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 is in power. 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 do not know where the unique structure is located. famous palace- 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 royalty with a small retinue 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 works near a village called Versailles were carried out, but global restructuring began only with the coming 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 did not rebuild Versailles for a long time. 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 of a 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.

Versailles - palace and park complex(Parc et château de Versailles), which is located in the Paris suburb of the same name. Versailles is included in the list of 100 wonders of the world, and since 1979 has been included in the List of Objects World Heritage UNESCO.

  • Grand Trianon;
  • Petit Trianon (Marie Antoinette's mansion);
  • Marie Antoinette Farm;
  • Gardens;
  • A park.

Excursion to Versailles: information for tourists

Address: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France.

How to get to Versailles

From Paris to Versailles you can get there in half an hour by car. high speed trains RER, line C. In Versailles the stop is called Versailles Rive Gauche, from there it is a 10-minute walk to the palace gates.

Another way to get there: bus number 171, which departs from the Pont de Sevres metro station in Paris. Buses run every 15-20 minutes.

Schedule

The complex is open every day except Mondays, as well as official holidays: December 25, January 1 and May 1.

  • Chateau - from 09:00 to 17:30 (from May to September - until 18:30);
  • Grand and Petit Trianons, farm - from 12:00 to 17:30 (from May to September - until 18:30);
  • Gardens and park - from 8:00 to 18:00 (from May to September - from 7:00 to 20:30).

Ticket prices to Versailles

Services list Price
Full ticket ( main palace, Grand and Petit Trianons, farm, gardens) 20 €/on days the fountains are open 27 €
Full ticket for two days 25 €/on days the fountains are open 30 €
Only Chateau (main palace) 18 €
Grand and Petit Trianons, farm 12 €
Park only (fountains turned off) for free
Park only (fountains included) 9 €
Night fountain show 24 €
Ball 17 €
Night fountain show + ball 39 €

Prices are current for 2018.

Children under 5 years old - admission is free, for older children, students, and people with disabilities disabilities discounts apply.

From the history of Versailles

Versailles under the Bourbons

Initially, these lands were the hunting estate of Louis XIII. His son and successor, the “Sun King” Louis XIV, was crowned in 1654. After the Fronton uprising, life in the Louvre seemed alarming and unsafe to the “Sun King,” so he gave instructions to build a palace on the Versailles lands, on the site of his father’s hunting grounds.

Construction of the palace and park complex began in 1661 under Louis XIV and continued under the reign of his son, Louis XV. Architects Louis Leveau, François D'Orbe and painter Charles Lebrun created grand palace in the style of classicism, which to this day has no equal.

Until 1789 Versailles was main residence kings of France. At the beginning of October 1789, people gathered in the palace square, outraged by the high prices of bread. The answer to the protest was the phrase of Marie Antoinette: “If they don’t have bread, let them eat cakes!” But it is not known for certain whether she said this phrase or whether the townspeople themselves came up with it. After this riot, Versailles ceased to be the center of social life in France, and the king and his family and the deputies of the bourgeoisie (National Assembly) moved to Paris.

The Palace of Versailles during revolutions and wars

Maintaining the Palace of Versailles was not easy. When Napoleon I came to power in 1799, he took Versailles under his wing. In 1806, by order of the Emperor, work began on a plan to restore the Palace of Versailles. Restoration work started two years later - mirrors and gold panels were restored here, furniture was brought in, including from.

After the revolution of 1814-1815. the empire collapsed and the Bourbons came to power again. Under Louis Philippe, many halls were completely restored. The palace became national museum, an exhibition of portraits, busts, and paintings of historical value was exhibited here.

Versailles also played a role in French-German relations. After France lost the Franco-Prussian War, the German army headquarters was located at the Palace of Versailles (1870-1871). At the beginning of 1871, the Germans proclaimed the German Empire in the Mirror Gallery. This place was chosen specifically for the purpose of humiliating the French. But a month later, a preliminary peace treaty was signed with France and the capital was moved from Bordeaux to Versailles. And only 8 years later, in 1879, French capital Paris became again.

Versailles from the 20th century to the present day

After the First World War, in which Germany was already defeated, the Treaty of Versailles was signed in the palace. This time the French chose the place to restore historical justice and humiliate the Germans.

