Palace of Versailles (Ch芒teau de Versailles), Versailles (must see)
Although Versailles existed as a village in the early 11th century, it wasn鈥檛 until King Louis 13th built a hunting lodge here in 1624 that the history of the Palace of Versailles (Chateau de Versailles) really began.
The king obtained seigniory of the land in 1632 and had the lodge enlarged into a chateau. His son (the future Louis 14th) played here as a child and he loved the place. When he became king he contracted the great architect Louis le Vau and the innovative landscape gardener Andr茅 le Notre to change the chateau and grounds into the magnificent palace and gardens you can visit today.
Of course this didn鈥檛 happen overnight and the king devoted most of his life to the project. The most significant building work took place between 1669 and 1672, when the hunting lodge was enveloped on three sides 鈥� the north, the south and the west.
The Grand Apartment du Roi was built in the north part of the Piano Nobile with the Grand Apartment de la Reine in the south part. The western part was a terrace until it was enclosed to house the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) in 1678.
The architect of this beautiful hall was Jules Hardouin-Mansart and as well as enclosing the terrace, he took three rooms from the king鈥檚 and three from the queen鈥檚. The hall comprises 17 arched mirrors facing 17 arched windows that reflect the sun and fill the hall with golden light.
To get away from the over-crowded city of Paris, Louis 14th began to move his court here in 1678. From then until the beginning of the French Revolution when the Royal family was forced to leave the palace, the kings of France reigned from here and it was the centre of political power.
The king obtained seigniory of the land in 1632 and had the lodge enlarged into a chateau. His son (the future Louis 14th) played here as a child and he loved the place. When he became king he contracted the great architect Louis le Vau and the innovative landscape gardener Andr茅 le Notre to change the chateau and grounds into the magnificent palace and gardens you can visit today.
Of course this didn鈥檛 happen overnight and the king devoted most of his life to the project. The most significant building work took place between 1669 and 1672, when the hunting lodge was enveloped on three sides 鈥� the north, the south and the west.
The Grand Apartment du Roi was built in the north part of the Piano Nobile with the Grand Apartment de la Reine in the south part. The western part was a terrace until it was enclosed to house the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) in 1678.
The architect of this beautiful hall was Jules Hardouin-Mansart and as well as enclosing the terrace, he took three rooms from the king鈥檚 and three from the queen鈥檚. The hall comprises 17 arched mirrors facing 17 arched windows that reflect the sun and fill the hall with golden light.
To get away from the over-crowded city of Paris, Louis 14th began to move his court here in 1678. From then until the beginning of the French Revolution when the Royal family was forced to leave the palace, the kings of France reigned from here and it was the centre of political power.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Versailles. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Palace of Versailles (Ch芒teau de Versailles) on Map
Sight Name: Palace of Versailles (Ch芒teau de Versailles)
Sight Location: Versailles, France (See walking tours in Versailles)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Versailles, France (See walking tours in Versailles)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Versailles, France
Create Your Own Walk in Versailles
Creating your own self-guided walk in Versailles is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Versailles Introduction Walking Tour
Versailles, a wealthy suburb of Paris some 20 kilometers southwest of the capital, is steeped in grandeur and regal history. Known worldwide for its opulent palace 鈥� the residence of French royalty, this small town offers much more than just its royal gates. Versailles is a living museum of French architecture and aristocratic life and is historically known for numerous treaties signed there,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Versailles Gardens Walking Tour
Spread across a vast (800-hectare) area, the Versailles Gardens are the quintessential example of regal grandeur and meticulous French landscape design. Most of its feature areas 鈥� known as 'groves' 鈥� were created by King Louis XIV鈥檚 chief landscape architect Andr茅 Le N么tre. Key among the garden's numerous attractions is the Orangerie Fountain, which sets the tone for its... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles