Versailles Palace and Park brief description. The history of the creation of Versailles. Components of the palace and park area

The Palace of Versailles is located in the city of the same name, located 16 km southwest of Paris. It was the residence of the French kings Louis XIV, XV and XVI. The French royal court also lived here from May 6, 1682 to October 6, 1789.

The castle consists of many elements combined into an architectural ensemble. It occupies more than 63 thousand square meters, consists of 2,300 rooms, of which today 1,000 are museum premises.

The park of the Palace of Versailles extends over 815 hectares (before the Revolution - 8,000 hectares), of which 93 hectares are gardens. It consists of several elements: the Petit and Grand Trianon (Napoleon I, Louis XVIII, Charles X, Louis Philippe I and Napoleon III lived here), the queen's farm, the Grand and Petit Canals, a menagerie (destroyed), a greenhouse and a water pool.

The first mention of the settlement of Versailles occurs in 1038 in the charter of the abbey of Saint-Pere de Chartres. In 1561 Versailles with knight's castle sold to Martial Lomeny, Secretary of the Treasury under Charles IX.

Then the Italian favorite of Catherine de Medici, Count de Retz Albert de Gondi, became the owner of the lands and the castle.

In 1589, a month before Genich IV became King of France, 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, only one windmill stood on the site of the palace.

In 1623, Louis XIII, suffering from attacks of agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) and wanting spiritual rest, decided 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 the mill and the miller's house, which stood on this hill surrounded by swamps. Louis was personally present during the development of the architectural plan for the pavilion and adjacent gardens. The building was modest and utilitarian. Together with the earthen ramparts and ditches surrounding it, it rather resembled an ancient feudal castle. From time to time, Queen Mother Marie de' Medici and her wife, Queen Anne of Austria, come to Louis's modest home. True, always passing through, without overnight stays, because the building did not provide women's quarters. 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 corresponding 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 Queen Mother's policies. This was the first important political event within the castle walls. Richelieu remained prime minister, but the Queen Mother was exiled.

In 1632, Louis XIII bought the Versailles possession from Jean-François Gondi. A year before, 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. The new castle receives a floral frame for the first time: the gardens are laid out in the French style by Boisseau and Menur, decorated with arabesques and ponds. The facades are reinforced with brick and stone. In 1639, a walking terrace with a balustrade decorated with ornaments was built in front of the main façade of the castle. That castle corresponds to the modern part of the palace surrounding the famous Marble Court.

In 1643, Louis XIII dies, his four-year-old son, Louis XIV, ascends the throne, and the reins of power are transferred to the Queen Mother, Anne of Austria. 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 Louis XIV first visited Versailles in 1641, where he was sent along with his younger brother during the chickenpox epidemic at the site of the royal residence of that era.

Since 1651, the king visits the castle several times while hunting. It was also during a hunt following his wedding to Maria Theresa of Austria in 1660 that the king became truly interested in his father's former residence. The first changes affected the garden. The king wished to straighten the shape and increase the area, as well as surround it with a wall.

In 1661, the artist Charles Herrard was commissioned to tidy up the rooms of the castle. Along with changes in the composition of the royal family (the anticipation of the birth of the future Dauphin and the wedding of the king's brother) came the need to redistribute the rooms. The castle was divided into chambers for the king and the prince, with separate staircases in the side wings. The Louis XIII staircase 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 court, especially its location: Versailles seemed an unsightly, sad place in which there was nowhere to look - no forests, no water, no land, and around only sand and swamps.

Officially, the Louvre was still a royal residence. However, court holidays began to be held more and more often in Versailles. The courtiers were able to “appreciate” the inconvenience of this small castle, because... many of them could not find a roof to sleep on. Louis entrusted the project to increase the area to Le Vaud, who proposed several options: 1) destroy everything that was there and build a palace in the Italian style on this site; 2) leave the old hunting castle and surround it on three sides with new buildings, thus, as it were, enclosing it in a stone envelope. The king supported the preservation of his father's house more for financial than sentimental reasons. And Le Vaux increased the area of the palace three times, luxuriously decorated it, developing the theme of the sun, which was omnipresent in Versailles. The king liked most of all the decoration of the garden by the sculptors Girardon and Le Houngre - in 1665 the first statues were installed, the Tethys grotto, a greenhouse, and a menagerie were built. Two years later, construction of the Grand Canal began.

The second construction campaign began after the signing of the peace treaty between France and Spain. On this occasion, on July 18, 1668, a celebration was organized, now known as the “Great Royal Entertainments at Versailles.” And again, not everyone could fit into 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 was the stone envelope, or new castle, which surrounded the castle of Louis XIII from the north, west and south. The new palace contained new apartments for the king, queen and members of the royal family. The second floor was completely occupied by two chambers: the king's (north side) and the queen's (south side). On the ground floor of the new palace, two apartments were also equipped: on the north side - the Bathroom Cabinet, on the south - the apartments of the king's brother and his wife, the Duke and Duchess of Orleans. To the west, a 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. In its place the famous Mirror Gallery was built. On the third floor were the chambers of other members of the royal house and courtiers.

On the second floor there are Ionic columns, tall rectangular windows, niches with sculptures and bas-reliefs. The third floor received Corinthian decor; there was a balustrade with trophies.

After the conclusion of a peace treaty with Holland, the third campaign for the improvement 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 "Princes' Wing"), further landscaping of the garden are the distinctive characteristics of this era of the reign of the Sun King.