In 1952, the government allocated 5 billion francs for the restoration of Versailles. Also, from the 50s to the mid-90s of the last century, all heads of state who came to visit France had to meet with the French president in the palace.

In 1995, Versailles received the status legal entity and became a government agency. Since 2010, the institution has received the name "Public Institution of the National Estate and Museum of Versailles."

What to see in Versailles: halls and interiors of the palace

Each hall, salon and bedroom is a masterpiece that shows how much talent and work was invested here.

Mirror gallery

The Gallery of Mirrors is considered the heart of the Palace of Versailles. Its area is 803 sq. m. The gallery has 357 mirrors installed parallel to 17 windows. The hall is decorated with crystal chandeliers, silver candelabra, floor lamps, vases, and Rouge de Rance pilasters topped with gilded bronze capitals based on a new design that was called the “French style” and was created by Le Brun.

The vaulted ceiling features 30 illustrations that depict glorious history Louis XIV during the first 18 years of his reign. Weddings in Versailles took place in the Mirror Gallery.

Royal Chapel

The chapel is located near the entrance on the right side of the building. The royal altar is surrounded by figures of ancient Greek gods. The royal coat of arms on the floor is paved with colored marble. A spiral staircase leads to the second tier of the chapel.

The Throne Room or Hall of Apollo

This hall was intended for holding audiences of foreign delegations or patronal feasts. In the evenings, dances, theatrical or musical performances were held here.

Diana's salon

The interior of Diana's salon at the Palace of Versailles is decorated with antique busts and sculptures, painted walls, and golden vaults.

War Salon

The War Salon was created to glorify the legendary military achievements of the French. On the walls there are monumental paintings telling about victories.

Salon "Bull's Eye"

The salon window overlooks the inner oval courtyard. Persons close to the monarch or titled nobles could be here to observe the royal apartments through an opening shaped like a bull's eye.

Hall of Venus

The main attraction of the hall is the statue of the “Sun King” Louis XIV.

King's bedroom

Louis XIV was an extravagant man, he loved pomp in absolutely everything. That's why his bedroom looks like a theater set. When the king woke up and went to bed, there were selected persons in the bedroom who had the pleasure of enjoying this action. As soon as the “sun king” woke up, four servants presented him with a glass of wine, and two with a lace shirt.

Queen's bedroom

The queen's bedroom features a huge bed. The walls are decorated with stucco, portraits and various picturesque panels.

This is just a small part of the interiors that can be seen here. It is simply impossible to describe all the halls and salons.

Gardens and park of Versailles

The gardens and park of Versailles are unique; about 36,000 people worked on their construction. More than 6 million tourists visit this attraction every year.

The location of all park facilities is carefully calculated and thought out. The scale is so grandiose that it is simply unrealistic to walk around the entire garden and park complex in a day. Fountains, pools, cascades, grottoes, statues - the park was created to show the majesty of the “Sun King”.

There are approximately 350,000 trees in the area. Trees, shrubs and lawns are trimmed as intended by the creator of the complex in the 17th century.

Events and entertainment

Versailles regularly hosts various events and show. There is especially something to see here at the height of the tourist season.

Night fountain show

From May to September, a light and music fountain show is organized for guests on Saturdays. Besides the fact that the spectacle itself is indescribably beautiful, it ends with fireworks.

Ball

Before the night show, a real ball takes place in the Hall of Mirrors. Dancers demonstrate dances traditional for royal balls, and musicians perform classical music.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions are periodically held in the galleries and other rooms of Versailles. Here they are exhibited as contemporary artists, as well as paintings by artists of past centuries.

Palace of Versailles on the map of Versailles

Versailles is a palace and park complex (Parc et château de Versailles), which is located in the suburb of Paris of the same name. Versailles is included in the list of 100 wonders of the world, and since 1979 has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The entire complex is divided into the following main zones:

  • Chateau (main palace at Versailles);
  • Grand Trianon;
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Fabulous Palace of Versailles is a testament to the extravagance of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The palace and its beautiful formal garden became the main model for palaces throughout Europe.

  • From Paris: 22 km from Paris, 35 minutes by car.

