirrors, was completed in 2006. Its walls are preserved today as the exterior facade overlooking the Marble Court. Snow falls every year, but rarely stays on the ground. In 1792, the National Convention, the new revolutionary government, ordered the transfer of all the paintings and sculptures from the palace to the Louvre. Examples of works influenced by Versailles include Christopher Wren's work at Hampton Court Palace, Berlin Palace, the Palace of La Granja, Stockholm Palace,[135] Ludwigsburg Palace, Karlsruhe Palace, Rastatt Palace,[136] Nymphenburg Palace, Schleissheim Palace,[135][137] and Esterhzy Palace. On September 3, British and American delegates, led by Benjamin Franklin, signed the Treaty of Paris at the Htel d'York (now 56 Rue Jacob) in Paris, granting the United States independence. Hitler reoccupies the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles Palace of Versailles Skip-the-line Tour 2023 - Viator Visiting Versailles: tips for a fun day trip from Paris The city sometimes sees light snow or flurries with or without accumulation. Heads of state are regaled in the Hall of Mirrors; the bicameral French Parliamentconsisting of the Senate (Snat) and the National Assembly (Assemble nationale)meet in joint session (a congress of the French Parliament) in Versailles[230] to revise or otherwise amend the French Constitution, a tradition that came into effect with the promulgation of the 1875 Constitution. Louis XVIII had the far end of the south wing of the Cour Royale demolished and rebuilt (18141824) to match the Gabriel wing of 1780 opposite, which gave greater uniformity of appearance to the front entrance. [34][35] Louis XIV replaced Fouquet with Jean-Baptiste Colbert,[23][30] a protg of Mazarin and enemy of Fouquet,[36] and charged him with managing the corps of artisans in royal employment. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. [45][50] He vacillated between replacing or incorporating his father's chteau, but settled on the latter by the end of the decade,[47][48][51] and from 1668 to 1671,[52] Louis XIII's chteau was encased on three sides in a feature dubbed the enveloppe. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Explore France Discover Europe Provence & the Cte d'Azur Paris Provence Bordeaux Atlantic Coast The Dordogne, Limousin & the Lot French Alps & the Jura Mountains Nice [168] The only major modification to the chapel since its completion was the removal of a lantern from its roof in 1765. [105], Louis XIV died at Versailles on 1 September 1715 and was succeeded by his five-year-old great-grandson, Louis XV,[78][106] then the duke of Anjou,[107] who was moved to Vincennes and then to Paris by Louis XV's regent, Philippe II, Duke of Orlans. The National Constituent Assembly followed the king to Paris soon afterwards, and Versailles lost its role of capital city. Chteau de Versailles (article) | Khan Academy [155], The Salon of Mercury was the original State Bedchamber when Louis XIV officially moved the court and government to the palace in 1682. They occupied the main or principal floor of the chteau neuf, with three rooms in each apartment facing the garden to the west and four facing the garden parterres to the north and south, respectively. The government and the French parliament stayed in Versailles after the quelling of the Commune (May 1871), and it was even thought[by whom?] In November 1918, an armistice ended the fighting in World War I. The Estates-General met in Versailles on 5 May 1789. Today is Wednesday, June 28, the 179th day of 2023. Omissions? photo: Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0 Chteau de Versailles. The future Louis XIV first came to Versailles in October 1641, when his father Louis XIII sent him and his brother here to escape a smallpox epidemic that had reached the Palace of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Forums; Trip Ideas; [88] In 1789, the French Revolution swept the royal family and government out of Versailles forever. [143] It was entered from the courtyard via a vestibule that, cramped and dark, contrasted greatly with the tall, open space of the staircase famously lit naturally with a skylight so as to overawe visitors. About 14,000 soldiers and servants were quartered in annexes and in the town, which was founded in 1671 and had 30,000 inhabitants when Louis XIV died in 1715. [117], In 1815, with the final downfall of Napoleon, Louis XVIII, the younger brother of Louis XVI, became King, and considered returning the royal residence to Versailles, where he had been born. Although it was a place of entertainment, the grandiose palace was also well equipped as a centre of government. The sculptor Augustin Pajou added statuary and reliefs to complete the decoration. The Potager du roi is a kitchen garden created under Louis XIV to supply fruits and vegetables to the Court. Versailles | For UNESCO World Heritage Travellers Mont-Saint-Michel, Antilles, chteau de Versailles : pendant plus de deux mois partir du 8 mai 2024, la flamme olympique va traverser plus de 400 villes franaises, un priple qui se veut . in the winter, sunshine is scarce; days are cool, and nights are cold but generally above freezing with low temperatures around 3C (37F). Between 1925 and 1928, the American philanthropist and multi-millionaire John D. Rockefeller gave $2,166,000, the equivalent of about thirty million dollars today, to restore and refurbish the palace. The palace still serves political functions. At the 2017 census the Yvelines had 1,438,266 inhabitants.