Versailles palace complex. The history of the creation of Versailles
Versailles is a beautiful palace and park ensemble of France; in its native language the name of such a famous historical property sounds like this - Parc et ch 226; teau de Versailles, this place is a former residence French kings in the city of Versailles, today it is a suburb of Paris, a center of tourism of world importance, with a record number of visitors every day. Palace of Versailles most Grand Palace in Europe. Versailles is the main city of the Seine-et-Oise department, and is located 17 kilometers from the capital of France, and is a suburb of Paris.
In 1623, Versailles was a very modest hunting castle, built at the request of Louis XIII of stone and brick, and covered with slate roofing. The hunting castle was now located in the place where the marble courtyard was. Years later, Versailles was built under the strict supervision and guidance of King Louis XIV from 1661, and became an artistic and architectural expression of the idea of absolutism, and a kind of monument to the era of the “Sun King”. The current work of art was created by famous leading architects of those times - Louis Levo and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and the creator of the park was the landscape designer - Andre Le Nôtre. The palace ensemble of Versailles is the largest in Europe; it is distinguished by the harmony of architectural forms, the unique integrity of the plan and the transformed landscape. Since the end of the 17th century, Versailles has been a model for ceremonial country residences European monarchy and aristocracy, but no one was able to repeat the great masterpiece. Over time, a city arose around the palace.
Versailles is part of the history of the development and revival of France. It was the official residence of the royal family from 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789. Later, in 1801, the Palace of Versailles received the status of a museum and was open to visits by residents of France and visitors; and in 1830 the entire architectural complex of Versailles became a museum; then the Museum of French History was opened in the palace in 1837. The Palace and Park of Versailles were included in the World Heritage List cultural heritage UNESCO in 1979.
Many significant events in the history of France and, indeed, the whole world are associated with this place. The 18th century was a place for signing treaties for the residence; many international treaties were signed at Versailles, one of them was the 1783 treaty ending the War of Independence in the United States. On August 26, 1789, the National Constituent Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, this is the most important document of the Great French Revolution. Then in 1871, during the Franco-Prussian War, France admitted defeat, and Versailles became the site of the proclamation of the German Empire. In 1875 it was proclaimed French Republic. And 1919 was the final year for the First World War; a peace treaty was signed at the Palace of Versailles, which marked the beginning of the political system of post-war international relations - the Versailles system.
The Palace of Versailles is famous for its gardens; there are many terraces scattered throughout their territory, which go down as they move away from the palace. Flower beds, a greenhouse, lawns, swimming pools, fountains and numerous sculptures are a continuation of the palace architecture. The park is decorated a large number of fountains. One of the most beautiful is the Fountain of Apollo, where Tyubi depicted the chariot of the ancient god, drawn by four horses, which royally and swiftly emerge from the water, and newts blow their shells, signaling the approach of the god. The area of the park and gardens is 101 hectares, the length of the park façade of the palace is 640 m, the length of the Mirror Gallery in the center of the palace is 73 m, width: 10.6 m, height: 12.8 m. There are 17 windows overlooking the park in Versailles and symmetrical mirrors on the opposite wall.
Versailles is a palace complex famous for its architectural structures.
The Main Palace Complex is the residence of the royal family and is an excellent example of French classicism. From the semicircular Place d'Armes there is a beautiful view of the palace with its three courtyards: the Courtyard of the Ministers, with an equestrian statue of Louis XIV in the background. The Royal Courtyard, access here was available only to royal carriages, and the Marble Courtyard, surrounded by the ancient buildings of the hunting castle of Louis XIII.
The main attractions of Versailles: the Salon of Venus, Royal Chapel, the Salon of Apollo and the Hall of Mirrors, or the Mirror Gallery, whose 17 huge mirrors, located opposite the high windows, fill the space with light, visually expanding the walls. Opera created by Gabriel in 1770 on the occasion of the wedding of Louis XVI with Marie Antoinette: the oval-shaped room is decorated with gilded wooden carvings on a blue background.
The gallery of military battles contains 30 epic paintings dedicated to the triumph of French weapons. Busts of 82 commanders are installed along the walls, and the names of heroes are engraved on 16 bronze plates.
The Grand Trianon is a pink marble palace built by Louis XIV for his beloved Madame de Maintenon. Here the monarch loved to spend his free time. The palace was later home to Napoleon and his second wife.
Petit Trianon is a palace built by King Louis XV for Madame de Pompadour. Later, the Petit Trianon was occupied by Marie Antoinette, and even later by Napoleon's sister.
You can get to Versailles from Gare Montparnasse station by train, and by metro Montparnasse Bienvenue - this is the twelfth metro line. Exit to the station directly from the metro, go to the Versailles Chantiers stop, it will take approximately 20 minutes. Then walk another 10-15 minutes and you are in the majestic palace complex of France - Versailles. A transport ticket costs 5 euros there and back.
The castle is visited from May to September, from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. And the fountains operate from early April to early October on Sundays, and from July 1 to September 30 and on Saturdays. Every year Versailles receives 4,000,000 visitors.
The Palace of Versailles was the political capital of France for over a century and home to the royal court from 1682 to 1789. Today the palace complex is one of the most popular tourist attractions.
Myths and facts
Shrouded in many legends, Versailles became a symbol of the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV. According to legend, the young king decided to build new palace outside the city, since the Louvre in Paris was unsafe at that time. And from 1661, in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris, Louis began transforming a modest hunting lodge into a sparkling palace. To do this, it was necessary to drain more than 800 hectares of swamps (the entire territory occupied by the complex), where entire forests were moved to create 100 hectares of gardens, alleys, flower beds, lakes and fountains.
The Palace of Versailles served as the political center of France. It became home to 6,000 courtiers! Louis XIV lulled his subjects by providing lavish entertainment and rewarding them with royal favors. So Louis tried to distance himself from the political intrigues of Paris, so he created a place where the aristocracy could live under his watchful eye. The grand size of the palace and the wealth on display demonstrated the absolute power of the monarch.
The construction of the palace required about 30,000 workers and 25 million livres, which in total amounted to 10,500 tons of silver (according to experts, in modern money, this amount is equal to 259.56 billion euros). This is despite the fact that construction was carried out with extreme economy and according to the most low prices, because of which many fireplaces subsequently did not work, the windows did not close, and living in the palace in winter was extremely uncomfortable. But the nobles were forced to live under the supervision of Louis, since those who left the Palace of Versailles lost their ranks and privileges.
What to see
The architectural complex embodied the ideas of absolutism - perfectly calculated, laid out along a line. The main building houses the Great Halls and Bedrooms, decorated with ostentatious luxury by Charles Lebrun. Every corner, ceiling and wall of the palace is covered in detailed marble, frescoes, paintings, sculptures, velvet draperies, silk carpets, gilded bronze and tinted glass. These salons are dedicated to Greek deities such as Hercules and Mercury. Louis chose the room of Apollo, the sun god, as the throne room of the Sun King (as Louis XIV was called in France).
The most spectacular of all is the Hall of Mirrors. On the 70-meter-long wall there are 17 huge mirrors with gilded sculptures-lamps between them. In those days, highly polished brass or metal was still used as mirrors in France. Especially for the construction of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the French Minister of Finance, brought Venetian workers to begin production of mirrors in France.
It was here, in the Hall of Mirrors, that the famous Treaty of Versailles was signed between Germany and the Allied powers in 1919, which decided the fate of the post-war era. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were married in 1770 in the white and gold Baroque chapel. The Palace of Versailles is also famous for its opera and theater with a huge oval hall lit by 10,000 candles.
The surroundings of the palace are no less interesting. The creation of the gardens at Versailles required legions of workers and the genius of landscape designer Andre Le Nôtre, who embodied the standard of French classicism. Even during construction, the monarchs tried to copy the palace park, (),. But no one managed to surpass the scope and beauty of the Versailles Park.
The central axis of the garden is the Grand Canal, 1.6 km long, with a western orientation so that the setting sun is reflected in the water surface. Around it, geometrically trimmed trees and flower beds are planted, paths, ponds and lakes are laid out. By the time construction was completed, the park had 1,400 fountains. The most impressive of them is the chariot - another monument to the glory of the Sun King.
