The closer you look at the history of France, the more you are surprised at the desire of kings to surpass their predecessors in luxury. Everyone tried to make their residence bigger and richer, spending fantastic money on landscaping, and Versailles in France is a vivid example of regal splendor, which will take your breath away.
Versailles is a respectable suburb of Paris
Today, the Versailles Museum is known all over the world thanks to Louis XIII of the Bourbon dynasty, who wished to have his own secluded nest. In 1623, Jean de Soisy sold his lands to the king, on which a small hunting lodge of five rooms grew out of stone, brick and roofing slate.
Apparently, Louis XIII really lacked peace and quiet, since he chose such an unremarkable place. The French philosopher Saint-Simon said about him: “Never before have I met a more despondent and barren place - without water, land and forest”... Indeed, only swamps and sand stretched around, and the population was so small that in the chronicles of the 11th century the settlement is mentioned as a modest, unremarkable village, hidden behind a hill, whose name is explained by the name of the first feudal lord - Hugo de Versailles.
This locality arose only because it lay on the way from Normandy to, and travelers had to stop somewhere to rest. Louis XIII liked to spend time here with friends, and later, where a mill once stood, and later the Marble Courtyard appeared, a modest hunting lodge arose. Then it was difficult to predict that one day it would grow and become known as the Palace of Versailles.
Located 17.1 km southwest of the French capitals, Versailles is now considered an important administrative center of the Yvelines department with a population of over 85,900 inhabitants. It is now surrounded by lush forests, and a successful layout dating back to the 18th century became a role model during the building-up period of Washington.
The first reforms: from the hut to the palace
Since the monarchs have always been distinguished by inconstancy, a thirst for change, and the desire for luxury is in their blood, already in 1632 the lands of Gondi joined the king's territory, which made it possible to significantly expand the hunting estate. The building is joined by 4 towers, 2 additional wings and a wall covering the entrance. As a defensive measure, a wall grows around and a moat appears, and now it is not just a rest house, but a real fortified castle, ready to soon turn into a royal residence.
Louis XIV, the son of the previous monarch, turned out to be more ambitious, and in 1661 he began to reconstruct his heritage, and then finally moved to it. His desire to prove himself is understandable, because for too long the reins of government were in the tenacious hands of his mother Anna of Austria and the minister, Cardinal Mazarin.
Another reason why the sun king decides to make the Palace of Versailles the center of government for the country is the Fronde of 1648-1653, after which the monarch did not feel very comfortable in Paris.
The inspiration for the construction of the beautiful royal palace was the luxurious residence of the Minister of Finance Fouquet - Vaux-le-Vicomte. In 1661, the minister was arrested, his property was confiscated, and the three architects who worked on his chateau were hired by Louis XIV on the condition that his mansions become a hundred times better.
Architect of the Palace of Versailles
This project turned out to be a swan song for them, since until the end of their days they were engaged in building and improving the Palace of Versailles.
Construction costs of the Palace of Versailles
Such a colossal plan demanded great human and financial sacrifices. All free hands were involved in the work, including peasants, soldiers and sailors from all adjacent territories. In order to increase the number of builders, any other construction was prohibited during the construction of the chateau, and this provided more than 30,000 people on the site.
As for the money, the amount spent on the castle is shocking - almost 26 million livres, which corresponded to 10,521,867 kg of silver, and in terms of modern money it is about 259.56 billion euros. At the same time, for the king, all materials were sold at extremely low prices, and if the performers went beyond the budget, they were not paid the difference.
Construction of the Palace of Versailles
From time to time the construction site quieted down, but not for long, and Louis again directed his gaze to the future palace, wishing to finish the grandiose project as soon as possible. Until 1682, he constantly moved between and Versailles, until he decides to completely move to a new residence with the entire courtyard.
There are several reasons for this decision. Firstly, the sun king understood that it was possible to prevent a conspiracy in the bud only by keeping the aristocratic elite in front of our eyes. Secondly, unrest constantly occurred in Paris, and it became dangerous to stay there. Thirdly, the luxurious mansions demonstrated France to the whole world as the main player in the military, political and cultural field.
The stages of construction are marked by periods of war. The first phase of the perestroika work lasted from 1664 to 1668, when the war with Spain broke out. By this time, the palace was able to accommodate up to 600 people.
In 1669, after the battle for the Netherlands, a second three-year period of improvement began: the central part - the former hunting lodge - was changed, and the adjacent territories were redesigned. The southern wing has been converted into the chambers of Queen Maria Theresia, and is almost identical to the northern wing of the sun king, and the western zone has become a terrace. There was also an octagonal bathtub and children's rooms on the upper floors.
In 1678 the Dutch War ends, and the third part of the work on the palace begins until 1684. At this time, the western terrace turns into the Mirror Gallery, connecting the separate chambers of the crowned couple. It is distinguished by real chic and richness of decoration even today, although a large batch of decor was sold back in 1689.
New extensions for princes and nobles appear, and a greenhouse is located in two huge halls. This phase in construction is also marked by the fact that the adjacent land is gradually turning into lovely gardens Versailles.
1682 becomes the year of the official relocation of the royal court to a new residence, and this led to an increase in the population of the suburbs, an improvement in its well-being.
Until 1699, construction came to a standstill, as previous military campaigns and stages of work had eaten a solid hole in the state budget. In order to support the Nine Years' War, which lasted until 1710, some elements of the luxurious decor had to be sold, but after its completion Louis XIV embarks on the fourth stage of the arrangement.
This time was marked by the construction of another chapel, which became the fifth in the territory of Versailles. Differing from the rest of the rectangular shape and height, it changes the facade of the main building, causing criticism of the environment. However, later it was she who turned into the most interesting element of the architectural complex.
Construction of the Palace of Versailles under the leadership of Louis XV
By the time the five-year-old Louis XV (nicknamed the Beloved) ascended the throne after the death of the sun king in 1715, the Palace of Versailles was already impressive with its majestic architecture, vast squares and royal interior decoration. Peter I, who visited France in 1717, does not hide his delight at what he saw and, examining the mansion with the adjacent park, fired up the idea of building something similar in St. Petersburg.
Under the Beloved, significant changes are also taking place in the architectural complex, although not as colossal as under his parent.
The first thing he did was complete the Hercules salon. Under him, the Chambers of Madame, Dauphin and his wife also appeared, as well as the Small Chambers of the King on the lower, second and third levels.
Notable achievements include the completion of the Little Trianon, the Opera Hall, and the dismantling of the Ambassadors 'Staircase leading to the Grand Royal Chambers in order to replace the princesses' rooms.