Construction chronicle:

1678:

— remodeling the façade in front of the gardens;

— in the Bathroom there are two bathtubs made of white marble with gilded bronze;

— the beginning of work on the layout of the Swiss pond and the Neptune pool, a new greenhouse;

1679:

— The Mirror Gallery, the Salon of War and the Salon of Peace replace the terrace and offices of the king and queen;

— central building on the side of the marble courtyard it is increased by one floor; the new facade was decorated with a clock surrounded by statues of Mars Marcy and Hercules Girardon;

- Orbe begins the construction of a second staircase - the Queen's Staircase, intended to become a pair to the Staircase of Ambassadors;

— Upon completion of work with the ministerial wings, the construction of the Large and Small Stables began;

Work continues in the garden: more statues and bosquets.

1681:

— Charles Le Brun completes the decoration of the King’s Great Chambers;

— Marley’s machine begins to pump water from the Seine;

- dug Grand Canal and Swiss Pond;

— the number of bosquets and fountains in the gardens has been increased.

1682:

In this year, the king decides that the court and center of political power in France should henceforth be located in Versailles. Thousands of people come to the palace: the royal family, courtiers, ministers, servants, employees, workers, merchants - everyone on whom the normal functioning of the castle and the state depends.

After failure in the war against the League of Augsburg and under the influence of the pious Madame de Maintenon, Louis undertook 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, completed after his death by Robert de Cote. In the palace itself, the royal chambers are being expanded, and work on the arrangement of the Oval Window salon and the king’s bedroom are being completed.

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, 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 Infanta Maria Anna Victoria, and the court returned to Versailles after 7 years spent in Vincennes, then in the Tuileries. Such a long absence of the owners led to the decline of the palace, so considerable funds were needed to restore it to its former glory.

Under Louis XV, the Salon of Hercules was equipped in the palace, the royal opera was added, and Neptune's pond appeared in the garden. The royal chambers were 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 Bathroom Cabinet was remodeled: deer heads appeared on the façade of one of the courtyards, which is why the courtyard was nicknamed the Deer Courtyard. The king's initiative showed his interest in hunting.

In 1729, work began to update the decor of the queen’s chambers, which lasted until 1735.

1736 - work on the Hercules salon was completed. It is located on the site of a chapel that was destroyed in 1710. Construction took place under the direction of Robert de Cote, the decorator of the new royal chapel. The ceiling of the salon was painted by François Lemoine in 1733-1736. It depicts the Apotheosis of Hercules. On one of the walls hangs a huge canvas by Veronese “Dinner with Simon the Pharisee”, presented to Louis XIV in 1664 by the Republic of Venice. 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 with the Spanish infanta. Various special events took place 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 remodels the central part of the second floor along the Marble Court on the north side into private apartments intended for living and working. The silk coverings of the royal chambers are being renewed. In the same year, the royal kennel was built.

1750 - appears in the palace new type royal rooms - a dining room for eating after returning from hunting.

1752 – the staircase of Ambassadors, the small gallery and the cabinet of Medals were destroyed. These glorious witnesses to the reign of Louis XIV were destroyed so that in their place the chambers of the eldest royal daughter would appear.

1755 - the former office of the Sun King is connected with the office of the Baths and a large council salon is formed. Jules Antoine Rousseau makes wall paneling from gilded wood. Gabriel uses antique panels to decorate the walls. In the royal part of the palace there is no gilding: a variety of bright colors are used here for the statues, painted using the technique invented by Martin. The main “highlight” of the chambers is a small gallery near the Marble Court with paintings by Boucher, Karl van Loo, Pater and Parrosel, hung on multi-colored walls.

Louis XV had 8 princesses. To accommodate them in the palace, various alterations were made: the bath chambers, the staircase of the Ambassadors, and the partition of the Lower Gallery disappeared. Afterwards, the princesses' apartments were dismantled by Louis Philippe, but several magnificent wall paneling remained and demonstrate the luxury in which the ladies lived.

According to a tradition that began under Louis XIV, the Crown Prince and his wife lived in two apartments on the ground floor under the Queen's apartments and the Gallery of Mirrors. There was magnificent decor that was lost in the 19th century. The only thing that survived was the Dauphin's bedroom and his library.

1761 – 1768 Ange-Jacques builds the Petit Trianon.

1770 - opening of the Royal Opera House, 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 follows the rules of classical architecture with small splashes of baroque. Two stone galleries lead to the opera: through one of them the king entered the opera along 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 location is favorable for viewing and listening - the acoustics were excellent. Moreover, the building was made of wood, and the hall resonated like a violin. The proportions are ideal, the colonnade on the fourth floor is delightful, the semi-chandeliers are reflected endlessly in the mirrors, which adds grace to the architecture. The decor is extremely sophisticated. The central lampshade is painted by Louis-Jacques Durameau, it depicts Apollo distributing crowns to the muses, and cupids are depicted on the twelve small lampshades of the colonnade. 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 were made by Augustin Pazhu, these are the profiles of muses and graces on an azure background, the faces of the gods and goddesses of Olympus; on the second row of boxes there are 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 of the stalls 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 to the king the “Great Project” for the reconstruction of the facades of the palace from the city side. The project followed the rules of classical architecture. The king agreed, and in 1772 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 reconstructing, the brilliant and luxurious life of the court with balls and holidays continued. The theater was a favorite pastime of the aristocrats; Voltaire's tragedies were especially valued. Louis XV destroyed several magnificent halls and buildings from his father's time, but he managed to create magnificent interior decoration. 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 maintain the palace in good condition. In addition, work was required to renovate it - there were no amenities that were becoming common in that era (bathrooms, heating). Queen Marie Antoinette invested a lot of money in the arrangement of the Petit Trianon, which was one of the reasons for her unpopularity.