Opening hours of Versailles:

April - October:

  • Palace 9:00 - 18:30, last entry 18:00, ticket office closes at 17:50. Closed on Mondays.
  • Trianon Palace and Marie Antoinette's estate - 12:00 - 20:30, closed on Mondays.
  • Garden - daily 8:00 - 20:30.
  • Park - daily 7 - 19 for vehicles and 7 - 20:30 for pedestrians.

November - March

  • palace 9:00 - 17:30, last entrance 17:00, ticket office closes at 16:50. Closed on Mondays.
  • Trianon Palace and Marie Antoinette's estate - 12:00 - 17:30, closed on Mondays.
  • Garden and park - daily, except Mondays, 8:00 - 18:00.

Entrance to Versailles:

  • A ticket to the Palace of Versailles costs 15€ for adults (including audio guide), reduced price - 13 €, under 18 years old free.
  • “Hidden Versailles” - with a guide, private apartments - 16 €.
  • Trianon Palace and the estate of Marie Antoinette - 10 € (preferential - 6 €).
  • Full Versailles: 18 €(25 € on days of musical concerts).
  • Forfaits Loisirs combined ticket (all of Versailles + tickets from and to Paris)- 21.75 € on weekdays, 26 € on weekends. You can buy it at SNCF railway ticket offices. (the best option).

In summer after 15:00 entrance to the palace territory (park) for free.

The first Sunday of every month from November to March - free tour of the apartments, coronation room, Trianon Palace and Marie Antoinette's estate.

How to get to Versailles:

From public transport The most convenient way to get to Versailles is by direct train:

  • : stop Versailles-Rive Gauche(ticket zone 1 - 4, regular T+ is not valid).
  • : Versailles-Chantiers(from) or Versailles-Rive Droite(trains from Gare St-Lazare station). Travel time is about 20 minutes. Then walk to Versailles following the signs - about 15 minutes.

Train ticket to Versailles: 7.10 € in both directions, you need to select your final destination at the ticket machine - Versailles Rive Gauche.

Valid tickets: Paris Visite (1 - 5 zones) - from 11.15 €/day.

Train schedule to Versailles - RER C:

RER C route map (download PDF):

Maps of Versailles:

A Brief History of Versailles

Versailles is located about 20 kilometers from Paris. The first mention of the city and the estate was in 1038, when the name appeared in the charter of the abbey of Saint-Pere-de-Chartres. At the end of the 11th century, Versailles was a provincial village, encompassing a castle and the church of Saint-Julien, which remained prosperous until the early 13th century. After the Hundred Years' War, however, only a handful of people lived there.

Royal presence

In the 16th century, the Gondi family became rulers of Versailles, and the city became popular when the future King Louis XIII visited the area and was captivated by its beauty. In 1622, he bought land in the area and began building a small house of stone and brick.
Statue of Louis XIV
Ten years later he became the master of Versailles and began expanding his house. Soon he acquired more land, as well as the property of Gondi Louis XIII died in 1643.

Sun King

In 1662, the new king, Louis XIV, turned out to be very interested in Versailles. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, did not trust the Parisians and wanted to move his royal residence away from the Louvre, which was constantly at the center of political fuss. The Sun King was largely responsible for the expansion of Versailles, which resulted in the construction of a building that still stands today. He hired the architect Louis Le Vau and the artist Charles Lebrun to build this Baroque masterpiece, which became a typical example for all palaces in Europe. The famous gardener André Le Notre was responsible for the unsurpassed garden of Versailles.

Royal Chapel

After the death of the architect Le Vau, Jules Hardouin-Mansart was commissioned to triple the size of the palace. Under his watchful eye, the north and south wings, the Orangerie, the Grand Trianon (castle) and the royal chapel were built. Later the opera house and the Petit Trianon (small castle) were added, which was built between 1761 and 1764 for Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour.

French revolution

During the French Revolution, the incredible collection of paintings, antiques and other works of art that had accumulated at Versailles were transferred to the Palace, and other important items were sent to National Library and the Conservatory of Arts and Crafts. Most of the furniture, according to historians, was sold at auction.