As for the park, unlike Louis XIV, his son paid little attention to the park, and its only significant element was the Neptune basin, built in 1738-1741. Radical changes in the park area took place already under Louis XVI, because over a hundred years the trees had time to dry up, and the need to rejuvenate green spaces drew along with it new grandiose design ideas.
The culmination of innovative ideas in the last years of his reign was the refurbishment of the premises on the advice of the leading architect Gabriel - from the side of the city, the facade was supposed to take a classic look. Work on this project continued until the 20th century.
Impact of the Revolution and the time of the First Empire
In early October 1789, under the leadership of Lafayette, the National Guard and a crowd of people broke into the Palace of Versailles demanding the expulsion of the royal family and the National Assembly to Paris. In order not to heat up the passions even more, the top of the country obeys, moving to the Louvre and, and Versailles loses its status as an administrative center and is sealed.
From this moment, the decline of the castle begins. While Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are in custody awaiting the execution of the sentence, according to the plan drawn up to get rid of luxury and use the building for the needs of the new government, ordinary looting is going on.
Many of the interior furnishings were simply stolen before control was established. After that, some of the items were sent to the auction, others to exhibitions.
Pondering the fate of the palace, they offered to lease or sell it, but in the end they decided to leave it under the control of the republic, and until they came up with a better purpose for it, objects of art were brought here, which later replenished the storerooms of various museums.
And yet, individual decorative elements continued to disappear from the walls of the once luxurious mansion - they were sold to fill the state treasury.
The building of the former royal mansion went through a period of decadence until it attracted the attention of Napoleon I, who returned it to the status of a residence, but now an emperor.
In 1806, he ordered the architect Jacques Gondouin to start the restoration work, but Bonaparte rejected both of his projects, and only in 1808 were the gold and mirror panels recreated, and furniture was brought from Fontebleau and the Louvre.
Versailles receives museum status
When in 1814 - 1815. and the Bourbon dynasty came to power again, the last French king, Louis-Philippe I, who had several nicknames, sits on the throne: "Citizen king", "bourgeois king", and at the end "pear king"... He transforms the Palace of Versailles, built by order of Louis XIV, into a museum, which exhibits historical values, paintings with battle scenes, portraits and busts.
But the insidious time has prepared several more shocks, which from the height of the years passed in the canvas of history look like a spectacular addition. So, when France turned out to be the losing side in the Franco-Prussian War, the German army was stationed in the palace by its headquarters (1870-1871), and in order to humiliate the French even more, on January 18, in the Mirror Gallery, announced the German Empire, and its Kaiser - William I. But already in February, in the same gallery, a peace treaty was signed, and a month later the French government returned to Versailles to settle here until 1879.
However, the insult was not forgotten, and in order to return the "favor", at the end of the First World War, the Mirror Gallery was not chosen in vain to conclude a preliminary truce and the Vienna Treaty with defeated Germany. The Palace of Versailles in France served as a place of reconciliation between the Franco-German parties after the Second World War.
Since 1952, its global restoration began, for which the government allocated 5 million francs, and also announced the search for patrons by all means of communication and made an appeal for voluntary donations from citizens. In 1979, the architectural complex becomes part of World heritage UNESCO, and in 2007 the post of President of the Palace of Versailles was introduced, which was occupied by the Minister of Culture Jean-Jacques Ayagon.
Exterior architecture and interior design of the mansion
Since Versailles received the status of a museum, millions of tourists flock to it every year, wishing to see firsthand the grandeur, splendor and abundance of the palace, where conspiracies and intrigues were the norm, insidious plans were perfected from generation to generation, behind-the-scenes gossip and the secrets of Versailles were created. ...
Finding yourself surrounded by walls that remember the first cry of kings born here: Philip V, Louis XV, XVI and XVIII, Charles X, you expect that one of the crowned sons of France will appear from around the corner, surrounded by courtiers to the rustle of silk and knocking heels.
Such a huge square once belonged to monarchs, and today the halls of Versailles welcome curious visitors. To navigate large areas (67 thousand sq. M), you should know that the complex has several zones: Chateau, Small with Big Trianon, the territory of the Marie Antoinette farm and a garden and park zone. In total, 372 statues, 67 staircases and 25 thousand windows were installed in the palace premises.
The main building and the main attraction of the entire complex, where all tourists strive to get, is the Chateau. After passing the main entrance, you will find yourself in its courtyard, from where you can go to the park or to the palace itself, where the Hall of Mirrors is its heart. In fact, this is a 73 m and 11 m wide passage that unites both wings of the castle.
The highlight of the Mirror Room is in 357 mirrors located opposite 17 windows. Reflection creates the illusion that the garden surrounds the gallery from two sides, and in the evening they once sparkled with thousands of candles. It was decorated with figured floor lamps, candelabra, bronze-cut silver vases, crystal chandeliers and living orange trees, while the walls and ceiling are painted with scenes from mythology and history, in which the great dramas of the life of the courtyard are played out. Moreover, in the role of an ancient hero, Louis XIV himself was certainly portrayed.
Even the furniture here was made of pure silver (as Lebrun conceived), which speaks of its original scope, but in 1689, unfortunately, it had to be melted down into coins to support the army.
There are also the royal chambers in which central part occupies a bed located at the intersection of three highways connecting the Palace of Versailles with Paris.
The queen's bedroom is also located in the Chateau, and the impressive canopy bed and other interior items are decorated with gilding. There are also princess apartments nearby.
Halls of the Palace of Versailles
There are several interesting rooms in the mansion, for example, the Hall of War, where you can see canvases that tell about bygone epic battles.
Not far from the entrance is the Royal Chapel. Its floor is decorated with the family coat of arms, lined with colored marble, and around the altar there are sculptures of ancient Greek gods made of bronze. The upper tier of the chapel was occupied by a crowned family, and the lower tier by courtiers. After the service, the king retired to one of the chambers open today to curious visitors.
Hall of Apollo (or Throne Hall) - ambassadors were received here, in the evenings there were celebrations or theatrical performances with musical accompaniment, in which the monarch often took part.
In Diana's Hall they used to play billiards. The Salon of Plenty served as a pantry, an exhibition of the royal collection of coins and paintings from Karachi, Veronese and Titian, and in the Hall of Venus, the main exhibit is a statue of Louis XIV.
The Bullseye salon is also of interest. Such a dissonant name was given to a room with an opening that looks like a bull's organ of vision. It served as a window through which the courtiers could watch the monarch in his apartments.
The greenhouse, designed by Arduin-Mansart, has a U-shape, where more than 200 gardeners worked, looking after the fruiting exotic, among which there were 3,000 pomegranate, tangerine and orange trees.
The Royal Opera is available for viewing at certain times, but this depends on the concert schedule. There are other rooms that can only be accessed with a guide.