Upon his accession to the throne, Louis XVI wants a rest room for himself. The choice falls on the library. Its decor is designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel and executed by the sculptor Jules-Antoine Rousseau. Jean-Claude Kerval makes a large table from a monolith of wood on which Louis displays Sèvres biscuits. Two globes - earth and sky - complete the decor in 1777.

1783 – The Gilded Cabinet is created. This room was designed 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”. It was then added to the apartments of Louis XV's daughter Adelaide, and it 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 became an exhibition hall. In 1788, he placed his own acquisition there - a cabinet of butterflies.

Versailles after the Bourbons

Versailles witnessed the apogee of Bourbon royal power and its fall. It was in Versailles that the meeting of the Estates General took place in 1789, which gave rise to the French Revolution. On October 5, 1789, the Parisians advanced on Versailles, captured it and brought the royal family to Paris. The palace was abandoned.

In 1791, paintings, mirrors and emblems of the king were torn 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 palace furniture was sold out. The most beautiful interior items went to England in Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

The revolutionary government at one time intended to destroy the palace. Poor people tore out flowers in the garden to plant potatoes and onions in their place. The Petit Trianon turned into a tavern, and revolutionaries met in the Opera and the royal chapel.

For some time, the castle served as a warehouse for property confiscated from aristocrats. In 1795 it became a museum.

Under Napoleon, the palace was transferred to imperial ownership. Napoleon arrives and decides to settle in the Grand Trianon. And again, improvement work began: in 1806, a series of tapestries were ordered for the palace and statues were removed from museums. Numerous plans to improve and remodel the palace under Napoleon cannot be implemented.

After the Restoration, Louis XVIII undertook a series of works with the aim of turning the palace into his summer residence. However, he understands that living in Versailles will have a bad effect on his image, and abandons the idea.

In 1833, King Louis Philippe entrusts his minister Camille Baschasson with the task of transforming 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 restoration of the palace was undertaken 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 the military glory of France, in the southern wing of the palace, instead of the prince’s chambers, the Battles gallery is being built, striking in its size (120 m long and 13 m wide). It was decorated with 32 huge paintings glorifying the victories of France from the Battle of Tolbiac in 496 to the Battle of Wagram in 1809. The most popular paintings were those of Horace Vernet.The museum became very popular.

During the Second Empire, a hall was added to the museum to commemorate the victories in the Crimean and Italian campaigns. Napoleon III maintained the palace in good condition. And Empress Eugenie contributed to the partial return of the original furniture.

In 1870, France was defeated by Prussian troops, and Versailles became the headquarters of the Prussian headquarters during the siege of Paris. The Hall of Mirrors houses a hospital; The Crown Prince of Prussia awards 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 meets in the former royal opera house, 23 thousand 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 maintained their premises in Versailles.

An important role in the preservation of Versailles was played by the historian Pierre de Nolac, who was appointed custodian of the palace in 1887. By that time, the palace and gardens had been neglected for 20 years, so much so that even the names of the ponds were forgotten. Nolyak plans to arrange a real historical Museum, organized according to all the rules of science. He strives to return the palace to its pre-revolutionary appearance. High society rushes to the opening of the new Versailles. Nolyak invites foreign guests and arranges receptions for potential patrons of the arts.

On June 28, 1919, an agreement was signed in 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 a humiliating defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

The palace and gardens suffer from a lack of finances. In 1924 and 1927, John Davison Rockefeller donated to the restoration of palace artwork and fountains. The nobility of the American millionaire prompted the French government to allocate budget money for restoration.

In the second world war The Germans have the palace again.

In the post-war period, the curator of Versailles, Morichaud-Beaupré, was again concerned with raising funds for the restoration of the palace and park. In 1952, he addressed the French on the radio: “To say that Versailles is in ruins is to say that Western culture is losing 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 that lives in each of us and which cannot be replaced by anything else.” The call was heard, many French took part in raising funds for the restoration of Versailles.

Versailles becomes a state palace at the disposal of the president. It has hosted foreign heads of state, such as John Kennedy in 1961, Elizabeth II in 1957 and 1972, the Shah of Iran in 1974, Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 and Boris Yeltsin in 1992. In 1959 General de Gaulle is undertaking work to reconstruct the Grand Trianon for the accommodation of foreign guests; one wing is allocated to the French president. In 1999, these rooms were again renovated to their original condition.

The history of Versailles in a mini-film:

1. from Louis to the Revolution -

2. after the Revolution -

3. Versailles Gardens -

selection useful services and sites for the traveler.

Of course, the main attraction of the Versailles palace and park ensemble is the palace itself. At the entrance to Versailles you will receive a plan of the palace, according to which you can plot your route. At the Palace of Versailles, you should definitely visit the Royal Chapel, which is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments of the Baroque era. After passing through the chapel and a network of rooms shining with gold and crystal, you will find yourself in the throne room and the famous Gallery of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed after the First World War. In addition, an obligatory point of the program is a tour of the Queen's Apartments in the northern wing of the palace, in which almost every square centimeter of the walls and ceiling is decorated with gilding.

Each room in the palace was given symbolic significance, and no room - even in the apartments reserved for courtiers or members of the royal family - was left private. The center of the palace was not at all the throne room or study. Much greater importance was attached to what happened in the royal bedchamber. The most important ceremonies took place here every day, and no one dared to be embarrassed by the nakedness of their majesties. To carry out such a ceremony, at least a hundred courtiers were required, who memorized the most complex choreographic rituals.