Royal Palace

After the revolution, Napoleon spent the summer at Versailles until he abdicated the throne. Later, Louis Philippe lived here, who in 1830 turned the castle into a grand museum dedicated to the “Glory of France.” The Chapel, Opera, and Hall of Mirrors were preserved, but many of the smaller rooms were demolished to make way for spacious exhibition halls. However, in the 1960s, curator Pierre Werlet managed to get some of the furniture back and restore a number of royal apartments.

Today, visitors can visit Versailles, see much of the interior of this magnificent palace, as well as the world famous garden.

Versailles Museum:

Notable numbers include:

Hall of Mirrors

Some call the Hall of Mirrors Louis XIV's most notable contribution to Versailles. The main feature of the hall is the seventeen mirrored arches that reflect the seventeen arcaded windows that overlook the equally magnificent garden of Versailles. Each arch contains twenty-one mirrors, for a total of 357 mirrors in the room. This magnificent hall is 73 meters long, 10.5 meters wide and 12.3 meters high. Statues and busts line the walls. The Hall of Mirrors has always played an important role in history, including in 1919, when the first World War officially ended, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles in this very hall.

Royal Chapel

Currently, the chapel is already the fifth in the palace. Construction began in 1689 and was completed around 1710. There is a "tribune" on the same level as the royal apartments, overlooking the nave where the kings sat while attending mass. The architecture is a combination of Gothic and Baroque. Many details of the chapel resemble cathedrals Middle Ages, including a gargoyle and gabled roof, colored marble tiles on the floor, columns and carved pillars.

Grand - apartments

Originally known as the Apartments of the Planets (each of the 7-salons of these apartments has paintings of the planets), these were the apartments of King Louis XIV. While all the apartments are mesmerizing, most notable are the ceilings painted by the king's artist Charles Lebrenoy and his team of artists.

Royal Opera

The Opera's auditorium is made entirely of wood, making it one of the most acoustically “live” theaters in the world. Although it was a court theater and was not intended for a huge audience, it seats more than 700 people. Gold, pink and green colors dominate the decor of the Opera, the construction of which was finally completed only in 1770. It was first used for the wedding ball of the future King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and boasts a unique mechanical system that raises the floor to stage level. Today the Opera is still used for concerts and opera performances.

Park geometry

Spread over 100 hectares, the garden of Versailles is the largest palace garden in Europe. It was created in the 17th century by landscape gardener André Le Nôtre, who designed what can be considered the quintessential French formal garden. The garden is laid out in a geometric pattern created by paths, shrubs, flower beds and trees. Le Nôtre also drained the swampy, sloping terrain and created a series of basins and a large canal known as the Grand Canal.

Latona Fountain

Several fountains decorate the pools. The most famous are the Latona Fountain - with a statue of the goddess Latona - and the Apollo Fountain - named after the sun god and depicting the sun king riding on chariots. There are several other fountains in the garden, such as the Neptune Fountain. The fountains were installed to entertain the many guests invited to King Louis XIV's lavish organized balls.

Another notable feature in the garden is the Colonnade, a circular row of marble columns designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart.

Petit Trianon

Versailles also has several smaller palaces located in the garden: the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon. About 10,000 people worked at the Palace of Versailles, so privacy could not be counted on. Therefore, King Louis XIV ordered the construction of the Grand Trianon, a palace almost as luxurious as the main palace, where the king could escape the formalities of the court and have a tryst with his mistress. His successor, King Louis XV, later built an even smaller palace - Petit Trianon - for the same reason.

(Versaille Palace) near Paris, the same grandiose Versailles - the magnificent residence of the kings of France, the great collective creation of the best French architects and landscape masters. Created by Louis XIV with the clear goal of eclipsing everything built in Europe up to that time, and indeed eclipsing it.

  • Versailles is a monument to the “Sun King”, a clear visualization of the idea: the monarch is the center of the universe

The hunting castle at Versailles, which became a huge palace, became a role model throughout Europe. It remains the standard today. The grandeur of the idea and the elegance of its implementation in practice cannot leave anyone indifferent!

  • Royal Palace of Caserta, built for the Italian branch of the Bourbons
  • Russian Upper and Lower Gardens in Peterhof, Bolshoi Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo
  • La Granja de San Ildefonso in Spain near Segovia
  • Herrenchiemsee in Germany
  • many archiepiscopal, ducal and private residences

to one degree or another they borrowed the ideas implemented during the creation of the Versailles Palace and Park!

