Versailles Palace and Gardens stand as an enduring testament to France’s absolute monarchy that held power until the French Revolution. Covering an expansive 2,000 acres, with multiple gardens and smaller satellite palaces on site.
The palace boasts over 2,300 rooms and 67 staircases (not counting Louis XIV’s Hall of Mirrors), with various changes made under his rule to its completion.
The Chateau
Versailles’ iconic chateau stands as its centerpiece and draws visitors year round. Constructed during Louis XIV (known as Sun King) to symbolize France’s absolute monarchy, few modifications were ever made and thus, much of it remains virtually untouched today.
Palaces can easily captivate us for hours; their halls filled with golden halls, tapestries and chandeliers can enthrall us for days on end, yet what lies at their back really leaves an impression on visitors: gravel paths through trees and hedges leading up to lush gardens are filled with lush vegetation which might require armies of gardeners just to maintain such lush vegetation! However, what stands out about the Queen’s summer home stands out even further: this home would serve as her place of solace when she needed time alone with her girlfriends to Get Away From It All.
Though Versailles might appear grandiose today, its residents found life difficult living there at one time. The wings served as apartments and there are records of complaints from courtiers — from King Louis complaining about his food to Princess Anna being unable to find her room keys – against living there. Summer heat could become unbearably hot; sheets soaked in water were hung outside windows to cool rooms down; for Marie Antoinette desperately seeking privacy it felt almost prison-like.
Versailles only began to assume its current function as a museum of France’s past glory during the 19th century, thanks to Louis-Philippe who came into power in 1830 and began redesigning the palace. A series of collections were commissioned from various artists to highlight France’s past glory. Versailles became listed by UNESCO in 1979 and is open daily except Mondays.
The Gardens
Since their creation in the 17th century, Versailles gardens have been an endless source of wonderment and amazement to visitors from across the globe. Their sprawling landscape is an artfully designed masterpiece featuring art, architecture and horticulture elements which has attracted monarchs, dignitaries and politicians from every nation on earth.
At the core of Andre Le Notre’s garden is an expansive bassin (a lake) which forms a cross with two lateral canals and covers 23 hectares, and was his most ambitious undertaking, creating a perfect harmony and symmetry that truly reflect his masterful design skills.
Around the central basin were several parterres – flat and ornamental zones arranged in complex patterns – while in low-lying areas there were bosquets – wooded salons designed in various ingenious ways that combined nature and art into an exquisite display of both.
Gardens at Versailles feature over 400 statues, making it the world’s largest open-air sculpture museum. Commissioned by Louis XIV and created by some of his best artists during their era, these pieces depict several characters from Greco-Roman mythology such as Flora and Ceres – two goddesses associated with spring and harvest, respectively.
Beginning your visit by strolling along the Royal Road through horse chestnut, yew and hornbeam trees is a pleasant way to begin, before proceeding towards the Grand Canal and Fountain of Apollo. Here was where King Louis IX enjoyed strolling after work – often sought refuge here from Marie de Medici who overshadowed him.
Versailles was never intended to be closed off from the public and from its inception, all aspects – including the King’s bedroom (when not occupied by him) and gardens and park – have always been accessible by all members of society. Even today, over 6 Million visitors visit every year!
The Trianon
Ange-Jacques Gabriel designed the Trianon Pavilion at Versailles between 1763 and 1768 on behalf of Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress and confidante. Gabriel employed neoclassical design trends that included pure lines and cubic forms to adapt its rugged aesthetics with new trends of architecture at Versailles Gardens.
Marie-Antoinette received The Trianon as a wedding present from her husband in 1774, and set to work transforming it according to her tastes. Gabriel added kitchens and other service quarters on the ground floor while creating more luxurious drawing and dining rooms that provided views over its stunning gardens on the upper level.
Visitors to this antechamber can admire one of Marie-Antoinette’s portraits by her official painter Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun from 1778; depicted her wearing a gaulle dress and straw hat similar to what would later become fashionable for her nearby hamlet development; also included is Louis-Louis-Francois Francois Simon La Tour’s 1783 painting “Marie-Antoinette A La Rose,” also referred to as Queen in Pink.
Next is a gallery dedicated to 24 paintings by Jean Cotelle depicting the groves surrounding Versailles and Trianon, while further along you’ll come upon a gallery dedicated to 24 works by Cotelle that depict these areas. Finally, your visit of Trianon concludes at Marie-Antoinette’s request in two more places; Marie-Antoinette enjoyed opera performances there while having access to rustic retreat away from Versailles pomp.
After the French Revolution, the Petit Trianon underwent many changes – from becoming a hostel and restoration by Napoleon, to serving as residence of Duke of Orleans; later still becoming a museum dedicated to her memory.
The Museums
After the Revolution of 1789 and the abolishing of monarchy, Versailles was transformed into a museum. Under Louis-Philippe (still King at this point), its vast rooms were filled with paintings and sculptures depicting national history – an ambitious project which involved demolishing some apartments while remodeling others to achieve this objective. Versailles served both as an exhibit hall of France’s past while uniting supporters of various regimes into one cohesive space – it proved highly effective!
By the late 19th century, visiting Versailles became a must for politicians and artists alike. Over time, Versailles underwent major restoration, recovering pieces lost during revolutionary rummage sales of 1793. Additionally, due to Sacha Guitry’s film Royal Affairs in Versailles, the palace became a symbol of its own time while becoming more widely appreciated among an eager public looking to learn what the chateau had to teach about French history.
Today, the grand museum complex that includes the Palace of Versailles and its vast grounds has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and remains one of the top European tourist destinations with more than 15 million annual visitors.
It’s easy to see why: the collection features works spanning centuries and covering subjects as varied as religious and racial conflict, wars and conquests, art and science as well as France’s great glory. Highlights of this stunning museum collection include an exquisite 17th-century rococo salon by Giovanni Antonio De Tiepolo as well as Napoleon III’s state dining room; lesser-known gems like Gericault’s Raft of Medusa or Vermeer’s Lacemaker are worth taking the time to admire. In addition to these main museums there are periodic special exhibitions as well.
The Markets
Visit Versailles wouldn’t be complete without stopping at its local markets, and Versailles boasts many, offering everything from fresh produce and flowers to handmade crafts and delectable treats. Popular markets in Versailles include Marche Saint Louis (specializing in fruit & veggies) and Les HALLES DE VERSAILLES par Marketbox (which specialize in local organic products).
Initial plans for Versailles consisted of little more than a hunting lodge where its inhabitants made a living selling food to Paris for transporting, but Louis XIV (known as “sun king”) invested substantial taxpayer funds into making it the grandest court ever seen in history. He hired Europe’s premier architects, designers, and builders to construct his palace with over 2000 rooms and intricate gardens as well as fountains, private zoos, Roman style baths for lounging around with mistresses – not forgetting all these amazing feats of engineering by hiring master architects from across Europe to construct his palace of over 2000 rooms & gardens!
Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were avid consumers of luxury. They lavished money on costumes, multi-course banquets, balls and parades; created a theater for pageants and plays; created an enormous theater wardrobe; costumes alone were worth millions!
After World War I had concluded, Versailles became a hub of peace negotiations which resulted in the Treaty of Versailles. Unfortunately for France’s German reparations efforts, however, the US refused to join these discussions and strengthen international monetary and financial systems, raising tariffs instead in 1922 and 1930 which only compounded France’s German reparations issues further.
Today, Versailles is a prefecture in the Seine-et-Oise department and part of Yvelines region. Additionally, it serves as home of French National Assembly and hosts the Ecole nationale superieure des beaux-arts.