Of course, you can enjoy the luxury of the interior decoration of the palace, but you can have a great time walking around the park of the Palace of Versailles. Well-groomed gardens, fragrant flower beds, musical fountains - there is everything here that can delight the aesthetic sense. In addition, two more palaces are located in the park of Versailles: the Grand Trianon (a palace in the Italian architectural style) and the Petit Trianon (a more modest structure designed for the famous favorite of Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour). The park also contains Marie Antoinette's village, a small farm with a thatched roof. The modest decoration of the Petit Trianon and the graceful asceticism of the village of Marie Antoinette will give your eyes, tired of the radiance of the Palace of Versailles, a long-awaited rest, and the fountains, synchronized with music, will be a real delight for your ears.

For tourists

The Palace of Versailles is located approximately 13 km southwest of Paris. The easiest way to get to Versailles is by metro (RER) line C – you will need to get to the station Versailles - Rive Gauche, which is located not far from the palace itself. In addition, trains depart from the stations to Versailles Gare Montparnasse(station Versailles Chantiers) And Gare St-Lazare(station Versailles – Rive Droite). Tickets for the metro and trains cost the same - 2.80€ one way.

Opening hours of the Versailles palace and park ensemble vary in high and low seasons, so before traveling to Versailles, be sure to check out the palace website: http://www.chateauversailles.fr/homepage. The site is available in several languages, but Russian is not one of them.

You can buy tickets on the palace website, in FNAC stores (http://www.fnac.com/localiser-magasin-fnac/w-4), at the tourist office, which is located near the Versailles - Rive Gauche station, and finally, at the ticket office of the palace itself.

When buying tickets to Versailles, it is very important not to get confused, since there are many varieties. Firstly, you can visit the palace using a museum card - Paris Museum Pass (http://en.parismuseumpass.com/). Using the same card you can visit many other Parisian attractions, but if you are not going to visit all the museums of Paris for short term, it just won't pay off.

A full ticket to Versailles costs 25€ on days when the fountains are open and 18€ when the fountains are closed. For 15 € you can visit the Palace of Versailles separately with its famous Gallery of Mirrors, the chambers of the king and queen, frescoes, paintings and sculptures.

In addition to the main palace, the Versailles palace complex also includes the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon and the village of Marie Antoinette. For €10 you can buy a ticket to both Trianon and the village of Marie Antoinette. Entrance to the Park of Versailles is free, but on days when the fountains are open it will cost you 8.5 €.

If you go to Versailles in the summer, do not forget to take a hat or cap with you: there is practically no place to hide from the sun in the gardens, so you can easily overheat.

Story

Now it is difficult to even imagine that at the beginning of the 17th century, on the site of the current Palace of Versailles, the gardens of which amaze with their ideal grooming, there were swampy swamps. But despite such unfavorable natural conditions, this area southwest of Paris attracted the attention of Louis XIII, who in 1624 ordered the construction of a small hunting castle here. And in 1661, Louis XIV remembered this castle, to whom it seemed that it was unsafe for him to remain in Paris.

According to legend, when King Louis XIV was only 5 years old, while walking through the picturesque Tuileries Garden, he looked into a puddle. The sun reflected in the water. “I am the sun!” – the boy shouted joyfully. From that day on, Louis was affectionately called “the Sun King” by his subjects and family. Even in his youth, he dreamed of something big, perfect and unique, something that would amaze all of Europe - better than the Louvre, Vincennes and Fontainebleau combined. It took Louis XIV 50 years to realize his dream! The "Sun King" turned his father's hunting castle into the most Grand Palace in Europe! The interior decoration was entrusted to the painter Charlevy Lebrun, and the design of the gardens was entrusted to Andre Le Nôtre.

The “Sun King” was able to build a truly sun-like palace in Versailles, worthy of his greatness. Eight hundred hectares of swamps, where the king’s father loved to hunt, were drained, and their place was taken by luxurious gardens, parks, alleys and fountains.

In 1682, Louis XIV became completely uncomfortable in his usual Paris, and the monarch decided to move to Versailles. At that time, the palace was not yet fully completed, and generally not entirely suitable for living, but the autocrat was adamant. The king has dreamed of the Palace of Versailles for so long that he can no longer wait - and the entire royal court is forced to follow Louis.

The palace complex of Versailles was created with the aim of glorifying France, and this initial plan was successfully realized. The splendor of the interior decoration, ideal gardens and alleys, luxurious fountains, the scale of the palace and park ensemble - all this made the guests of the French court freeze in admiration.

The Palace of Versailles was the center of political life in France until the French Revolution in 1789. Along with the fall of the autocracy, the symbol of which was Versailles, the palace began to fall into disrepair.

The Palace of Versailles is number 83 on the list World Heritage UNESCO.
The days the fountains work turn into real shows: the fountains are synchronized with music, thanks to which they create a completely unforgettable impression.
On Saturday evenings in the summer, there are light shows featuring fountains and fireworks.

Chronology

October 5, 1789: Revolutionaries expel King Louis XVI from the Palace of Versailles.
19th century: Active restoration and conservation of the building began, which has not been completed to this day.
January 18, 1871: In the Hall of Mirrors, King Wilhelm I of Prussia is crowned Emperor (Kaiser) of Germany.
February 26, 1871: A peace treaty is signed at Versailles, ending the Franco-Prussian War.
June 28, 1919: The Treaty of Versailles is signed, setting out the terms for ending the First World War.

And in general, looking at the palaces of France, we cannot help but look into the most probably famous palace and park complex in France. Let it be known to everyone, you have heard a lot about it, but let’s take a virtual look there for a couple of minutes.