Palace of Versailles inside
Grand and Small Trianon at Versailles
The Versailles Museum has two separate palaces. The Grand Trianon has over 30 rooms, a private patio and a park with ponds. It served as a chambers for the king and his family, where they could feel more frivolous without adhering to strict etiquette.
At one time, there were guests: Peter I, Elizabeth II, Gorbachev, Yeltsin and other political figures.
The Little Trianon was a kind of female territory. The cozy two-story mansion was originally inhabited by the favorite of the Beloved King - Madame Pompadour. This is the only woman who was allowed to spend her last days in Versailles. Louis was really attached to her, and when she died of lung disease, he accompanied her, standing on one of the balconies of the palace in the pouring rain.
His parting words to her were: "Well, the terrible weather you chose for the last walk, madam.".
Later, the Petit Trianon was taken by Dubarry and, finally, by Marie Antoinette. With the exception of the bedroom, this part of the mansion has more modest decoration, but it had its own theater, where performances were staged with the participation of the queen. Now it has been turned into a Marie Antoinette Museum with original personal and interior items, and only a few have been recreated by decorators.
Those in power had their own quirks, and Marie-Antoinette, it was a small village right on the territory of Versailles, near her palace. With plenty of free time, she amused herself by milking cows, weeding beds, feeding birds, or decorating animals with colored ribbons.
Stalls for goats and cows, a dovecote and roosts for chickens were built here, and 12 houses were inhabited, and the "peasants" were strictly ordered to observe a pastoral appearance.
This village has been recreated with animals and is open to the public.
Gardens and park of Versailles
The park area surprises with its perfectly flat surface. Even when construction began, the architects leveled the site so carefully that not a single bump remained on it. The gardens of Versailles are about 5 square meters. km, replete with paths, green bushes and trees, fountains and lakes, flawless lines of green lawns.
Sitting on the balcony of his chambers, the king loved to watch theatrical performances that took place in the Marble Courtyard, and it was here that Moliere first staged The Misanthrope. And over the windows of Louis' chambers, the clock was counting down, but was stopped at the time of his death.
The monarch liked to stroll under the arches and among the marble columns, or to arrange dinner meals among them. He was close to the theme of ancient gods, and the gardens of Versailles are lavishly decorated with their figures.
Directly in front of the Mirror Gallery, two elongated pools stretch out parallel to each other, behind which the Great Staircase leads down, and at its foot, surrounded by four stone vases, is a reservoir with Latona's fountain, decorated with many gilded figures.
Further, an alley with mighty trees along it leads to a spacious green meadow, behind which in a large pool Apollo drives a chariot drawn by the four water horses of Neptune himself - the hippocampus. The Apollo Fountain was formed under the direction of the sculptor Tubi, who took as a basis the sketches of S. Lebrun.
To the north of the palace, there is a parterre decorated with the figures of "Crouching Venus" and "Grinder". From them, a staircase leads to the Sirena and Crown pools, which have a rounded shape, as well as to the Pyramid fountain, in which gilded dolphins with tritons splash.
To see how the fountain "Dragon" throws a stream of water up to 47 meters, one has to walk along the famous "Alley of Water", created by J. Hardouin-Mansart, and which has another name - "Theater of Water". It is notable for the fact that it is framed by 14 small circular reservoirs, creating a single stepped ensemble with bronze images of children holding a bowl filled with flowers and fruits.
In addition to the many lakes and pools with fountains, the gardens of Versailles are replete with terraces, and the further from the palace, the their level gradually decreases. In addition, it is pleasant to walk along the alleys, imagining how Marie Antoinette once walked the same path, admiring the sculptures and the play of water jets released by mythological animals.
The park, filled with grottoes, pavilions, a system of water canals, vegetation and observation decks, looks so thoughtful that it is called "Little Venice".
Versailles events
It is worth visiting the grandiose "nest" of monarchs once, and this event will become the main event in your life for a long time. The entertainment that is held here will allow you to plunge into the colorful past of France, visit a real ball at the court, where gallant ladies and gentlemen in lush costumes dance to classical music in the same way as they did several centuries ago.
After that, every Saturday (May-September), when most of the tourists leave the Palace of Versailles, a night show with illuminated fountains and music begins for ticket holders, and the final stage at 23:00 is a grandiose fireworks display that blooms over the Grand Canal.
Musical fountains are a wonderful sight, caressing the eyes and ears, and they turn on on weekends and holidays.
In addition to delightful shows, permanent and temporary exhibitions of paintings by contemporary painters and artists of past eras are worthy of attention, thematic rooms work, and after reconstruction the Royal Opera opened, where plays and concert performances take place.
Service offered
To move faster through the vast territory of the complex, you can rent a bicycle for 6 euros, a segway, an electric car (if available international rights) or for 7.5 euros take a tourist electric train from Chateau to Trianons.
Visitors are offered to rent a boat and take a pleasant walk along Little Venice and the Grand Canal.
If you are tired and hungry, you can have a snack in the cafe with an open veranda. Several points offer to take juices, potatoes and other takeaway snacks, and if you want to sit comfortably, look into restaurants near the picturesque garden spots.
To visit Versailles itself is a dream that comes true once in a lifetime, and not for everyone, and therefore I want to keep a souvenir in memory of the trip. In the museum shop you can buy candles, books, albums, tapestries for pillows with original embroidery, bags, medals and coins, dishes, figurines, even a jar of raspberry jam in a gift box and other items.
Tickets to Versailles
Tickets to Versailles for visiting the farm, Chateau and Trianons - 18 euros, with working fountains - 25 euros.
Buy tickets to Versailles at low prices
A two-day ticket with a full visit to all attractions - 25 euros, with working fountains - 30 euros.
- Chateau - 15 euros.
- Farm and Trianons - 10 euros.
- A park without working fountains - admission is free, with fountains - 9 euros.
- Ball and evening show with fountains - 39 euros.
- Evening show only - 24 euros.
- Ball only - 17 euros.
- Free admission for children under 5 years old.
Benefits are enjoyed by students, persons with disabilities and children 6-17 years old.
Purchasing a FORFAIT LOISIRS card will allow you to travel to public transport and will serve as an entrance ticket to the Palace of Versailles and its parkland.
Note: video and photography can only be made after additional payment.
Opening hours of Versailles
- The garden and park zone is open 8: 00-18: 00 (during the busy tourist season 7: 00-20: 30)
- Farm and Trianons - 12: 00-17: 30 (18:30)
- Chateau - 9: 00-17: 30 (18:30)
- Closed Mondays, May 1st, January 1st and December 25th
Panorama of Versailles
From Paris to Versailles on your own
When choosing a day to visit the palace, one should take into account that it is especially crowded here on weekends. There is also high attendance on Tuesday, as most museums are closed and people flock here. Also, in order to avoid long queues, it is better to take early morning or 15: 30-16: 00 for the excursion.