On the sides of the alleys there are groves where the courtiers danced in summer time against the backdrop of garden stones, shells and decorative lamps. Marble and bronze statues lined up along the paths. In winter, more than 3,000 trees and shrubs were transferred to the Versailles greenhouse.
Two smaller palaces stand on the opposite side of the garden. Louis XIV built the pink marble Grand Trianon as a break from the etiquette of court life ("Trianon" means a place for solitude, quiet time). In the main palace, for example, the king usually dined alone in the presence of hundreds of spectators. Gala dinners were held strictly according to the protocol of the appropriate rank. To prepare food for the constant banquets, the palace employed 2,000 workers in the kitchen.
The Petit Trianon was a love nest built by Louis XV for Madame du Barry. Later, this neoclassical mini-palace attracted the attention of Marie Antoinette, who also wanted to escape the rigid formality of the main palace. Nearby, for the entertainment of Marie Antoinette, a tiny village with a dairy farm was built. Small thatched houses, a watermill and lakes lived up to the royal fantasy of peasant life.
Ironically, this queen's lavish gifts and frivolity after such an expensive construction of the palace complex virtually liquidated the French treasury and led to the fall of the royal monarchy in 1789.
If you expect to spend the whole day here, it is better to purchase a combined ticket costing 21.75 euros, which includes travel and entry to all parks of the complex. You will find similar combined offers in the castles of Fontainebleau, d'Auvers and the Louvre. Don't forget to visit, whose popularity can only be rivaled.
The Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) is open from April to October: from 9.00 to 18.30 every day except Monday (ticket office closes at 17.50). The garden is open daily from 8.00 to 20.30. In winter: from 9.00 to 17.30. Garden – until 18.00.
Cost: 15 euros (including use of an audio guide in one of 10 languages). School-age children and EU students - 13 euros. Every first Sunday in winter, admission to the museum is free.
A comprehensive ticket costs 18 euros (visiting the palace, Petit and Grand Trianons). During Musical and Fountain Festivals, the cost of a combined ticket is 25 euros.
How to get there: by metro to Versailles-Rive Gauche station, located 15 minutes. walking.
Official site:
The Palace of Versailles and its magnificent evening gardens have become the quintessential model for palaces in Europe. In an era of absolute monarchy, the Palace of Versailles was designed to be admired. King Louis XIV wanted his palace to arouse the envy of every king and the awe of every peasant.
The city itself is located 20 km from the capital. The first records about it go back to the mid-11th century about the local monastery of Saint-per-de-Chartres. By the end of the eleventh century, Versailles was a small village surrounding the castle, however, it flourished until the thirteenth century.
Story
In the sixteenth century, the Gondi families began to rule Versailles and it began to gain prominence. In 1622, the future king of France, Louis XIII, began building a small brick house after seeing these places for the first time. Ten years later, he began to rule Versailles and began to expand his residence. After this, he bought back most of the land and treasures of the Gondi family.
In 1662 new king Louis XIV took a serious interest in Versailles. He thought about moving it royal residence away from the Louvre Palace, as it was in regular political instability. To a large extent, he was the initiator of the expansion of the building that we are familiar with today. He hired Louis Le Vau and the artist Charles Lebrun to design and build the palace. As a result, it became a shining example for other European castles. The main person behind the design of the palace garden was Andre Lentor.
After Le Vau died, construction management passed to the architect Jules Adroin-Mansart. Thanks to him, several wings and a large palace were erected. Later construction included an opera house and the Petit Trianon. In 1790, a priceless series of paintings, sculptures and other objects that were in the castle were transported to the Louvre Museum, and the lion's share of its furniture was auctioned.
At the beginning of the 19th century the castle became favorite place Napoleon. In the middle of the 19th, King Louis Philippe made it a museum, which was dedicated to the glory of his country. The chapel and hall of mirrors were preserved, but most of its rooms were destroyed to make room for exhibition halls. In the second half of the 20th century, Pierre Werlet was responsible for bringing the furniture back to the palace and many rooms were restored. Available for tourists today most of its grounds, as well as its famous garden.