Versailles- this name is associated throughout the world with the idea of the most significant and magnificent palace, erected by the will of one monarch. Versailles palace and park ensemble, a recognized masterpiece of world heritage, is quite young - it is only three and a half centuries old. The Palace and Park of Versailles is one of the outstanding architectural ensembles in the history of world architecture. The layout of the vast park, the territory associated with the Palace of Versailles, is the pinnacle of French park art, and the palace itself is a first-class architectural monument. A galaxy of brilliant masters worked on this ensemble. They created a complex, complete architectural complex, which included a monumental palace building and a number of park structures of “small forms”, and, most importantly, a park that was exceptional in its compositional integrity.

The Versailles ensemble is a highly characteristic and striking work of French classicism of the 17th century. The palace and park ensemble of Versailles is the greatest monument architecture XVII century, which had a strong influence on the urban planning thought of the 18th century. Versailles generally became a kind of “ideal city”, which the authors of the Renaissance dreamed and wrote about and which, through the will of Louis XIV, the “Sun King”, and the art of his architects and gardeners, turned out to be realized in reality, and in close proximity to Paris. But let's talk about everything in more detail...

Mention of Versailles first appeared in a charter of 1038 issued by the Abbey of St. Peter. It spoke of a certain lord Hugo of Versailles, the owner of a small castle and the surrounding areas. The emergence of the first settlement- the small village around the castle - is usually dated to the mid-11th century. Another village soon grew up around the Church of St. Julian.

The 13th century (especially the years of the reign of Saint Louis) for Versailles, as well as for the whole of Northern France, became a century of prosperity. However, the subsequent 14th century brought with it a terrible plague epidemic and the Hundred Years' War between England and France. All these misfortunes brought Versailles into a very deplorable state: by the end of the 14th century, its population numbered just over 100 people. It began to recover only in the next 15th century.

Versailles as an architectural and park ensemble did not arise immediately; it was not created by one architect, like many palaces of the 17th-18th centuries that imitated him. At the end of the 16th century, Versailles was a small village in the forest, where he sometimes hunted Henry IV. Ancient chronicles report that at the beginning of the 17th century, Versailles was a village with a population of about 500 people; a mill then stood on the site of the future palace, and fields and endless swamps stretched all around. In 1624 it was built on behalf of Louis XIII, by the architect Philibert Le Roy, a small hunting castle near a village called Versailles.

Near it there was a medieval dilapidated castle - the property of the house of Gondi. Saint-Simon in his memoirs calls this ancient Versailles castle a “house of cards.” But soon this castle was rebuilt by the architect Lemercier by order of the king. At the same time, Louis XIII acquired the Gondi site along with the dilapidated archbishop's palace and demolished it to expand his park. The small castle was located 17 kilometers from Paris. It was a U-shaped structure with a moat. In front of the castle there were four buildings made of stone and brick with metal bars on the balconies. The courtyard of the old castle, which later received the name Mramorny, has survived to this day. The first gardens of the Versailles Park were laid out by Jacques Boisseau and Jacques de Menoir.

In the mid-16th century, the only lord of Versailles was Martial de Lomeny, Minister of Finance under King Charles IX. Charles granted him the right to hold four annual fairs in Versailles and open a weekly market (on Thursdays). The population of Versailles, which was still a small village, at this time was about 500 people. However, the French religious wars between Catholics and Protestants led to a quick change of the seigneurial dynasty. Martial was arrested for his sympathies towards the Huguenots (French Protestants) and thrown into prison. Here he was visited by the Duke de Retz, Albert de Gondi, who had long been nurturing plans to seize the Versailles territories. Through threats, he forced de Lomeny to sign a document according to which the latter ceded Versailles to him at a negligible price.

At the beginning of the 17th century, King Louis XIII began to frequently visit Versailles, who took great pleasure in hunting in the local forests. In 1623, he ordered the construction of a small castle where hunters could stop for a rest. This building became the first royal palace in Versailles. On April 8, 1632, Louis XIII completely bought the seigneury from the last Versailles owner, Jean-François de Gondi, for 66,000 livres. In the same year, the king appointed his valet Arnaud as governor of Versailles. In 1634, the architect Philibert le Roy was commissioned to rebuild the old Versailles castle into a royal palace. However, despite the changes that took place, by the end of the reign of Louis XIII, Versailles did not change its appearance much. It, as before, was a small village.

Everything changed with the accession to the throne of the king - the sun, Louis XIV. It was during the reign of this monarch (1643-1715) that Versailles became a city and a favorite royal residence.

In 1662, Versailles began to be built according to Le Nôtre's plan. Andre Le Nôtre(1613-1700) by this time had already become famous as a builder of country estates with regular parks (in Vaux-le-Vicomte, Saux, Saint-Cloud, etc.). It is interesting that in 1655-1661 N. Fouquet, the largest financier of absolutist France, designed by the architect Louis le Vaux rebuilt his country castle. The main thing in the palace and park ensemble of Vaux-le-Vicomte was not even the palace itself (at that time quite modest), but general principle creating a country residence. The whole of it was turned into a giant park, skillfully designed by the architect-gardener Andre Le Nôtre. The Vaux-le-Vicomte Palace demonstrated the new lifestyle of the French aristocrat - in nature, outside the walls of a cramped, crowded city. I liked the palace and park so much Louis XIV that he could not come to terms with the idea that they were not his property. The French king immediately imprisoned Fouquet and entrusted the construction of his palace at Versailles to the architects Louis le Vau and Andre Le Nôtre. The architecture of the Fouquet estate was adopted as a model for Versailles. Having preserved the Fouquet Palace, the king removed from it everything that could be removed and taken away, right down to the orange trees and marble statues of the park.