However, he himself did not materialize out of thin air. There is an opinion that the idea of ​​​​building a new residence arose from Louis XIV after a visit to the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Built near Paris by the royal treasurer Nicolas Fouquet and the wealth of decoration eclipsed all that existed in France before him!

Palace of Versailles in numbers

The total length of the garden facade exceeds half a kilometer (670 meters). The palace has more than 700 rooms, 1,252 fireplaces and 67 staircases. The Palace of Versailles looks out at the world through 2,153 windows.

The total area of ​​the building exceeds 67,000 square meters. And the entire complex with the park stretches over 8 km2. Why isn't the country self-sufficient?

The palace apartments still amaze with their luxurious decoration. Particularly notable are: the Mirror Gallery, a hall 73 meters long, 10.5 meters wide and 12.5 meters high, the King's Apartments, the windows of which overlook the inner Marble Courtyard, the Large and Small Royal Chambers.

The amount spent on the construction and decoration of the Palace of Versailles during the era of Louis XIV alone amounted to 26 million livres!

Royal apartments

The royal bedroom was located in the central part of the palace on the second floor and overlooked the Marble Courtyard. In front of the bedroom was the famous and often mentioned in historical literature room “Oeil de boeuf” ("Bull's Eye"), named after the oval window in the roof.

  • Grand appartement du Roi (dark blue)
  • Private quarters of the king, Appartement du roi (medium blue)
  • Small apartments of the king, Petit appartement du roi (light blue)
  • Grand apartment of the queen, Grand appartement de la reine (yellow)
  • Petit appartement de la reine (red)

For the first time, the enfilade system of halls was implemented on a large scale at the Palace of Versailles. If in the previous residences of the French kings the personal chambers were decorated in an intimate, chamber style, here the life of the monarch is put on display.

Personal quarters: bedroom, office, reception rooms - all together were supposed to create unforgettable impression about the incredible wealth of France.

  • Louis XIV occupied rooms overlooking the Marble Court in the central part of the palace. The royal bedroom was located on the axis of symmetry, it was here that the “Sun King” died on September 1, 1715 at the age of 72)

Under Louis XV and XVI, the bedroom was used for the traditional ceremonies of lever ("rising") and coucher ("going to bed"). To the left of the bedroom is the Hoy de Boeuf, and to the right is what was once the king's office, from where he ruled France. Under Louis XV, the room was expanded and turned into the Council Hall.

History of creation

A small hunting castle in the ancient village of Versailles, located only 15 kilometers west of Paris, arose during the reign of Louis XIII, the father of the “Sun King” Louis XIV, who subsequently reigned so long and so brilliantly, in 1624.

In 1632-1638, the castle in Versailles, designed by the architect Philibert De Roy, was turned into a small U-shaped palace. Note that during the subsequent numerous reconstructions of the building, this part of it became the center of the composition, around which outbuildings gradually grew.

The era of Louis XIV

In 1661, after the death of Cardinal Mazarin, who ruled France virtually single-handedly as First Minister, King Louis XIV reconsidered the role of Versailles. In the head of the monarch, who has finally received real power, the idea of ​​​​transforming a small palace into a grandiose residence is born, and its location outside Paris, the capital of France, is not at all accidental.

  • The king seems to oppose himself to the heart of the nation, its very big city, declaring that he will now be the center of the Universe for the French. However, the official transformation of Versailles into the center of attraction of France was slightly delayed: only in 1682 did the court finally move here

Large-scale construction at Versailles began in 1669. It was then that the architect Louis Levo significantly enlarged the former, rather modest building by lengthening the side wings, which today frame the so-called Marble and Royal Courts.

The next period in the construction of the Palace of Versailles begins after the Peace of Nijmegen, in 1678, and the construction is led by another outstanding architect, Jules Hardouin Mansart (Levo died in 1670).

Under Mansar, the building received the most significant increase: the northern and southern outbuildings-wings appeared, the famous Large, later called the Mirror, gallery was created in the central part of the building, ministerial buildings were completed, framing the third courtyard of the complex, the Ministerial.