What to see in Versailles
Hall of Mirrors
This hall made the greatest contribution to the development of the palace. Its main highlight is the 17 mirrored arches that reflect the magnificent garden in 17 identical window arcades. Each arch is filled with 21 mirrors. This hall is more than 70 meters long, more than ten meters wide and about 12 meters high. The sculptures in it are located along the line of the wall. It occupied an important place in history after the end of the World War.
Royal Chapel
The current castle chapel is the fifth. Its construction dragged on for about two decades. Guests have access to a terrace on the same level as the kings' rooms. It offers stunning views of the church where the kings sat when they went to mass. Her style contains a contrast between Gothic and Baroque. Many of the chapel's features are in the style of medieval cathedrals, such as the gargoyles and gabled roof. But other characteristics are more reminiscent of the era in which it was built.
Royal Opera
Its premises are entirely made of wood. Although it was not intended for a wide audience, it will be able to accommodate over 750 visitors. The design of the opera is dominated by gold and burgundy colors. It was first used to celebrate the wedding of the king and Marie Antoinette. The opera also has an exclusive system that makes it possible to raise the floor to the outside of the stage. Today it is still used for all kinds of performances.
In the 17th century, André Lentor designed about 100 hectares of the garden at the Palace of Versailles. He laid out a geometric pattern of bushes and trees. Lentor also dried out the area and made several pools. There are a couple of interesting fountains in the park. The most popular are the Latona fountain and the fountain with a sculpture of Louis XIV. The third most famous is the Neptune Fountain. They served to entertain many guests whom the king invited to his colorful parties. Another highlight of the garden is the colonnades, which were designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart.
There are also several small palaces on the palace grounds. At that time, over 10 thousand people worked in the castle, which made this place not confidential. Therefore, the king ordered the construction of the great Trianon to begin. As a result, it should have become as bright as the main palace, where he could avoid prying eyes when meeting with his mistress. His successor built the small Trianon for the same purposes.
The exact address: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France.
Directions. Train from Montparnasse station to Versailles-Chantiers station. From Saint-Lazare train station to “Versailles-Rive droite” station. By metro to the “Pont de Sèvres” station + bus No. 171 to the “Château de Versailles” stop.
Working hours Palace of Versailles: from 9:00 to 18:30 (April-October). From 9:00 to 17:30 (November-March).
Last tour 30 minutes before closing. The castle is closed on Mondays, also January 1 and 5, and December 25.
To this day, Versailles, this masterpiece of the Sun King Louis XIV, is considered a true cultural heritage. Many attempts were made to create a semblance of Versailles (for example, a palace near St. Petersburg, built by order of Peter, who dreamed of building a Russian Versailles). However, this particular building in France remains a unique work of architectural art.
Location of Versailles
Before the Versailles palace complex was built, the area itself was little remarkable. This is how Saint-Simon spoke about it: “Never before have I met a more dull and unfavorable place - without water, without land, without forest.” The area was really sandy and... Before the palace complex was erected on the lands of Versailles, there was nothing remarkable here.
The oldest village of Ile-de-France, Versailles, is mentioned in historical documents of the 10th century. It says that it was “not even a village, but a very modest hamlet, hidden behind the slope of a hill, of which there are a great many scattered around the capital.”
Versailles was crossed by the road leading from Normandy to Paris, which was approximately 18 km away. That is why travelers often stopped here. The village of Versailles went down in history thanks to the fact that Catherine de Medici met here with the future king Henry IV.
Henry's son, Louis XIII, enjoyed spending time with his friends at Versailles. Historians have noted that Louis was a very timid person by nature, and he liked solitude. It was here, on the site of a former windmill, that a small hunting lodge was built, which later grew into a magnificent Palace.
History of Versailles
Versailles ( administrative center Yvelines department) - a village 24 kilometers from Paris, was chosen by King Louis XIII for the construction of a modest hunting castle. However, his more ambitious son Louis XIV, dissatisfied with his other palaces (among which were the Tuileries Palace), decided in 1660 to rebuild Versailles into a luxurious palace and park ensemble. Everything here had to amaze with its splendor and scope - after all, the king wanted the entire royal court to be located here. Construction work began in 1661. In the first two years, Louis XIV, who went down in history as the Sun King, spent countless amounts of money from the treasury.