Le Nôtre began by building a city that would house the courtiers of Louis XIV and a large staff of palace servants and military guards. The city was designed for thirty thousand inhabitants. Its layout was subject to three radial highways, which diverged from the central part of the palace in three directions: to Seau, Saint-Cloud, and Paris. Despite the direct analogy with the Roman triradius, the Versailles composition differed significantly from its Italian prototype. In Rome, the streets diverged from Piazza del Popolo, but in Versailles they quickly converged on the palace. In Rome, the width of the streets was less than thirty meters, in Versailles - about a hundred. In Rome, the angle formed between the three highways was 24 degrees, and in Versailles 30 degrees. To settle the city as quickly as possible Louis XIV distributed building plots to everyone (of course, nobles) for a reasonable price with the only condition that buildings be built in the same style and not higher than 18.5 meters, that is, the level of the entrance to the palace.

In 1673, a decision was made to demolish the old Versailles buildings, including the church. The new Cathedral of St. Julian was erected in its place in 1681-1682. On May 6, 1682, Louis XIV, along with his entire court, moved from Paris to Versailles. This became a turning point in the history of the city. By the first quarter of the 18th century (i.e. by the end of Louis' reign), Versailles had become a luxurious royal residence, and its population amounted to 30,000 inhabitants.

As a result of the second construction cycle, Versailles developed into an integral palace and park ensemble, which is a wonderful example of the synthesis of arts - architecture, sculpture, and landscape gardening art of French classicism of the 17th century. However, after the death of the cardinal Mazarin, Versailles, created by Levo, began to seem insufficiently majestic to express the idea of an absolute monarchy. Therefore, he was invited to rebuild Versailles Jules Hardouin Mansart, largest architect end of the century, whose name is associated with the third construction period in the history of the creation of this complex, grandnephew of the famous Francois Mansart. Mansar further enlarged the palace by erecting two wings, each five hundred meters long, at right angles to the southern and northern facades of the palace. In the northern wing he placed a church (1699-1710), the vestibule of which was finished by Robert de Cotte. In addition, Mansart built two more floors above the Levo terrace, creating a Mirror Gallery along the western facade, closing with the halls of War and Peace (1680-1886).

Adam Frans van der Meulen - Construction of the Château de Versailles

On the axis of the palace towards the entrance on the second floor, Mansart placed the royal bedroom with a view of the city and an equestrian statue of the king, which was later placed at the vanishing point of the trident of the roads of Versailles. The king's chambers were located in the northern part of the palace, and the queen's in the southern part. Mansart also built two buildings of Ministers (1671-1681), which formed the third, the so-called “court of the Ministers,” and connected these buildings with a rich gilded lattice. All this completely changed the appearance of the structure, although Mansar left the same height of the building. Gone are the contrasts, the freedom of imagination, nothing remains but the extended horizontal of the three-story structure, united in the structure of its facades with the ground, front and attic floors. The impression of grandeur that this brilliant architecture produces is achieved by the large scale of the whole and the simple and calm rhythm of the entire composition.

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Mansart knew how to combine various elements into a single artistic whole. He had an amazing sense of ensemble, striving for rigor in decoration. For example, in the Mirror Gallery he used a single architectural motif - a uniform alternation of partitions with openings. This classicist base creates a sense of clear form. Thanks to Mansart, the expansion of the Palace of Versailles acquired a natural character. The extensions received a strong relationship with the central buildings. The ensemble, outstanding in its architectural and artistic qualities, was successfully completed and provided big influence on the development of world architecture.

Each of the inhabitants of the Palace of Versailles left their mark on its architecture and decoration. Louis XV, the great-grandson of Louis XIV, who inherited the throne in 1715, only towards the end of his reign in 1770 decided to make changes to the architecture of the palace. He ordered separate apartments to be equipped in order to protect his life from court etiquette. In turn, Louis XV inherited from his great-grandfather a love of the arts, as evidenced by the decoration of his Inner Chambers; and the penchant for secret political intrigue passed to him from the Italian ancestors of the Medici family and the Savoy dynasty. It was in the Inner Cabinets, far from the curious court, that he who was called "Everyone's Favorite" made some of the most important decisions of the state. At the same time, the king did not neglect either the etiquette established by his predecessor, or the life of the family, of which the queen and his especially beloved daughters reminded him.

After the death of the Sun King, Philip of Orleans, who became regent under the young Louis XV, decided to move the French court back to Paris. This was a notable blow to Versailles, which immediately lost about half of its inhabitants. However, everything returned to its previous state when, in 1722, the matured Louis XV moved to Versailles again. Under his successor Louis XVI, the city had to go through many dramatic moments. By a whim of fate, this luxurious royal residence was to become the cradle of the Great French Revolution. It was here that in 1789 they gathered Estates General, and here on June 20, 1789, deputies from the third estate took a solemn oath not to disperse until their demands for political changes in France were accepted. Here, at the beginning of October 1789, a crowd of heated revolutionaries arrived from Paris, which, having captured the palace, forced the royal family to return to the capital. After this, Versailles again began to rapidly lose population: its population decreased from 50,000 people (in 1789) to 28,000 people (in 1824). During the revolutionary events, almost all the furniture and valuables were removed from the Palace of Versailles, but the building itself was not destroyed. During the reign of the Directory, restoration work was carried out in the palace, after which a museum was located here.