At the same time, the outstanding landscape architect Andre Le Nôtre creates a regular park, and decorator Charles Brun supervises the decoration of the interior.

The next stage of construction, the last in the reign of Louis XIV, begins at the turn of the century, in 1699 and ends in 1710. As a result, a number of interiors are rebuilt and a beautiful Royal Chapel appears, begun by Mansart and completed by Robert de Cotte.

One cannot fail to mention the construction of a separate palace in the park for the King’s favorite, the Marquise de Montespan: the Grand Trianon (Le Grand Trianon, Trianon in French means pavilion).

  • Subsequently, during the First Empire, it was turned into one of his official residences by the first Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte.

After the death of the old king (in 1714), the court moved to Paris, and delegations of foreign states settled in Versailles. In 1717, Russian Tsar Peter I also visited here, who later embodied much of what he saw in the Peterhof country residence near St. Petersburg.

Louis XV and XVI

The French court returned to Versailles in 1722, after the death of the regent, Philippe d'Orléans. Alterations to the vast palace at this time were, in general, minor, and mainly concerned its interiors.

In the vast palace garden, the Petit Trianon Palace, Le Petit Trianon (1762-1768), is being built for Louis XV's favorite, Madame de Pompadour. In 1763-1770, the composition of the Grand Palace of Versailles was logically completed by the Opera building designed by Jacques Ange Gabriel (flanking the northern façade).

During the reign of Louis XVI, the Petit Trianon, which he gave to his wife, Marie Antoinette, turns into an exquisite pearl of the elegant and short-lived Rococo architectural style.

After the Revolution

During the French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles lost most of its interior decoration, but the buildings remained standing. After the restoration of the monarchy, in 1837, King Louis Philippe decreeed that the former residence was turned into a national museum.

Subsequently, the palace was visited by German troops twice (in 1871 and 1940) (in 1871, Wilhelm I was proclaimed Emperor of Germany in the Mirror Gallery of Versailles). The Treaty of Versailles was signed here in 1919, ending the First World War.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The palace is open to visitors any day of the week, except Monday. From 9 to 18.30 from May to September and 9 to 17.30 from October to April.

A ticket to the Palace of Versailles, both Trianons, and the park (2018) will cost 20 €. A 2-day ticket costs 25 €.

Visitors under 18 years of age, regardless of citizenship, and EU citizens under 26 years of age are admitted free of charge.

Versailles, probably everyone has heard this word and I know what it is. The Palace of Versailles became the first royal palace New times and served as a prototype for the construction of palaces throughout Europe and in St. Petersburg as well. Peter I visited the Versailles palace and park complex and was amazed by its luxury and size. After his return, he gave instructions to build palaces similar to Versailles.

Getting to Versailles is very easy, since it is a very visited tourist site, everything is thought out. The RER train takes you to terminal station- Versailles. From where we settled, there is only one stop, 1.5 euros however. Electric trains are double-decker, there is no air conditioning, it is hot in the carriage, but one stop is almost nothing. The ticket office is located across the street from the station building.

There are a variety of tickets; it is better to use the information from the official website of Versailles. An adult ticket to the Palace of Versailles, the park and the Grand Trianon and the village of Marie Antoinette is 20 euros, children under 18 years of age are free, but the website lists all preferential categories, preferential days and partial tickets are indicated, it is possible to buy a ticket directly on the site and avoid the queue. There is a ticket for two days, this good offer, since the palace and park are simply huge, it is very difficult and physically difficult to do everything in one day.

Queues in Versailles during high season

In total, the line for tickets took about 20 minutes, humanely, but what we saw as we approached the palace struck our imagination; there was just a sea of ​​people. Let me remind those who forgot that we were there in mid-July at the height of the heat (+32 and scorching sun) and the tourist season. There were treacherous thoughts, maybe we could return the ticket and, well, screw this Versailles, but we suppressed this idea and courageously stood in line.

In total, the queue to enter took an hour and a half in the sun. This was hard. This whole line had formed because they were checking tickets and forcing everyone to hand over their backpacks and large bags to storage lockers; suspicious persons were driven through the gates, just like at an airport.