[7]. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, followed quickly by the entry of most European powers into an expanding conflict which became the First World War. This led to the Fronde, a series of revolts against royal authority from 1648 to 1653 that masked a struggle between Mazarin and the princes of the blood, Louis XIV's extended family, for influence over him. They took weapons from the city armory, besieged the palace, and compelled the King and royal family and the members of the National Assembly to return with them to Paris the following day. [95][96][97] The moving of the court to Versailles did not come until 1682,[97] however, and not officially, as opinion on Versailles was mixed among the nobility of France. Parts of the chteau, including the Gallery of Mirrors, were turned into a military hospital. Since 1995, it has been run as a Public Establishment, with an independent administration and management supervised by the French Ministry of Culture. 85,461. [178] Beyond these stables is the Place d'Armes[fr],[179][180] where the Avenue de Paris meets the Avenue de Sceaux[fr] and Avenue de Saint-Cloud[fr] (see map), the three roads that formed the main arteries of the city of Versailles. [209], La Lanterne, is a hunting lodge named after the lantern that topped the nearby Menagerie that was built in 1787 by Philippe Louis de Noailles, then the palace governor. It is also known as Chateau de Versailles and is 20 Kms (12 Miles) southwest of Paris. [64][68] Mansart began his tenure with the addition from 1678 to 1681 of the Hall of Mirrors,[69] a renovation of the courtyard faade of Louis XIII's chteau,[70] and the expansion of d'Orbay's pavilions to create the Ministers' Wings[fr] in 167879. Versailles was used as a model for the building of Washington, D.C., by Pierre Charles L'Enfant.[8]. Please select which sections you would like to print: Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Initially constructed as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII, the royal family's love for the estate saw the movement of the royal court from Paris to Versailles in 1682 by King Louis XIV, Louis XIII's son. [158], The bed of the King is placed beneath a carved relief by Nicolas Coustou entitled France watching over the sleeping King. The 14th century brought the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War, and with it death and destruction. There is little industry in the town itself, where service and administrative activities dominate the economy. [211] On becoming king, Louis XVI gave the Petit Trianon to Marie Antoinette, who remodeled it, relaid its gardens in the then-current English and Oriental styles,[211][214][215] and formed her own court there. Only in 1911 did Versailles definitely recover its level of population of 1789, with 60,458 inhabitants at the 1911 census. Versailles in early October. - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums The hall is flanked on opposite ends by the equally striking Salon of Peace and Salon of War. The Palace of Versailles, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is one of the most popular attractions in Europe. The Opra Royal hosted the National Assembly from 1871 until the proclamation of the Third Republic in 1875, and the Senate met there from March 8, 1876, until the legislature returned to Paris in 1879. The empty grand apartments were opened for tours beginning in 1793, and a small museum of French paintings and art school was opened in some of the empty rooms. Versailles remained the epicenter of French royal power for more than a century, until 1789, when an agitated group of revolutionaries stormed the palace and evicted Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette . His spoon, fork, and knife were brought to him in a golden box. 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. This set reflects the dual vocation of the Palace once inhabited by the sovereigns and then a museum dedicated "to all the glories of France" inaugurated by Louis-Philippe in 1837. The celebrated bust of Louis XIV by Bernini made during the famous sculptor's visit to France in 1665 is on display here.[157]. But it took seven months until the official peace treaty was . [2] About 15,000,000 people visit the palace, park, or gardens of Versailles every year, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.