Louis XVI, the heir of Louis XV, whose reign was tragically interrupted by the revolution, inherited enviable heroic strength from his maternal grandfather, the Polish king Augustus of Saxony; on the other hand, his Bourbon ancestors passed on to him not only a true passion for hunting, but also a deep interest in science. His wife Marie Antoinette, daughter of the Duke of Lorraine, who later became Emperor of Austria, left a deep mark on the musical life of Versailles thanks to her love of music, inherited from both the Habsburgs of Austria and Louis XIII. Unlike his ancestors, Louis XVI did not have the ambitions of a creator king. Known for his simple tastes, he lived in the palace out of necessity. During his reign, the interior decoration of the palace was updated, and, above all, the Queen’s Small Offices, which were located parallel to his Large Chambers. During the revolution, all the furniture and decorations of the palace were stolen. Napoleon and then Louis XVIII carried out restoration work at Versailles. After the July Revolution of 1830, the palace was supposed to be demolished. This issue was put to a vote in the Chamber of Deputies. The margin of one vote was saved by Versailles. The last of the dynasty, King Louis Philippe ruled France from 1830 to 1848. In 1830, after the July Revolution, which brought him to the throne, the House of Representatives passed a law by which Versailles and Trianon passed into the possession of the new king. Wasting no time, Louis Philippe ordered the creation of a Museum in Versailles in honor of the glorious victories of France, which opened on June 1, 1837. This purpose of the castle has been preserved to this day.

The creators of the palace were not only Louis Le Vaux and Mansart. A significant group of architects worked under their leadership. Lemuet, Dorbay, Pierre Guitard, Bruant, Pierre Cottar and Blondel worked with Le Vaux. Mansart's main assistant was his student and relative Robert de Cotte, who continued to supervise the construction after Mansart's death in 1708. In addition, Charles Davilet and Lassurance worked at Versailles. The interiors were made according to drawings by Beren, Vigarani, as well as Lebrun and Mignard. Due to the participation of many masters, the architecture of Versailles is now of a heterogeneous nature, especially since the construction of Versailles - from the appearance of the hunting castle of Louis XIII to the construction of the battle gallery of Louis Philippe - lasted about two centuries (1624-1830).

During the Napoleonic wars, Versailles was captured twice by Prussian troops (in 1814 and 1815). The Prussian invasion occurred again during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. The occupation lasted 174 days. In the Palace of Versailles, chosen by the Prussian King Wilhelm I as a temporary residence, on January 18, 1871, the creation of the German Empire was announced.

In the 20th century, Versailles also witnessed major international events more than once. It was here that a peace treaty was signed in 1919, ending the First World War and marking the beginning of the Versailles system of international relations.

Main palace complex(Chateau de Versailles) was built in the 17th century by King Louis XIV, who wanted to move here from unsafe Paris. The luxurious rooms are richly decorated with marble, velvet and wood carvings. The main attractions here are the Royal Chapel, the Salon of Venus, the Salon of Apollo and the Hall of Mirrors. The decoration of the state rooms was dedicated to the Greek gods. The Salon of Apollo was originally Louis's throne room. The Hall of Mirrors contains 17 huge mirrors reflecting the tall arched windows and crystal candelabra.

Grand Trianon- a beautiful palace made of pink marble was built by Louis XIV for his beloved Madame de Maintenon. Here the monarch loved to spend his free time. The palace was later home to Napoleon and his second wife.

Petit Trianon- another love nest built by King Louis XV for Madame de Pompadour. Later, the Petit Trianon was occupied by Marie Antoinette, and even later by Napoleon's sister. The nearby Temple of Love is said to have been Marie Antoinette's favorite place for parties.

Colonnade- a circle of marble columns and arches, located within the gardens, continues the theme of the gods of Olympus. The place was the king's favorite outdoor dining area.

During the Second World War, Versailles was occupied by German troops. In addition, the city had to endure several brutal bombings, which killed 300 Versailles residents. The liberation of Versailles took place on August 24, 1944, and was carried out by French troops under the command of General Leclerc.

On February 25, 1965, a government decree was issued, according to which Versailles was to be turned into the prefecture of the new department of Yvelines, the official creation of which took place on January 1, 1968.

Today the city retains this status. Being one of the most attractive tourist places, Versailles is rightfully proud of its history and architectural monuments. In 1979, the palace and park of Versailles were officially included in the list of world cultural heritage UNESCO.

Pierre-Denis Martin - View of Versailles

Gardens of Versailles with their sculptures, fountains, pools, cascades and grottoes soon became for the Parisian nobility the arena of brilliant court festivities and Baroque entertainment, during which they could enjoy the operas of Lully and the plays of Racine and Moliere.

Parks of Versailles spread over an area of 101 hectares. There are many observation platforms, alleys and promenades, there is even its own Grand Canal, or rather, a whole system of canals, which was called “little Venice”. The Palace of Versailles itself is also striking in its size: the length of its park façade is 640 meters, and the Gallery of Mirrors located in the center is 73 meters long.

Versailles is open to visitors

in May - September from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:30.
the fountains are open on Saturdays from July 1 to September 30 and on Sundays from early April to early October.

How to get there - Versailles

Trains (electric trains) go to Versailles from the Gare Montparnasse station, Montparnasse Bienvenue metro station (metro line 12). The entrance to the station is directly from the metro. Continue to the stop Versailles Chantiers. Travel time is 20 minutes. The cost of a round trip ticket is 5.00 euros.

Exit the station in the direction "Sortie" (exit), then go straight. The road will take you to the palace in 10 - 15 minutes.

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.

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 have free admission; older children, students, and people with disabilities have discounts.