The construction of Versailles lasted several decades and required not only incredible financial expenses, but also the involvement of many thousands of workers. At the height of construction work at Versailles, there was a shortage of workers, so soldiers and sailors were often called in to help.
The first architect of Versailles was Louis Levo, who was later replaced by Jules Hardouin-Monsard, who supervised the construction for thirty years. The design of the parks was entrusted to Andre Le Nôtre.
It all started with the titanic work of draining the swamps, putting earth, sand and stones in their place, leveling and creating artificial terraces. Then the workers began to dig canals and build a water supply system, which already in the initial period of construction of Versailles was intended for fountains and cascades, which would later glorify the Palace of Versailles.
On the first terrace, five pools full of water were built, in which a variety of artificial flowers made of gilded copper “floated”. On another terrace there were also five pools full of water, and in the water were a sea horse and people with water gushing out of their mouths. There are stone frogs and monkeys around the pools. Below, the builders installed a round pool, around which there are sculptures symbolizing the four seasons. Each season had its own animals that blew water out of their mouths.
Louis XIV died in 1715. His heir, Louis XV, hired Jacques Ange Gabriel as his court architect. Among his many works in Versailles, one should name the Opera building and the famous Petit Trianon - an elegant, miniature castle in which Marie Antoinette later lived. Under Louis XVI, an elegant library was also added to it.
In a certain sense, the entire palace and park ensemble represented a grandiose stage where the royal court rested on a grand scale. This tradition was continued by Louis's successors, especially Marie Antoinette. She built her own theater here, where she later loved to have fun with friends.
During the years of the great French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles was looted several times, many masterpieces were lost. In 1837, by order of Louis Philippe, the gigantic palace complex was restored. The Museum of French History was opened there.
Features of the architecture and interior of Versailles
The parks of Versailles are spread over an area of 101 hectares. Thanks to the open layout, it is perfectly visible, since the entire territory is perfectly flat - neither a hill nor a bump can be found on it.
In the palace park of Versailles there are many observation platforms, alleys and promenades, there is even its own Grand Canal, or rather, a whole system of canals, which was called “little Venice”. In front of the facade of the palace, in front of the windows of the famous Mirror Gallery, in a completely open space, two very elongated pools, enclosed in granite frames, stretch symmetrically. These pools immediately attract attention. Behind these pools began the descent along the Grand Staircase. At its foot there is a space on which, among giant green parterres decorated with four “antique” vases, there is a round pool with the “Fountain of Latona” (in honor of the nymph Latona, the beloved of Zeus, who was forced to flee to escape the persecution of the jealous Hera). This fountain is a large sculptural group made of lead, gilded in places.
A central alley leads from the Latona Fountain to a wide green lawn framed by clumps of ancient trees. In the depths of the lawn there is a famous pool with a figure of Apollo riding a chariot to meet his mother. The “Apollo Fountain” was created by the sculptor Tubi based on the sketches of C. Lebrun. Under great pressure, the central jet is forcefully thrown upward to a height of 25 meters, and the fifteen-meter side jets, rushing upward, outline a lily flower - the emblem of the French kings.
To the north of the Palace of Versailles is the North Parterre, decorated with bronze sculptures “The Grinder” and “Crouching Venus”. From the North Parterre, a staircase leads to the round pools “Crown” and “Sirens” and to the “Pyramid” fountain, fabulous in design and beauty, with gilded tritons and dolphins.
The famous “Alley of Water,” which is also called the “Theater of Water,” was designed by J. Hardouin-Mansart. It is bordered by fourteen small round white marble steps, following each other. They are decorated with bronze figures of children holding a bowl filled with fruits and flowers. "Water Alley" leads to the tallest fountain Versailles park- “Dragon”, the central jet of which shoots up 47 meters.
The Palace of Versailles itself is also striking in its size: the length of the park façade alone is 640 meters. The main palace complex (Chateau de Versailles) was built in the 17th century by King Louis XIV, who wanted to move here from unsafe Paris. The luxurious rooms are richly decorated with marble, velvet and wood carvings that truly impress even the most sophisticated visitor.
The main attractions here are the Royal Chapel, the Salon of Venus and the Salon of Apollo. The decoration of the state rooms was dedicated to the Greek gods. The Salon of Apollo was originally Louis's throne room.