[3]. [161][164], The Salon of War[fr] and the Salon of Peace[fr] bookend the Hall of Mirrors on its northern and southern ends respectively. In 1624 the king entrusted Jacques Lemercier with the construction of a chteau on the site. This former unofficial capital of France sits just 10 miles from Paris and is easily reachable by train. From there you walk 100 meters to Avenue de Paris, turn left, and the palace is within sight. 15 amazing facts about the Palace of Versailles - Discover Walks Explainer How the Treaty of Versailles ended WWI and started WWII European countries dealt a harsh punishment to Germany for its role in the First World Wara move that would soon come back to. Edited by: Rekha Rajan Fact checked by: Jamshed V Rajan 4.9 ( 194) Palace of Versailles is one of the best Royal residences in the world. There was no one in sight. The center of the town has kept its very bourgeois atmosphere, while more middle-class neighborhoods have developed around the train stations and in the outskirts of the city. Originally located at the apex of the Court of Honour, the statue was relocated to the Place dArmes in 2009 after an extensive restoration. Table of Contents Palace of Versailles Palace of Versailles, former French royal residence and centre of government, now a national landmark. [59] Work at the palace during the 1670s focused on its interiors, as the palace was then nearing completion,[54][60] though d'Orbay expanded Le Vau's service wings and connected them to the chteau,[54] and built a pair of pavilions for government employees in the forecourt. 2 of 3 Courtesy Chteau de Versailles Key Info Place d'Armes Website Tours & Tickets Price & Hours Prices vary Hours vary Details Parks and Gardens, Castles/Palaces, Sightseeing Type Half Day to. In 1632, the king bought the totality of the land and seigneury of Versailles from Jean-Franois de Gondi. In 1624, he acquired more and entrusted Philibert Le Roy with the construction of a small hunting lodge of red bricks and stone with a slate roof. 1. The chateau's magnificent gardens are free, but it's worth shelling . Versailles has an oceanic climate (Kppen: Cfb). Saule & Meyrer 2000, pp. Additionally, Louis XIV's granddaughter-in-law, Princess Marie-Adlade of Savoy, duchesse de Bourgogne, wife of the Petit Dauphin, occupied these rooms from 1697 (the year of her marriage) to her death in 1712. 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 kings secretaries of state. Located there are the apartments of the dauphin, the dauphine, and the daughters of Louis XV. In 1837 Louis-Philippe restored the palace and turned it into a museum consecrated to all the glories of France. The German army besieging Paris in 1870 used Versailles as its headquarters, and in 1871 the German emperor was crowned there. [167] The building stands 40-meter (130ft) high, and measures 42 meters (138ft) long and 24 meters (79ft) wide. Treaty of Versailles, peace document signed at the end of World War I by the Allied and associated powers and by Germany in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, France, on June 28, 1919; it took force on January 10, 1920. The palace and park were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 for its importance as the center of power, art, and science in France during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its farming activity and its location on the road from Paris to Dreux and Normandy brought prosperity to the village, culminating in the end of the 13th century, the so-called "century of Saint Louis", famous for the prosperity of northern France and the building of Gothic cathedrals. Top Things to See and Do in Versailles, France - Culture Trip Designed and built by Le Vau in 1670,[216][219] it was the first example of Chinoiserie (faux Chinese) architecture in Europe, though it was largely designed in French style. 18, 22; Michelin Tyre 1989, p. 182. For the next seven years, during the Rgence of Philippe d'Orlans, the royal court of the young King Louis XV was the first in Paris, while the Regent governed from his Parisian residence, the Palais-Royal. The Palace of Versailles is a masterpiece of Classical architecture that inspired many European palaces in the 18th and 19th century. Versailles, France 2023: Best Places to Visit - Tripadvisor [131] When Mansart made further expansions to the palace in the 1680s, he used the Enveloppe as the model for his work. There are 186 days left in the year. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Chteau de Versailles View of Versailles, 1664-1710 ( photo: Marc Vassal, CC BY-SA 2.0) When the King of France, Louis XIV, first decided to build a new palace and move his court out of Paris, there was nothing on his chosen site at Versailles but a smallish hunting lodge. Treaty of Versailles | Definition, Summary, Terms, & Facts The conservation and restoration were interrupted by two world wars but have continued until the present day. Near the Trianons are the French pavilion, built by Gabriel in 1750 between the two residences, and the Queen's Theater and Queen's Hamlet, built by architect Richard Mique in 1780 and from 1783 to 1785 respectively. Summer days are usually warm and pleasant with average temperatures between 15 and 25C (59 and 77F), and a fair amount of sunshine. The petit appartement de la reine is a suite of rooms that were reserved for the personal use of the queen. It traces the military history of France from the reign of Clovis I to Napoleon. Should we. The text of the treaty signed in Versailles' Hall of Mirrors on June 28, . After Versailles: a warning from John Maynard Keynes. During this turbulent time, Jean-Franois Coste, who had also been the chief physician of the King's Armies, was appointed mayor of Versailles.