Versailles, Paris

February 23, 2025

April 2023

PALACE OF VERSAILLES

Embellished by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators and landscape architects, the Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. The Palace contains 2,300 rooms spread over 63,154 m2.

A prestigious series of seven rooms' parade apartment, were used for hosting the sovereign’s official acts. For this reason, it was bedecked with lavish Italian-style decoration, much admired by the king at the time, composed of marble panelling and painted ceilings. During the day, the State Apartment was open to all who wished to see the king and the royal family passing through on their way to the chapel.

During the reign of Louis XIV, evening gatherings were held here several times a week.

The queen had a series of small rooms beyond her State Apartments which were reserved for her personal use and for service by her ladies-in-waiting.

The rooms were decorated with great care and were modified several times throughout the 18th century in accordance with the changes in tastes and requirements of their occupant.

The Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors, with a length of 73m and 357 mirrors, pays tribute to the political, economic and artistic success of France. The hall is flanked on opposite ends by the equally striking Salon of Peace and Salon of War.

The Royal Chapel

The fruit of much reflection by the king's artists, the Royal Chapel can be considered the pinnacle of what Louis XIV achieved at Versailles.Its graceful architecture and the predominance of sculpted decorations make it a remarkable testimony to the originality of French baroque art.

THE GARDENS

An opulent leafy setting for the Palace of the Sun King: what better way to describe the magnificent gardens designed by Le Nôtre around the Palace of Versailles.

Once covering some 8,000 hectares, the Palace of Versailles’ grounds were divided into hunting areas (accounting for most of the land) and decorative gardens. The latter are what has become known as French style gardens and remain a reference among 17th-century European gardens. Designed around an infinite perspective axis , they include 77 hectares of elegant alleyways lined with marble statues, some of which lead on to superb bosquets (groves).

Apollo's Baths Grove

Water features of all kinds are an important part of French gardens, even more so than plant designs and groves. At Versailles, they include waterfalls in some of the groves, spurts of water in the fountains, and the calm surface of the water reflecting the sky and sun in the Water Parterre or the Grand Canal.

Made of bronze, marble or lead, the 386 works of art in Versailles (including 221 decorating the gardens) make it the biggest open-air sculpture museum in the world. The vast space in garden at the foot of the Palace and the vast wooded area of the park allowed Le Nôtre to develop the principles he had applied at Vaux-le-Vicomte on a greater scale.

THE ESTATE OF TRIANON
A place of intimacy

In an attempt to gain some brief respite from courtly etiquette, the kings of Versailles built themselves more intimate spaces close to the main palace. Adjoining the Petit Parc, the estate of Trianon is home to the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon palaces, as well as the Queen’s Hamlet and a variety of ornamental gardens.

Commissioned by Louis XIV in 1670 to get away from the arduous pomp of life in the court and to pursue his affair with Madame de Montespan, the Grand Trianon is perhaps the most refined architectural ensemble found on the royal estate of Versailles.

Construction on the estate began under Louis XIV, who had the Grand Trianon Palace built at the far end of the northern branch of the Grand Canal. The estate is perhaps most closely associated with Queen Marie-Antoinette. The wife of Louis XVI regularly sought refuge at the Petit Trianon, where she commissioned marvellous landscaped gardens centred around a hamlet of cottages built in the rustic style then in vogue. Designed for more intimate moments, this royal estate contains architectural gems and magnificent gardens whose diversity and ornamentation give it a unique charm.

The Trianon’s original furnishings were lost during the Revolution. With a few exceptions, the palace now appears as it would have during the First Empire period. Napoleon had the Trianon fully refurnished and occasionally spent time here with the Empress Marie-Louise.

THE QUEEN'S HAMLET

The Queen’s Hamlet (probably my favourite part of the Estate, if not of all), is an excellent example of the contemporary fascination with the charms of rural life. Inspired by the traditional rustic architecture of Normandy, this peculiar model village included a windmill and dairy, as well as a dining room, salon, billiard room and boudoir. Although it was reserved primarily for the education of her children, Marie-Antoinette also used the hamlet for promenades and hosting guests.