Then we stood in the Marble Court for another 30 minutes listening to audio guides in Russian, included in the ticket price. There was a terrible crowd in the palace, you can say that a stream of people is carrying you through the exhibition and it is quite hot, there is no air conditioning, the windows are open, people with poor health are probably better off not visiting the palace under such circumstances.

Our ten year old boy became interested in the audio guide. In each hall there is a sign with a number that you need to dial on the audio guide to listen to a recording about that particular hall. He looked for a sign and announced the number to everyone. The new generation loves to push buttons, without this game they would probably be bored.

That's it, I'm done with the sad stuff, let's finally start examining all this splendor.

Courtyards of the Palace of Versailles

Monument to Louis XIV - the Sun King in front of the Palace of Versailles

This is the first, but not the last monument to Louis XIV, which greets guests on the square in front of the Palace of Versailles. The sculpture was installed after the death of the Sun King.

The palace contains a great many images of Louis, both sculptural and artistic. The Sun King was the most revered European monarch of the 17th century, and the magnificent exaltation of his own power became the most important part of his policy. The Palace of Versailles also played a significant role in this.



Palace of Versailles - crowds are approaching

The front courtyard of the palace is already densely packed with suffering tourists. There you can buy souvenirs from Afro-French people cheaper than in Paris.



Palace of Versailles - gate

Behind the gates the royal court begins. People of all nationalities are eager to visit this magnificent palace and a park.



Palace of Versailles - queue to enter

And here is a very long line, it occupies the entire royal courtyard and curls like a snake. People use umbrellas to escape the scorching sun.



Palace of Versailles - Marble Court

In the Marble Courtyard there was a line for audio guides, but it was much shorter and the landscape changed, in general it became more fun. In the Marble Court you can see the earliest buildings of the palace, belonging to the Castle of Louis XIII, father of the Sun King.

Many people remember Louis XIII from the film and novel of the same name by Dumas “The Three Musketeers”. He and Anna of Austria had no children for 22 years, all of France prayed to God to send the king an heir and a miracle finally happened, the future Louis XIV was born. All of France adored this child, and his parents simply doted on him. But unfortunately, the king died when the boy was only 5 years old; Anna of Austria and Cardinal Mazarin were involved in his upbringing and they succeeded well in this, judging by the result.



Palace of Versailles - queue for audio guides

Finally, after more than 2 hours of queues, we got to the palace. The exhibition on the first floor tells how Versailles grew from a small hunting castle into the largest and most magnificent royal residence in Europe.

A little history of the construction of the Palace of Versailles

The history of Versailles begins in 1624. Louis XIII (lived 1601-1643, reigned from 1610) ordered the construction of a small castle among the forests in the west of Paris to be used during royal hunts.

Construction lasted two hundred years. The construction and development of the surrounding territory reached its greatest scale during the reign of Louis XIV, but we would not want to diminish the contribution of Louis XV and Louis XVI.

The scale of construction, finishing and landscaping work is impressive. For the production of tapestries alone, an entire royal Gobelin manufactory was created under the leadership of Charles Lebrun with eight hundred workers.



Interesting monkeys on goats, unfortunately I forgot what they symbolize.



Palace of Versailles - model of the palace

The palace model demonstrates well gigantic size palace Louis XIV was not as simple as it seems at first glance. His childhood was spent in constant uprisings of the frontists, the presumptuous French nobility. In order to discourage the nobility from revolts, conspiracies and intrigues, he decided to keep the nobility at court, i.e. in full view and entertain her with large-scale celebrations, theatrical performances, dinners and distribution of royal favors.

There are still legends about the magnificent celebrations held at Versailles. The most outstanding holiday went down in history under the name “Fun magical island", took place in May 1664. The king personally took part in the preparation of this grandiose event; the theatrical production for this was created by Moliere himself, who was familiar to us from the school curriculum. The king spent staggering sums on holidays, thereby encouraging the development of crafts and arts.



Palace of Versailles - King's Chapel, ceiling

We must not forget that in those days, the monarch was for his people the representative of God on earth and the average Frenchman loved his king to the point of self-forgetfulness, which, however, did not stop the revolutionaries from cutting off the head of Louis XVI in 1793.



Palace of Versailles - King's Chapel - floor

The King's Chapel embodies the idea of ​​the divinity of the king's power.