Palace of Versailles (Photo)
Photogallery Versailles
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Versailles was once considered a simple suburb of Paris. It is now a system of palaces and parks built for the kings of France in 1661. In addition, Versailles is a unique tourist destination. To visit France and not to visit Versailles is a crime.
The scale of the significance of Versailles to France is enormous. During its construction, a lot of funds and efforts of local architects were invested. Every street, park or palace is imbued with the atmosphere of the era of the reign of Louis XIV.
Versailles, France is a place where you can not only enjoy national cuisine, discover the world of fashion and shopping, see many beautiful buildings, but also immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Paris. The sights of Versailles will help you to do this.
Palace of Versailles, France. It was here that all the crowned persons of French society lived. The palace stands out for the presence of parks on its territory. Fountains, flower beds and greenhouses add charm to the overall setting. On the territory of the palace you can find many architectural sculptures, in one way or another, giving a reference to the history of the country. For example, next to the fountain of Apollo is the chariot of the water god, drawn by four horses. According to the idea, the god drives out on his chariot straight from the water kingdom.
In 1837, the Palace of Versailles officially received the title of a museum. Versailles Museum France today is unique place accumulations of historical value of the country. The most majestic hall of the entire complex is the Gallery of battles. The area of the hall made it possible to accommodate many paintings dedicated to the various military victories of France. In addition to paintings, this room displays 82 busts of famous French commanders.
Conventionally Versailles is divided into several parts
- The main palace, which later became a museum
- Little Trianon
- Grand Trianon
- Nearby gardens and parks.
Smaller, but no less significant buildings include the Belvedere, the Empress Theater, the Chapel, the Lambinet Museum and the French Pavilion.
Versailles cuisine and restaurants
From a tourist point of view, Versailles has all the conditions to spend here not just a few hours spent on an excursion, but the whole day. And since the territory of Versailles is really immense, this moment is very relevant. In this regard, food on the territory of the complex has its advantages. Any tourist can find an institution to their liking. There are tons of coffee shops, pizzerias and restaurants. In addition, very often visitors are offered delicious set meals.
In Versailles, you can not only contemplate the beauty of local architects and artists, but also buy a piece of art as a souvenir. On the territory of Versailles there are many shops and boutiques where you can buy interior decorations, paintings, sculptures, the most valuable antiques. There are also grocery stores, which have all the national products: cheese, wine, spices, sweets and much more.
Knowing some of the nuances, you can save time and spend it usefully. When deciding to explore the surroundings of Versailles, you should remember that:
- You can get to Versailles by train, train or bus, it all depends on the starting point of the route.
- It is easier to get around Versailles on foot. The streets are designed in such a way that this option of movement is the most optimal.
- Versailles is in great demand among tourists, so it would be wise to come here during the downtime. And this is early morning and the period from 15:30 to 16:00 hours. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are not auspicious days for a visit. Sunday and Monday are official days off, and on Tuesday, only some of the museums on the territory of Versailles are open.
- In order not to stand in huge queues for tickets, you should purchase them in advance on the Versailles website.
Versailles is a kind of face of French culture. The beauty of this area is amazing. Many impressions and pleasant memories will leave a pleasant mark on the soul of every tourist.
Only representatives of the royal family have always had the right to die in the chambers of the Palace of Versailles. But for the sake of the Marquise de Pompadour, who was the official favorite, friend and adviser of Louis XV, dedicated to almost all the secrets of Versailles, the king made an exception.
She was smart, prudent, did not let the ruler get bored and relied on his passion for art, inviting the most famous and interesting people of that time to the palace - Montesquieu, Voltaire, Buffon, etc. their dirty work, undermining health, and destroying beauty.
She died at the age of forty-three in the palace chambers and was buried in Paris near her daughter. They say that when the funeral procession headed for the capital, the king, standing on one of the balconies of Versailles in the pouring rain, said: "Well, you have chosen terrible weather to take a walk for the last time, madam." There was a deep sadness behind this joke.
The Palace of Versailles is located in one of the most respectable cities in France, Versailles, twenty kilometers from Paris in the southwest direction, at the address: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles. On the geographic map world, this unique architectural monument can be found at the following coordinates: 48 ° 48 ′ 15.85 ″ s. w, 2 ° 7 ′ 23.38 ″ in. etc.
The history of Versailles began when Louis XIV saw the castle of the Minister of Finance of Vaux-le-Vicomte, which in beauty, scale and grandeur significantly surpassed such royal residences as the Louvre and Tuilere. Such a "sun king" could not stand, and therefore decided to build a castle, which would be a symbol of his absolute power. He did not choose the city of Versailles for the construction of a new royal residence: just recently, the Frondian uprising took place in France, and therefore living in the capital seemed quite dangerous to him.
Palace construction
The construction of the palace began in 1661 and more than 30 thousand builders were involved in the work (to increase the number of workers, Louis banned all private construction in the vicinity of the city, and in peacetime, soldiers and sailors were sent to the construction site). Despite the fact that literally everything was saved during construction, a huge amount of money was spent as a result - 25 million liras or 19.5 tons of silver (almost 260 billion euros). And this, despite the fact that building materials were sold to the king at the lowest prices, and the costs of the performers, if they exceeded the estimate, were not paid.
Despite the fact that it was officially opened in 1682, construction work did not stop there, and the palace complex was constantly growing due to the construction of new buildings until the French Revolution of 1789. The first architect of this unique monument of Baroque architecture was Louis Leveaux, who was later replaced by Jules Hardouin-Monsard. Andre Le Nôtre was responsible for the decoration of the parks, which was carried out simultaneously with the construction of the palace, and the royal painter Lebrun was responsible for the interior decoration.
The work was difficult: first, it was necessary to drain the swamps, fill them with earth, sand and stones, then level the soil and create terraces. Instead of a village located there, it was necessary to equip a city where courtiers, servants and guards were supposed to settle.
In parallel with this, work was going on in the gardens. Considering that Louis XIV was called "the sun king", Le Nôtre planned the park of Versailles so that its alleys, when viewed from the upper floors of the palace, diverge from the center, like the rays of the sun. At the initial stage of the work, it was necessary to dig canals and build a water supply system, which was originally intended to supply water to fountains and artificial waterfalls.
Considering that more than fifty fountains and ponds had to be supplied with water, this work was not easy - and the aqueduct that was originally built was not enough. In the end, after numerous trials and attempts, a hydraulic system was created, into which water came from the Seine flowing nearby.