The Colonnade - a circle of marble columns and arches, located within the gardens, continues the theme of the gods of Olympus. The place was the king's favorite outdoor dining area.
The Petit Trianon is one of the many love nests built by King Louis XV for Madame de Pompadour. Later, the Petit Trianon was occupied by Marie Antoinette, and even later by Napoleon's sister.
Marble Courtyard - the main chambers of the king overlooked here. Theatrical performances took place in front of Louis's balcony. On this “stage” Molière’s troupe played “The Misanthrope” for the first time. A clock was installed above the high windows of the royal chambers, which was stopped at the moment of the king's death. Until the middle of the 17th century, they showed the hour of Louis's death.
The Mirror Gallery is the largest room in Versailles. Its length is 73 meters, its height is 12.8 meters, and its width is 10.5 meters. Royal birthdays and weddings were celebrated in this hall, luxurious balls were held, and foreign ambassadors were received. The Hall of Mirrors contains 17 huge mirrors reflecting the tall arched windows and crystal candelabra.
The painting of the Mirror Gallery was entrusted to Lebrun, who was endowed with complete independence of creative activity. On the walls of the gallery the artist placed 12 medallions and 6. Pictured here important events of that time: reforms, restoration of navigation, etc. There were also scenes from mythology. The hero of each composition is a king, who can appear in the image of some ancient hero. Lebrun's ceiling plafond painting exalts the exploits of Louis XIV between 1661 and 1678.
The Salon of Abundance - during official receptions it was used as a pantry; on ordinary days, a collection of Louis' coins was kept here. It also houses paintings by Titian, Veronese and Karachi.
Throne Room - audiences of the king, ceremonial receptions, and meetings with ambassadors were held here. It was here that Louis's huge throne was installed in the idea of a canopy chair.
The greenhouse was built according to the design of Hardouin-Mansart. It is shaped like the letter “P”. Here, at the behest of the king, various rare plants were grown. The pride of the royal greenhouse were 3,000 orange, tangerine and pomegranate trees. More than 200 gardeners served this greenhouse.
Of course, the construction of a luxurious complex in Versailles cost France a tidy sum. During the time of Louis, more than 80,000 livres were spent on the construction of Versailles, which was simply a colossal amount. However, I didn’t lose anything, but on the contrary, I only gained. In 1830, the ensemble of the Grand Palace of Versailles became the National Museum of France. Now Versailles is a real treasure, which is considered not only the property of France, but also the cultural value of all humanity.
Is it possible to find another place as aesthetically harmonious as the Palace of Versailles?! Its external design, the elegance of the interior and the park area are made in the same style; the entire complex deserves to be strolled by representatives of the aristocracy. Every tourist will certainly feel the spirit of the times of the reign of kings, since on the palace and park grounds it is easy to try on the role of a powerful autocrat, in whose power the whole country. Not a single photo can convey true grace, since every meter of this ensemble is thought out to the smallest detail.
Briefly about the Palace of Versailles
There are probably no people who don’t know where it is unique building. The famous palace is the pride of France and the most recognizable royal residence in the world. It is located near Paris and was previously a separate building with a park area. With the growing popularity of this place among the aristocracy, numerous houses appeared around Versailles, in which lived builders, servants, retinues and other people admitted to the court. 
The idea of creating a palace ensemble belonged to Louis XIV, known as the “Sun King”. He himself studied all the plans and pictures with sketches and made adjustments to them. The ruler identified the Palace of Versailles with a symbol of power, the most powerful and indestructible. Only the king could personify complete abundance, so luxury and wealth are felt in every detail of the palace. Its main facade stretches over 640 meters, and the park occupies more than one hundred hectares. 
Classicism, which was at the peak of popularity in the 17th century, was chosen as the main style. Several of the best architects were involved in the creation of this large-scale project, which went through several stages of construction. Only the most famous masters worked on the decoration inside the palace, creating engravings, sculptures and other art treasures that still decorate it. 
The history of the construction of the famous palace complex
It is difficult to say when the Palace of Versailles was built, since work on the ensemble continued even after the king settled in the new residence and held balls in elegant halls. The building officially received the status of a royal residence in 1682, but it is better to mention the history of the creation of the cultural monument in order. 