[12]. occ.) The organ of the chapel was built by Robert Clicquot and Julien Tribuot in 17091710. Europe - Chateau de Versailles - What is the best ticket to buy to avoid lines to the Chateau. The Queen's apartments and the King's Apartments were laid out on the same design, each suite having seven rooms. The Palace started out as a small royal hunting lodge. The chapel was completed by de Cotte in 1710, and it hosted daily masses as well as royal weddings and baptisms until 1789. The Salon of Abundance was the antechamber to the Cabinet of Curios (now the Games Room), which displayed Louis XIV's collection of precious jewels and rare objects. The eastern facing palace has a U-shaped layout, with the corps de logis and symmetrical advancing secondary wings terminating with the Dufour Pavilion on the south and the Gabriel Pavilion to the north, creating an expansive cour d'honneur known as the Royal Court (Cour Royale). The building scheme of the Queen's Hamlet includes a farmhouse (the farm was to produce milk and eggs for the queen), a dairy, a dovecote, a boudoir, a barn that burned down during the French Revolution, a mill and a tower in the form of a lighthouse. [71] Adjacent to the palace, Mansart built a pair of stables called the Grande[fr] and Petite curies[fr] from 1679 to 1682[72][73] and the Grand Commun[fr], which housed the palace's servants and general kitchens, from 1682 to 1684. They were originally intended as his residence, but the King transformed them into galleries for his finest paintings, and venues for his many receptions for courtiers. That work was also stopped by financial constraints, and it remained incomplete when Louis XV died in 1774. [54][82], Louis XIV's successors, Louis XV and Louis XVI, largely left Versailles as they inherited it and focused on the palace's interiors. On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles (vehr-SY') was signed in France, ending the First World War . The empty buildings were turned into a storehouse for furnishings, art and libraries confiscated from the nobility. The Treaty of Versailles (1919) between the Allies and Germany was signed in the palace, which was again restored and modernized under Pres. About Versailles. Arriving in Paris for five days on October 7th. While the masses would assume that most of the scenes in this series would be filmed in the Palace of Versailles as the title of the Canal+ show suggests, it's not entirely the . Updates? Louis XV's modifications began in the 1730s, with the completion of the Salon d'Hercule, a ballroom in the north wing, and the expansion of the king's private apartment,[83][84] which required the demolition of the Ambassadors' Staircase. Emperor Napoleon III used the palace on occasion as a stage for grand ceremonies. On the other hand, persons born in France with foreign citizenship (the children of immigrants) are not listed as immigrants. A monumental painting by Vernet features Louis Philippe himself, with his sons, posing in front of the gates of the palace. [45][46] But in 166869,[47][48] as a response to the growth of the gardens,[49] and victory over Spain in the War of Devolution,[47][48] Louis XIV decided to turn Versailles into a full-scale royal residence. The growing anger in Paris led to the Women's March on Versailles on 5 October 1789. [198], Aerial view of the Petit Trianon and its gardens, The Belvedere in the park of the Petit Trianon, The Petit Trianon, whose construction from 1762 to 1768[210] led to the advent of the names "Grand" and "Petit Trianon",[211] was constructed for Louis XV and the Madame du Barry in the Neoclassical style by Gabriel. Louis-Philippe, who took the throne in the July Revolution of 1830, transformed the palace into a National Museum dedicated to "all the glories of France" in 1837. Versailles is also a centre of commerce and education. The wood was painted to resemble marble, and the ceiling was decorated with a painting of the Apollo, the god of the arts, preparing crowns for illustrious artists, by Louis Jean-Jacques Durameau. [158], The King's bedchamber had originally been a Drawing Room before Louis XIV transformed it into his own bedroom in 1701. The city (commune) of Versailles has an area of 26.18km2 (10.11sqmi, or 6,469acres), which is a quarter of the area of the city of Paris.
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