Louis XIV died without completing his building in 1715, and after his death Louis XV, who was then only five years old, and with him the whole court for some time left for the city of Paris. True, he did not stay there for long, seven years later he returned to Versailles and after a while ordered to continue construction work.
One of the significant changes he made to the layout was the demolition of the Ambassadors' Staircase, the only ceremonial road leading to the Great Royal Chambers - this he did in order to build rooms for his daughters. He completed work on the opera house and, at the insistence of his favorite Madame Pompadour, built the Lesser Trianon.
In the last years of his life, Louis XV took up the reconstruction of the facades: according to one project, it was supposed to be work from the side of the courtyards of the castle, in another way, it was supposed to create facades in the classical style from the side of the city. It should be noted that this project lasted an extremely long time and was completed only at the end of the last century.
Description of Versailles
Experts say that the castle of Versailles was a place where the monarchs, and with them the royal court, rested on a large scale, weaved intrigues, conspiracies and created numerous secrets of Versailles. This tradition was founded by Louis XIV - and it was successfully continued by his descendants, and reached special proportions under Marie Antoinette, who loved to have fun with the courtiers and create the history of France, intriguing and creating the secrets of Versailles.
In the final version total area the palace premises, not including the park, amounted to about 67 thousand square meters. There were installed 25 thousand windows, 67 stairs, 372 statues.
This is the main building in which several generations of French rulers lived. Officially, one could enter the castle through the main entrance - a cast-iron latticed gate decorated with gold with a royal coat of arms and a crown. In front of the main facade of the castle, from the side of the Mirror Gallery, two equally elongated pools, faced with granite slabs, were installed.
On the right side of the entrance, a two-story royal chapel was arranged (the second tier was intended for the monarch and his family members, there were courtiers below). In the northern part there were the King's large apartments, consisting of seven salons, in the southern part - the chambers of the first ladies.
In total, Versailles has about seven hundred rooms for various purposes. The throne room of the palace was called the Salon of Apollo - here the monarch received foreign ambassadors, and in the evenings theatrical performances and musical performances were often held here.
One of the most famous premises is the Mirror Gallery, which has always played an important role in the life of the palace: significant receptions were held here, for which a silver throne was installed, as well as balls and lavish festivities (for example, a royal wedding). Here the courtiers crowded in anticipation of the king as he headed to the chapel - this was an excellent opportunity to submit a petition to him.
The mirror gallery has always looked remarkable: its seventeen arch-shaped window openings overlook the garden, between them there are huge mirrors that visually enlarge the space (the gallery has 357 mirrors in total). The ceiling is extremely high, about 10.5 meters, and the room itself is 73 meters long and 11 meters wide. Since many of the mirrors are installed opposite the windows, it seems as if the gallery has windows on either side. It is interesting that until 1689 the furniture here was made of pure silver, but then it was melted down into coins, which covered military expenses.
Grand Trianon
Classic style castle faced with pink marble. Monarchs were used for a wide variety of purposes: from meetings with favorites and ending with hunting.
Little Trianon
The palace represents a transition from the Rococo style to classicism and was built on the initiative of one of the favorites of Louis XV, the Marquise de Pompadour. True, she died several years before the completion of construction, and therefore another favorite, Countess Dubarry, lived in it. When Louis XVI became king, he handed over the castle to Marie Antoinette, where she rested from palace life (even the king had no right to come here without her permission).
After a while, next to this palace, the queen built a small village with thatched roof houses, windmill- in a word, since she imagined the life of the peasants.
Park and gardens
The Palace of Versailles and the park are two inseparable concepts. The gardens of Versailles consist of a huge number of terraces that gradually decrease with distance from the castle. They occupy an area of about one hundred hectares, and this whole territory is absolutely flat and it is impossible to find any small mound on it.
There are several palace buildings here, among them - the Big and Small Trianon, the Empress Theater, Belvedere, the Temple of Love, the French pavilion, the grotto, and there are also observation decks, alleys, sculptures, a system of fountains and canals, because of which the gardens of Versailles were nicknamed "Little Venice".
The further fate of Versailles
For about a hundred years, the Palace of Versailles was the residence of the French kings. So, it was until, as a result of the uprising of 1789, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were arrested and redirected to the city of Paris, where after a while they laid down their heads on the guillotine. After that, the Palace of Versailles almost immediately ceased to be the administrative and political center of France, and it itself was plundered, as a result of which many masterpieces were hopelessly lost.
When Bonaparte came to power, he took the castle under his protection and ordered to begin to develop a plan to restore palace complex(for this, furniture was brought from Fontainebleau and the Louvre). True, all plans failed, and his empire collapsed. This was only good for Versailles, because the Bourbons returned to power, they began to actively restore the castle, and then handed it over to the museum.
The role of the castle in the life of society was not limited to this, and the secrets of Versailles continued to be created on its sidelines: when the Germans captured Versailles during the Franco-Prussian war, they placed the main headquarters here, and proclaimed the German Empire in the Mirror Gallery. Here, a month later, they signed a peace treaty with France, after which the French government sat in the palace for some time.
After the end of the First World War, the French, in order to take revenge on the Germans, forced them to sign the Treaty of Versailles in the Mirror Gallery. But forty years after the Second World War, a French-German reconciliation took place in the Palace of Versailles. After the war, the French began to collect money everywhere for the restoration of the castle, and over time, many lost values returned to Versailles, UNESCO added it to its list, and at the beginning of the twenty-first century it joined the Association of European Royal Residences.
How to get to Versailles
Those wishing to get to Versailles on their own should take into account that the Palace of Versailles is closed for visits on Mondays. Moreover, knowledgeable people it is not recommended to go here on Sunday, when the French have a day off, and on Tuesday - on this day, most of the museums in Paris are closed, and therefore many people come here. In order to avoid queues, it is better to arrive early in the morning or between 15.30 and 16.00.
Anyone who wants to get to this architectural monument on their own must first get to Paris, which is the closest to Versailles. big city... Then there are several options: you can get to the Palace of Versailles by train or by bus.
Then you need to independently get to railway station and take one of the three Versailles Paris train routes (the journey will take about forty minutes). If you use line C, then it should be borne in mind that the train leaves from here every fifteen minutes, and you will need to pay about 2.5 euros for a ticket. But a trip from Paris Saint Lazare station will cost one euro more. In addition, once an hour there is a train from Paris Montparnasse to the city where the residence of the kings is located.
Those wishing to travel by bus to Versailles on their own can be advised to use the route number 171, which stops at the Pont de Servres station at the terminal station of the ninth metro line. In this case, the journey will take about thirty-five minutes, and the ticket will be cheaper - about one and a half euros.