Initially, since 1623, on the site of Versailles there was a small feudal castle, where the royals and a small retinue stayed while hunting in the local forests. In 1632, the French kings' possessions in this part of the country expanded through the purchase of a nearby estate. Small construction work was carried out near a village called Versailles, but global reconstruction began only with the rise to power of Louis XIV. 
The Sun King early became the ruler of France and forever remembered the rebellion of the Fronde, which was partly the reason why the residence in Paris evoked unpleasant memories for Louis. Moreover, being young, the ruler admired the luxury of the castle of the Minister of Finance Nicolas Fouquet and wished to create the Palace of Versailles, surpassing in beauty all existing castles, so that no one in the country would doubt the king’s wealth. Louis Levo, who had already proven himself in other large-scale projects, was invited to play the role of architect. 
Throughout the life of Louis XIV, work was carried out on palace ensemble. In addition to Louis Leveau, Charles Lebrun and Jules Hardouin-Mansart worked on the architecture; the park and gardens belong to the hand of Andre Le Nôtre. The main asset of the Palace of Versailles at this stage of construction is the Mirror Gallery, in which paintings alternate with hundreds of mirrors. Also during the reign of the Sun King, the Gallery of Battles and the Grand Trianon appeared, and a chapel was erected. 
In 1715, power passed to the five-year-old Louis XV, who, together with his retinue, returned to Paris and for a long time was not involved in the reconstruction of Versailles. During the years of his reign, the Salon of Hercules was completed and the Small Apartments of the King were created. The construction of the Petit Trianon and the completion of the Opera Hall are considered a great achievement at this stage of construction. 
Components of the palace and park area
It is simply impossible to describe the sights of the Palace of Versailles, since everything in the ensemble is so harmonious and elegant that every detail is a real work of art. During your excursions you should definitely visit the following places:
- Grand Trianon (used for outdoor recreation);
- Petit Trianon (was the home of the favorite of Louis XV);
- Marie Antoinette's farm;
- The King's Chambers;
- Mirror gallery.
At the main entrance to the palace complex there are gates made of gold, decorated with a coat of arms and a crown. The square in front of the palace is decorated with sculptures, which are also found inside the main room and throughout the park. You can even find a statue of Caesar, whose cult was valued by French masters. 
Separately, it is worth mentioning the Park of Versailles, as it is an exceptional place, enchanting with its diversity, beauty and integrity. Here you can find amazingly decorated fountains with musical arrangements, botanical gardens, greenhouses, swimming pools. Flowers are collected in unusual flower beds, and shrubs are given certain shapes every year. 
Significant episodes in the history of Versailles
Although the Palace of Versailles was used as a residence for a short time, it played a significant role for the country - in the 19th century it received the status national museum, where numerous engravings, portraits, and paintings were transported. 
With the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the mansions became the property of the Germans. They chose the Hall of Mirrors to declare themselves the German Empire in 1871. The French were offended by the chosen location, so after Germany's defeat in World War I, when Versailles was returned to France, the peace treaty was signed in the same premises. 
Since the 50s of the 20th century, a tradition has emerged in France according to which all visiting heads of state had to meet with the president in Versailles. Only in the 90s it was decided to move away from this tradition due to the great popularity of the Palace of Versailles among tourists. 
Monarchs of other countries who visited the French landmark marveled at the elegance and luxury of the royal residence and often, upon returning home, tried to recreate no less elegant palaces with similar architecture. Of course, you will not find a similar creation anywhere in the world, but many castles in Italy, Austria and Germany have some similarities. Even the palaces in Peterhof and Gatchina are made in the same classicism, borrowing a number of ideas. 
From historical descriptions it is known that it was very difficult to keep secrets in the palace, since Louis XIV preferred to know what was on the minds of his courtiers in order to avoid conspiracies and uprisings. The castle has many hidden doors and secret passages that were known only to the king and the architects who designed them. 
During the reign of the Sun King, almost all decisions were made in the Palace of Versailles, because government officials and close associates of the autocrat were present here around the clock. To become part of the retinue, one had to live in Versailles regularly and attend daily ceremonies, during which Louis often distributed privileges.