Statue of Louis XIV - the Sun King

Another statue of the Sun King. This nickname, the Sun King, was invented by Louis in his youth to participate in the tournament, and it stuck with him throughout his life and has come down to us. For the monarch, like the sun is unique, like the sun shines and warms his subjects with its warmth, moves smoothly and calmly.



The halls of the palace are decorated with magnificent paintings by the most famous artists of that time, gold and marble all around, luxury and fabulous wealth.

The king had an active life position, as we would put it now, he personally took part in the management of the construction of the palace, and also supervised the finishing work. In addition, he was the first to abolish the role of the first minister at court and became the actual, rather than nominal, ruler of the country.



The ceilings are noteworthy; there is always something hanging from them. Even your neck gets tired from continuously looking at the ceilings.



All these numerous images of Louis XIV in different costumes and roles were intended to amaze the numerous guests of the palace and ambassadors of foreign countries with the greatness of the monarch of France.



Another statue of Louis XIV - the crowd is very tiring

Artists depicted their monarch in the images of ancient heroes and gods; in those days, all artists and sculptors were fascinated by antiquity and sought to imitate the masters of antiquity, inevitably bringing something of their own.

There are 328 medallions depicting Louis in the palace. The personality cult of the Sun King is obvious. But it was precisely this policy that led to the extraordinary prosperity of France; the years of the reign of Louis XIV are considered a golden age. When power is concentrated in one strong hands, petty civil strife ceases and all the forces of the people go towards the development of the country.



Palace of Versailles - the detailing of the marble curls is impressive

The king's bedroom is all decorated with gold brocade. The Palace of Versailles adopted a whole set of rules of behavior for the courtiers and the king - court etiquette. In which the ritual of the king's morning toilet, the ritual of the king's breakfast, the ritual of lunch, and so on were described in great detail. It was described which courtiers had the right to participate in each of the rituals, in what order, in general, mortal boredom and no personal life.

Towards the end of the king's morning dressing ceremony, those who were allowed to attend the morning reception, for example, the princes of the blood, the king's readers and the heir's educators, could enter him.

That. It is clear that the king’s life was not simple; all day long, from morning to evening, he was the center of attention of crowds of courtiers who pursued their goals, trying to obtain a new rank or other privileges.



Another bedroom

Bedroom of the Queen of France



Three queens of France lived in succession in the queen's bedroom. Maria Theresa - the wife of Louis XIV, then Maria Leszczynska - the wife of Louis XV, and the unfortunate Marie Antoinette - the wife of Louis XVI. Naturally, the interior was updated with each new owner; now the appearance of the room has been recreated, the way it was on the last day of Marie Antoinette’s presence there.

We must admit that the queen’s life was quite difficult by our standards. Louis XIV's wife gave birth to 19 children, 12 of whom died in childhood. In addition, the king always had mistresses and they lived right there in the palace; it was not uncommon for the king’s favorites to have more rooms, servants and jewelry than the queen. And with all this, the queen had to always look pleased and smile and praise her crowned husband. Truly, the queen had to have angelic patience to endure all this.

Salon "Big Device"



The Grand Appliance Salon got its name because the King and Queen dined publicly here. You can imagine the king's dinner scene from The Three Musketeers to get a feel for the setting.

Mirror Gallery (Galeries de Glace)

This is the most famous hall of the Palace of Versailles, truly magnificent. Previously, courtiers walked leisurely along it, admiring the view of the park through the huge windows, but now crowds of tourists walk along the same windows, I wonder who was more numerous, courtiers then or tourists now?

Mirror Gallery (Galeries de Glace)

The French are resourceful, with paintings in the hall of mirrors of the Palace of Versailles, they decorate the ceilings of electric trains going to Versailles and unobtrusive advertising of this palace complex and a pleasant design of electric trains in one solution.



Museum of French History



The Museum of French History was created during the time of King Louis Philippe (1773-1850), who was nicknamed the King of the French. His chambers were preserved in, which we visited two days earlier.

The walls of this gallery depict all the most significant battles in the history of France, starting with King Clovis I of the Merovingian dynasty (born around 466, died 511). You could probably write a whole book about this room alone. Explanations for some paintings are in the audio guide.