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The Palace of Versailles is located in the city of the same name, located 16 km south-west of Paris. It was the seat of the French kings Louis XIV, XV and XVI. Also here from May 6, 1682 to October 6, 1789 the French royal court lived.
The castle consists of many elements combined into architectural ensemble... It occupies more than 63 thousand square meters, consists of 2300 rooms, of which today 1000 are museum premises.
The Versailles Palace park stretches over 815 hectares (before the Revolution - 8,000 hectares), of which 93 hectares are gardens. It consists of several elements: Small and Grand Trianon(Napoleon I, Louis XVIII, Charles X, Louis-Philippe I and Napoleon III lived here), the queen's farm, the Grand and Small Canal, a menagerie (destroyed), a greenhouse and a water basin.
The first mention of the settlement of Versailles is found in 1038 in the charter of the abbey of Saint-Peer de Chartres. In 1561 Versailles with knight's castle sold to Martial Loménie, Secretary of Finance under Charles IX.
Then the owner of the land and the castle became the Italian favorite of Catherine Medici, Comte de Retz Albert de Gondi.
In 1589, a month before becoming King of France, Genich IV, the King of Navarre stopped at Versailles. He then returns there in 1604 and 1609. to hunt. At the age of 6, the future King Louis XIII comes here for the first time to hunt.
Versailles under Louis XIII
The king began to acquire possessions in Versailles in 1623. At that time, there was only one windmill on the site of the palace.
In 1623, Louis XIII, suffering from bouts of agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) and wanting spiritual relaxation, decides to build a modest hunting pavilion of stone and brick on the top of the Versailles plateau, on the road between Versailles and Trianon. He buys out the mill and the miller's house, which stood on this hill surrounded by swamps. Louis is personally present at the development of the architectural plan of the pavilion and adjacent gardens. The building was modest and utilitarian. Together with those around her earthen ramparts and with moats, it rather resembled an old feudal castle... From time to time, Queen Mother Maria de 'Medici and her wife, Queen Anne of Austria, come to this modest dwelling for Louis. True, always passing through, without overnight stays, because there were no women's quarters in the building. The royal chambers consisted of a small gallery, where a painting depicting the siege of La Rochelle was hung, four rooms where the walls were hung with carpets. The royal room occupied the center of the building; its placement later corresponded to the bedroom of Louis XIV.
In 1630, Cardinal Richelieu secretly came to Versailles to negotiate with the king on the occasion of excessive influence on the politics of the queen mother. This was the first important political event within the walls of the castle. Richelieu remained prime minister and the queen mother was expelled.
In 1632, Louis XIII buys the Versailles possession from Jean-François Gondi. The year before that, work began on expanding the palace: small pavilions were added in each corner. In 1634 the wall surrounding the courtyard was replaced by a stone portico with six arcades with metal decorations. For the first time, the new castle receives a floral frame: the gardens are laid out in the French style by Boisseau and Menour, decorated with arabesques and ponds. The facades are reinforced with bricks and stones. In 1639, in front of the main facade of the castle, a promenade terrace with an ornamented balustrade was built. That castle corresponds to the modern part of the palace surrounding the famous Marble Courtyard.
In 1643, Louis XIII dies, his four-year-old son, Louis XIV, ascends the throne, and the Queen Mother, Anne of Austria, takes over the reins. Versailles ceases to be a royal residence for 18 years.
Versailles under Louis XIV
The royal family lives at this time in Paris. It is known that for the first time Louis XIV visited Versailles in 1641, where he was sent along with his younger brother during the chickenpox epidemic to the place of the royal residence of that era.
Since 1651, the king has visited the castle several times while hunting. It was also during a hunt after his wedding to Maria Teresa of Austria in 1660 that the king became really interested in his father's former residence. The first changes were made to the garden. The king wanted to straighten the shape and increase the area, as well as surround it with a wall.
In 1661, the artist Charles Herrar was commissioned to clean up the chateau's rooms. Along with the changes in the composition of the royal family (the expectation of the birth of the future Dauphin and the wedding of the king's brother), it became necessary to redistribute the rooms. The castle was divided into the chambers of the king and prince, with separate staircases in the side wings. The staircase of Louis XIII in the center of the loggia has been destroyed.
Serious work on changes to the castle began in 1664. Initially, the castle was criticized by the courtyard, especially its location: Versailles seemed an unsightly, sad place in which there was nowhere to look - no forests, no water, no land, and only sand and swamps.
Officially, the Louvre was still a royal residence. However, more and more often it was in Versailles that court holidays began to be arranged. The courtiers were able to "appreciate" the inconvenience of this small castle, because many of them did not find a roof to sleep. Louis entrusted Le Vaux with the project to increase the area, who proposed several options: 1) to destroy everything that was, and to build a palace in the Italian style on this place; 2) leave the old hunting castle and surround it with new buildings on three sides, thus enclosing it in a stone envelope. The king supported the preservation of the paternal home more out of financial than sentimental motives. And Le Vaux tripled the area of the palace, elegantly decorated it, developing the theme of the sun, ubiquitous in Versailles. The king most of all liked the decoration of the garden by the sculptors Girardon and Le Hongres - in 1665 the first statues were installed, the Tethys grotto, a greenhouse, and a menagerie were built. Construction of the Grand Canal began two years later.
The second construction campaign began after the signing of a peace treaty between France and Spain. On this occasion, on July 18, 1668, a holiday was organized, now known as the "Great royal entertainment at Versailles ". And again, not everyone could fit in the palace, which again led to the need to enlarge the building.
At this time, the palace begins to acquire familiar features. The most important innovation is the stone envelope, or new castle, that surrounded the castle of Louis XIII from the north, west and south. The new palace housed new apartments for the king, queen and members of the royal family. The second floor was completely occupied by two chambers: the king (north side) and the queen (south side). On the first floor of the new palace, two apartments were also equipped: on the north side - the Bath Office, on the south - the apartments of the king's brother and his wife, the Duke and Duchess of Orleans. In the west, the terrace overlooked the gardens; it was demolished a little later so as not to interfere with the passage between the apartments of the king and queen. The famous Mirror Gallery was built in its place. The third floor housed the chambers of other members of the royal house and courtiers.
On the second floor there are Ionic columns, high rectangular windows, niches with sculptures and bas-reliefs. The third floor received the decor of the Corinthian order; a balustrade with trophies towered here.
After the conclusion of a peace treaty with Holland, the third campaign for the arrangement of Versailles began. Under the leadership of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the palace took on its modern appearance. The mirror gallery with twin salons - the Salon of War and the Salon of Peace, the northern and southern wings ("Noble Wing" and "Prince's Wing"), further landscaping of the garden are the distinctive characteristics of this era of the Sun King's reign.
