The Chateau de Versailles has been written about more times than I can count, but like any good travel writer, I have to add my 2 cents even if it’s only in photos of this fabulous place. Hopefully, these pics and brief architectural history of the main palace will temp you to visit also, because the Palace at Versailles is one of those sites you simply shouldn’t miss!
The grand Palace of Versailles we see today began as a royal hunting lodge which would eventually be the core of an extensive building project to create the grand palace that was built around it.
After falling in love with the area during a royal hunting trip, Louis XIII ordered the construction of his hunting lodge in 1624. At that time, Versailles was still just a country village.
In 1664, Louis XIV decided he needed a larger country place. He began the expansion of the hunting lodge, which turned into one of the largest palaces in the world through construction projects lasting from 1664 through 1710. During this time, the chateau began to assume some of the appearance that it has today. Louis employed the talents of Le Vau, Le Notre, Le Brun and Mansart to create the fabulous architecture and beautiful interior of the chateau.
After falling in love with the area during a royal hunting trip, Louis XIII ordered the construction of his hunting lodge in 1624. At that time, Versailles was still just a country village.
In 1664, Louis XIV decided he needed a larger country place. He began the expansion of the hunting lodge, which turned into one of the largest palaces in the world through construction projects lasting from 1664 through 1710. During this time, the chateau began to assume some of the appearance that it has today. Louis employed the talents of Le Vau, Le Notre, Le Brun and Mansart to create the fabulous architecture and beautiful interior of the chateau.
The first project to improve the chateau began with alterations in the château and gardens and were begun to accommodate the 600 guests invited to a grand fete called the “Pleasures of the Enchanted Island”.
As part of the second construction project which began in 1669, Le Vau designed the architecture enveloping the old hunting lodge and Le Brun decorated and furnished the spectacular interior.
The third building campaign which began in 1678 was directed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart which gave the palace the look it has today. He created the fabulous Hall of Mirrors the North and South wings and the Orangerie. Le Brun again worked on the interior rooms and also collaborated with Le Notre to create the grand gardens.
In 1678, Louis XIV gradually moved the court to Versailles. The court was officially established there on 6 May 1682 when the king and his queen, Marie-Therese moved to the palace.
The third building campaign which began in 1678 was directed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart which gave the palace the look it has today. He created the fabulous Hall of Mirrors the North and South wings and the Orangerie. Le Brun again worked on the interior rooms and also collaborated with Le Notre to create the grand gardens.
In 1678, Louis XIV gradually moved the court to Versailles. The court was officially established there on 6 May 1682 when the king and his queen, Marie-Therese moved to the palace.
The fourth building campaign, begun in 1699, concentrated almost exclusively on construction of the royal chapel designed by Mansart and finished by Robert de Cotte.
There were also some modifications in the royal apartment and the King’s Bedchamber. The building period ended with the completion of the chapel in 1710.
There were also some modifications in the royal apartment and the King’s Bedchamber. The building period ended with the completion of the chapel in 1710.
Other changes and building projects continued under Louis XV and Louis XVI, but the main palace of Versailles was virtually complete and the royal families lived there until 1789 when during the French Revolution, Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette were forced to leave the palace and were eventually executed.
In 1833, Louis Philippe turned the royal Chateau de Versailles into a museum. This is the remarkable site you can visit today and the beauty of the palace is well worth the train ride out to Versailles.
Watch for our next post on the auxiliary palaces at Versailles, the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon!
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