France
Great Videos and Photos of the Best Places and Things to see in Versailles France. For the independent traveller who is interested in seeing places while planning their next trip. Or for anyone who likes to be close to nature and see the quieter parts of the country or city
Versailles
In 1682 Louis XIV moved the Royal Court from Paris to the countryside around Versailles. After a number of expansion programs by Louis XIV, XV and Louis XVI the palace of today was finalised. At the start of the Revolution, the royal family returned to Paris. Today the palace one of France's most visited tourist sights.
Château de Versailles
Spending time in Paris ? Then consider visiting Château de Versailles, its only about 40 minutes by train from the city.
Château de Versailles
Château de Versailles
In 1682 Louis XIV moved the Royal Palace from the Louvre out the 20 km to the countryside of Versailles in the Île-de-France. For the next hundred years this was the centre of Royal power until the Royal Family returned to Paris as the Revolution started in 1789. Through the course of the 100 years the palace went through a number of renovations and extensions in what has become known as the Four Building Campaigns 1664–1710 and then further extensions during the reign of Louis XV and XVI.
The Château
Château de Versailles
Much of what can be seen today from the rear was built during the fourth building period and included Hall of Mirrors, the north and south wings, the Orangerie and the landscaping of the gardens.
Grand appartement du roi
Appartements
Of the course of time the King's Apartments built initially during the reign of Louis XIII were expanded and included a ballroom, billiard room, card room and a concert room. The rooms were named after planets and Roman gods such as Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Apollo. Louis XIV found the apartments too cold in winter and returned to live in the former king's rooms, while the new apartments became rooms for entertaining visitors.
Hall of Mirrors
Appartements
The Hall of Mirrors was built in 1690 and became over time the most famous room in the Château, being copied by many across the world. The hall was the setting for many royal ceremonies.
Queen's Grand appartement
Appartements
The Queen's Grand Apartment served as the residence of three queens. In contrast to the King's apartment the ceiling is decorated with paintings of heroines from antiquity where as the kings apartment recalled heroic moments of the kings.
The Gardens
The gardens with a similar look as when developed in the 4th building period are one of France's top tourist attractions.
Fountains, Canals, Ponds
The Gardens
The gardens cover an area of more than 800 hectares, and has a multitude of varied water features such as lakes, fountains, canals, and water cascades and a range of sculptures. Since 1979 the Château and gardens have been on the UNESCO heritage list. The gardens are one of France's biggest tourist destinations.
During the late spring and summer months there are frequent water fountain displays throughout the day. Water or a shortage of it was one of the major problems facing the Château, as more more fountains were built, the water problem became more severe. The grand canal was built to act as a drain for the waters from the fountains and to be pumped back to the reservoir during shortages. Even the canal wasn't sufficient to keep all the fountains running at the same time. The fountains seen from the garden were allowed run while those in more secluded locations were used on a need to basis.