Chronicle of construction:
1678:
- alteration of the facade in front of the gardens;
- in the bath room there are two baths made of white marble with gilded bronze;
- the beginning of work on the breakdown of the Swiss pond and the Neptune basin, a new greenhouse;
1679:
- The Mirror Gallery, the Salon of War and the Salon of Peace replace the terrace and the offices of the king and queen;
- the central building from the side of the marble courtyard is increased by one floor; the new facade was decorated with a clock surrounded by statues of Mars Marsy and Hercules Girardon;
- Orbe begins construction of the second staircase - the Queen's Staircase, intended to be a pair to the Ambassador's Staircase;
- At the end of the work with the ministerial wings, the construction of the Big and Small stables was undertaken;
Work in the garden continues: more more statues and bosquets.
1681:
- Charles Le Brun completes the decoration of the King's Great Chambers;
- Marley's car starts pumping water from the Seine;
- the Grand Canal and the Swiss Pond were dug;
- the number of bosquets and fountains in gardens has been increased.
1682:
In this year, the king decides that the court and the center of the political power of France should henceforth be at Versailles. Thousands of people come to the palace: the royal family, courtiers, ministers, servants, employees, workers, merchants - everyone on whom the normal life of the castle and the state depends.
After the failure of the war against the League of Augsburg and under the influence of the devout Madame de Mantenon, Louis embarked on a final building campaign at Versailles (1699-1710). At this time, the last chapel was erected (the modern Versailles chapel), built according to the plans of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, after his death, completed by Robert de Cot. In the palace itself, the royal chambers are being expanded, and work is being completed on the arrangement of the Oval Window salon and the king's bedroom.
Versailles under Louis XV
The next king of France - Louis XV - was born on February 15, 1710 in Versailles. After the death of his father in 1715, he moved with the regent to the Paris residence - Palais-Royal.
In 1717, the Russian Tsar Peter I visited Versailles and lived in the Grand Trianon.
In 1722, at the age of 12, Louis XV became engaged to the Spanish infant Maria-Anna-Victoria, and the court returned to Versailles after 7 years in Vincennes, then in the Tuileries. Such a prolonged absence of the owners led to the decline of the palace, so it took a lot of money to bring it back to its former splendor.
Under Louis XV, the Hercules salon was arranged in the palace, a royal opera was added, and a pond of Neptune appeared in the garden. The royal chambers have been radically changed. The king's ceremonial chambers were on the second floor. On the third floor, Louis arranged small chambers with an office for personal use.
In 1723, the Bath Cabinet underwent alteration: deer heads appeared on the facade of one of the courtyards, which is why the courtyard was nicknamed the Deer. The king's initiative showed his interest in hunting.
In 1729, work began on updating the decor of the queen's chambers, which lasted until 1735.
1736 - Completed work in the salon of Hercules. It is located on the site of a chapel that was destroyed in 1710. Construction was carried out under the supervision of Robert de Cot, the decorator of the new royal chapel. The ceiling of the salon was painted by Francois Lemoine in 1733-1736. It depicts the Apotheosis of Hercules. On one of the walls hangs a huge painting by Veronese "Dinner at Simon the Pharisee", presented to Louis XIV in 1664 by the Venetian Republic. The grand opening of the salon took place in 1739 during a ball on the occasion of the wedding of the king's eldest son to the Spanish Infanta. Various festive events were held in the salon: the wedding of the Duke of Chartres, the birth of the Dauphin, the reception of ambassadors from the Sultan.
1737 - Louis XV converts the central part of the second floor along the Marble Courtyard on the north side into private chambers for living and working. The silk covers of the royal chambers are being renewed. In the same year, the royal kennel was built.
1750 - a new type of royal room appears in the palace - a dining room for eating after returning from a hunt.
1752 - The stairs of the Ambassadors, the small gallery and the Medal cabinet were destroyed. These glorious witnesses of the reign of Louis XIV were destroyed so that the chambers of the eldest royal daughter would appear in their place.
1755 The former office of the Sun King merges with the Office of Thermes and a large Council salon is formed. Jules Antoine Rousseau makes the wall cladding in gilded wood. Gabriel uses antique panels to decorate the walls. There is no gilding in the royal part of the palace: a variety of bright colors for statues painted using the technique invented by Martin. The main "highlight" of the chambers is a small gallery near the Marble Courtyard with paintings by Boucher, Carl van Loo, Pater and Parrosel, hung on multi-colored walls.
8 princesses were born to Louis XV. To place them in the palace, various alterations were undertaken: the bath rooms, the Ambassadors' staircase, and the partition of the Lower Gallery disappeared. After the chambers of the princesses were dismantled by Louis Philippe, several magnificent wall panels remain and show the luxury that the ladies lived in.
According to the tradition that appeared under Louis XIV, the crown prince and his wife lived in two chambers on the first floor, under the queen's chambers and the Mirror Gallery. There was a splendid decor lost in the 19th century. The only thing that survived is the Dauphin's bedroom and his library.
1761 - 1768 Ange-Jacques builds the Lesser Trianon.
1770 - Opening of the Royal Opera, the pinnacle of Gabriel's work. Construction work began in 1768, and the grand opening took place simultaneously with the wedding of the crown prince, the king's grandson, and Marie Antoinette of Austria. The opera building is designed in accordance with the rules of classical architecture with a touch of baroque. Two stone galleries lead to the opera: through one of them the king entered the opera on the second floor of the palace. The layout of the hall was innovative for that time: it represents a truncated oval, traditional boxes were replaced by simple balconies one above the other. This arrangement is favorable for viewing and listening - the acoustics were excellent. In addition, the building was built of wood, and the hall resonated like a violin. The proportions are perfect, the colonnade on the fourth floor is delightful, half-chandeliers are endlessly reflected in the mirrors, which gives grace to the architecture. The decor is extremely sophisticated. The central plafond is painted by Louis-Jacques Durameau, it depicts Apollo distributing crowns to the muses, and on the twelve small plafonds of the colonnade - cupids. Their color scheme is in harmony with the color of the hall, painted like marble, with a predominance of green and Pyrenean marble (red with white veins). The bas-reliefs of the first row of boxes are made by Augustin Page, these are the profiles of muses and graces against an azure background, the faces of the gods and goddesses of Olympus; on the second row of boxes - cupids, symbolizing the most famous operas, and the signs of the zodiac. Antoine Rousseau is the author of stage decoration with musical instruments and weapons. The opera stage, as often happened in palace theaters, could be transformed in 24 hours into a spacious hall for a costume ball. Special mechanisms made it possible to raise the parquet flooring to raise it to the level of the amphitheater and stage. The stage of the Versailles Opera is one of the largest in France.
