PALACE OF VERSAILLES CURIOUS FACTS: 5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE RESIDENCE OF THE SUN KING
If you visit the Palace of Versailles curious facts, anecdotes and history mix together in an engaging tale about the glory and the end of the French monarchy.
In this post I’ve gathered some curious facts about the Palace of Versailles to know better this wonderful place you should visit at least once in your lifetime.
Palace of Versailles curious facts
1. PALACE OF VERSAILLES CURIOUS FACTS: WHEN THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES WAS BUILT
The Palace of Versailles was built between 1623 and 1683 at the behest of Louis XIV, known as the Sun King.
His purpose was to build the most beautiful and largest Royal Palace in the world, to amaze anyone, and to show the world the power of France and to host all the members of the French aristocracy, so that the King could control them and keep them loyal to the monarchy.
2. PALACE OF VERSAILLES CURIOUS FACTS: WHERE IT IS LOCATED
The Palace of Versailles is located about 20 kilometers from Paris, in a place built for the sovereign’s pleasure. It was the hunting Pavilion of the King of France, and the Palace of Versailles was built through gradual enlargements around the original hunting Pavilion, whose low façade is still visible in the centre of the structure we can admire today.
3. PALACE OF VERSAILLES CURIOUS FACTS: WHO DESIGNED THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES
The buildings of the Palace of Versailles were designed by architects Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the interior by Charles Le Brun, while the amazing gardens were designed by André La Notre.
In the huge park everything revolves around the solar symbolism and each decorative element is always associated with the image of Apollo, god of sun in classical mythology.
4. PALACE OF VERSAILLES CURIOUS FACTS: WHAT TO SEE IN VERSAILLES
It’s hard to make a selection of works and places you shouldn’t miss, but there are certainly three things you must see.
- The Coronation Hall, housing some paintings of Napoleon painted by Jacques-Louis David.
- The Hall of Mirrors, designed by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart and built between 1678 and 1684, whose walls are covered with 357 mirrors illuminated by 17 windows.
- Marie Antoinette’s private apartments, the last Queen of France, are maybe the most fascinating because they illustrate the story of one of the daughters of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, who married Louis XVI at an early age.
5. PALACE OF VERSAILLES CURIOUS FACTS: HOW TO VISIT THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES
Visiting the Palace of Versailles means making a journey into France of the 18th century, but among lavish halls and huge parks, you may run the risk of missing something important because there’s a lot to see in little time.
My advice to you to visit the Palace of Versailles is certainly to buy in advance your admission ticket, not to waste your time waiting in queue at the entrance, and maybe to hire a tour guide to learn more about this place full of history and art.
Read the post Versailles tickets: how to buy your ticket to skip the line where you’ll find all information to book your ticket to the Palace of Versailles.
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