1771 - Gabriel presents the King with the "Great Project" for the reconstruction of the palace facades from the side of the city. The project followed the rules of classical architecture. The king agreed, and in 1772 the work began, but was not completed, but gave birth to the wing of Louis XV.
During this era, Versailles was the most luxurious royal palace in Europe. While Gabriel was remodeling, the brilliant and luxurious life of the courtyard continued with balls and festivities. The theater was the favorite joy of the aristocrats; Voltaire's tragedies were especially appreciated. Louis XV destroyed several of his father's glorious halls and buildings, but he managed to create a magnificent interior decor. The gardens and the Trianon were enriched by the French Pavilion and the Petit Trianon.
Versailles under Louis XVI
Under Louis XVI, the life of the court at Versailles continued, but financial difficulties increasingly began to affect it. It cost money to keep the palace in good condition. In addition, work was required to renovate it - there were no amenities that became familiar in that era (bathrooms, heating). Queen Marie Antoinette invested a lot in the arrangement of the Petit Trianon, which was one of the reasons for her unpopularity.
Upon accession to the throne, Louis XVI wants a room to rest for himself. The choice falls on the library. Its decor was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel and executed by the sculptor Jules-Antoine Rousseau. Jean-Claude Kervel makes a large table out of a monolith of wood, where Louis exposes the Sevres biscuits. Two globes - earth and sky - complement the decor in 1777.
1783 - The Gilded Office is created. This room was conceived to house the collections of Louis XIV. Under Louis XV, it served as a room for displaying the royal gold service, hence one of its names - "cabinet of the gold service". Then she was added to the chambers of Louis XV's daughter Adelaide, and she became a music salon, where Adelaide took harp lessons from Beaumarchais. Mozart played there for the royal family in 1763. Under Louis XVI, the room again becomes exhibition hall... In 1788 he placed his own acquisition there - a study of butterflies.
Versailles after the Bourbons
Versailles witnessed the apogee of the Bourbon royal power and their fall. It was at Versailles that the meeting of the States General was held in 1789, which gave rise to the French Revolution. On October 5, 1789, the Parisians advanced to Versailles, captured it and brought the royal family to Paris. The palace was abandoned.
In 1791, the paintings, mirrors and emblems of the king were pulled from the walls and ceilings. The works of art were transported to the Louvre, which became the central museum in 1792.
In 1793-1796 the furniture of the palace was sold out. The most beautiful interior items went to England to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
The revolutionary government at one time was going to destroy the palace. Poor people plucked flowers in the garden to plant potatoes and onions in their place. The Petit Trianon turned into an inn, and revolutionaries sat in the Opera and the Royal Chapel.
For some time, the castle served as a warehouse for property confiscated from the aristocrats. In 1795 it becomes a museum.
Under Napoleon, the palace was transferred to the imperial property. Napoleon arrives and decides to settle in the Grand Trianon. And again begin work on the improvement: in 1806 a series of tapestries were ordered for the palace and statues were ordered from museums. Numerous plans for the improvement and alteration of the palace under Napoleon are not being implemented.
After the Restoration, Louis XVIII undertook a series of works with the aim of transforming the palace into his summer residence. However, he understands that living in Versailles will have a bad effect on his image, and refuses the venture.
In 1833, King Louis-Philippe entrusted his minister Camille Bashasson with the task of turning the palace into a museum of French history, dedicated to the military victories of the old regime, the French Revolution, the Empire and the Restoration. The palace was restored by the architect Pierre Fontaine. For his personal use, Louis-Philippe orders the Grand Trianon to be put in order. In 1837, the wedding of his daughter, Princess Mary is celebrated there.
For the museum of French military glory, in the southern wing of the palace, instead of the prince's chambers, the Bataliy gallery is arranged, striking in its size (120 m long and 13 wide). It was adorned with 32 paintings of huge sizes, glorifying the victories of France from the Battle of Tolbiak in 496 to the Battle of Wagram in 1809. The most popular were the paintings of Horace Verne.The museum has become very popular.
During the Second Empire, a hall was added to the museum celebrating victories in the Crimean and Italian campaigns. Napoleon III kept the palace in good condition. And Empress Eugenie contributed to the partial return of the original furniture.
In 1870, France was defeated by the Prussian troops, and Versailles became the headquarters of the Prussian headquarters during the siege of Paris. V Hall of Mirrors locate the hospital; The Crown Prince of Prussia rewards his officers at the statue of Louis XIV. The birth of the German Empire is proclaimed at Versailles.
In 1871, the administration of France passes to the Paris Commune, its administrative bodies are located in Versailles. The National Assembly sits in the former royal opera, 23,000 prisoners are taken to the greenhouse, many of whom are executed in the park. In 1879, the parliament moved to Paris, but until 2005 both chambers retain their premises in Versailles.
An important role in the preservation of Versailles was played by the historian Pierre de Noliak, who was appointed guardian of the palace in 1887. By that time, the palace and gardens had been abandoned for 20 years, so that even the names of the ponds were forgotten. Nolyak plans to equip a real historical Museum organized according to all the rules of science. He seeks to return the palace to its pre-revolutionary appearance. High society rushes to the opening of a new Versailles. Nolyak invites foreign guests, arranges receptions for potential patrons of the arts.
On June 28, 1919, a treaty was signed at Versailles to end the First World War, called the Treaty of Versailles. The location was not chosen by chance: France was waiting for revenge after the humiliating defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
The palace and gardens, on the other hand, suffer from a lack of finance. In 1924 and 1927, John Davison Rockefeller donated to the restoration of palace art and fountains. The nobility of the American millionaire prompted the French government to allocate budget money for the restoration.
During the Second World War, the Germans again had the palace.
In the post-war period, the curator of Versailles, Moricho-Beaupre, is again concerned with collecting funds for the restoration of the palace and park. In 1952, he addresses the French on the radio: “To say that Versailles is in ruins is to say that Western culture is being deprived of one of its pearls. This is a masterpiece, the loss of which will be a loss not only for French art, but also for the image of France, which lives in each of us and which will not be replaced by anything else. " The appeal was heard, many Frenchmen took part in raising funds for the restoration of Versailles.
Versailles becomes the state palace at the disposal of the president. It hosts foreign heads of state, for example, John F. Kennedy in 1961, Elizabeth II in 1957 and 1972, the Shah of Iran in 1974, Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985, and Boris Yeltsin in 1992. General de Gaulle is undertaking work to rebuild the Grand Trianon to accommodate foreign guests; one wing is assigned to the French president. In 1999, these rooms were rebuilt to their original state.
History of Versailles in the mini-film:
1.from Louis to the Revolution -
2.after the Revolution -
3. Versailles gardens -