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, Francois D'Orbe and painter Charles Lebrun created a grandiose palace in the classicist style, which to this day has no equal.

Until 1789, Versailles was the main residence of the kings of France. At the beginning of October 1789, palace square angry people gathered high prices for 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 a 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, Paris again became the French capital.

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 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 the glorious history of 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 constantly hosts various events and shows. There is especially something to see here at the height of the tourist season.

Night fountain show

From May to September, on Saturdays a light and music fountain show is organized for guests. 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. Both contemporary artists and paintings by artists of past centuries are exhibited here.

Palace of Versailles on the map of Versailles

The entire complex is divided into the following main areas:

Chateau (main palace at Versailles);
Grand Trianon;
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Versailles (Versailles) is the former residence of French kings, now a village located near Paris. The history began with Louis XIV, who turned the hunting area into a palace and park ensemble.

Louis Leveau is the first architect to turn the king's dreams into reality, followed by Jules Hardouin-Mont-Sar. The latter tortured workers and the treasury for thirty years. It was here that the entire royal court settled, and it was here that numerous balls and brilliant celebrations took place.

The area of the Versailles park area occupies 101 hectares. Thanks to the whole system of canals, the village is called “little Venice”. Located on the territory a huge number observation platforms, alleys, promenades.

How to get to Versailles

You can get to Versailles from three train stations.

From Gare de Paris-Saint-Lazare:

By train on line L to the Gare de Viroflay Rive Droite station, and by bus number 171 from the Gabriel Peri metro station to the castle. You will need to walk a short distance, about 500 meters. The total travel time is about 1 hour.
Take the L train to Versailles - Rive Droite station. The station is almost 2 km away from the castle, which will have to be covered on foot. The total travel time will be about 1 hour.

From Gare d'Austerlitz:

On commuter train RER C can take you to Gare de Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, which is 950 meters from Versailles. This distance will need to be covered on foot.
The total travel time will be about 1 hour.

From Gare du Nord

First, take the Rer B train two stops to the Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station, then change to the RER C and go to Gare de Versailles Château Rive Gauche
Upon arrival at the station you will need to walk about 1 km to the park area. The total travel time is just over 1 hour.

You can get to Versailles using a travel pass, a day pass (zones 1-5), and (zones 1-5) will also do.

A single ticket will cost 7.60 euros.

(price: 70.00 €, 4 hours)
(price: 57.00 €, 4 hours)
(price: 130.00 €, 96 hours)

Accommodation in Versailles

The territory of Versailles is incredibly huge, there really is something to see here, so one day is not always enough to go around everything and enjoy the walk. To enjoy visiting the palace and park complex, take at least two days for a leisurely walk, without fuss. We bring to your attention hotels at the best prices in Versailles.

Sights of Versailles

Many people associate Versailles only with the castle of the same name. It is worth knowing that Versailles is large complex buildings, one might say a town in which all royal needs were provided.

Grand Trianon

This is the royal palace at Versailles. The name of the palace was inherited from the ancient village of Trianon, formerly located on this territory. Here Louis XIV took a break from court life with Madame Maintenon. The construction of the Grand Trianon lasted 4 years (1687-1691) under the leadership of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and Louis himself independently developed most of the architectural solutions. This is how a building appeared, decorated with a balustrade and huge arched windows, decorated with pale pink marble.

The palace consists of two wings connected by a gallery - peristyle, the project of which was developed by Robert de Cotte. The facade of the Grand Trianon opens onto a large courtyard. In this part of the building the peristyle is made in the form of an elegant arcade. Behind the palace there is a park with lawns, fountains, ponds and flower arrangements. On this side, the peristyle is made in the form of double marble columns. The Grand Trianon palace and park complex occupies 23 hectares and is open to tourists.

Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles)

This is not just the main attraction of the palace and park complex, but a symbol of an entire era in the history of the French monarchy, and one of the largest in all respects. Initially, King Louis III liked the lands in this part of the suburbs of Paris, but the idea of building the Palace of Versailles belonged to him son - Louis XIV. Later, his grandson, Louis XV, also contributed to the image of the palace complex. The palace demonstrates to the whole world the power of absolute power. For the construction of the palace and garden and park complex, 800 hectares of swamps were dried. Construction continued for more than half a century by peasants and the national army; The cost of the palace in terms of modern currency cost hundreds of billions of euros. The decoration of the interior dazzling with an abundance of luxury and unique works of art - frescoes and paintings, wood carvings, marble sculptures, silk carpets self made, a lot of gold, crystal and mirrors. The splendor of the Versailles palace complex made a strong impression on Peter I, and after his visit the Tsar conceived the idea of building the famous ensemble in Peterhof.

Palace of Versailles

When the monarchy fell, the bourgeoisie came to power, and the revolutionary-minded Duke of Orleans, Louis-Philippe of Versailles, took the crown in 1830, changed its status and became a museum, over time, the Museum of French History (Musée de l’Histoire de France). The revolutionary period did not have the best effect on the condition of the Palace of Versailles. Many premises were neglected, or even completely destroyed, and furniture and works of art were looted. Restoration work began immediately after the revolution, at the behest of Louis Philippe. Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was also concerned about the fate of the building and regularly allocated funds for its repair. Gradually, the Hall of Mirrors and the luxurious gold panels of the palace were restored, some of the stolen works of art were returned, some of the paintings and interior items had to be recreated. The restoration of Versailles continues - large-scale the reconstruction of the palace, which began in 1952 and lasted almost 30 years, did not solve all the problems. Therefore, in 2003, the French authorities announced the beginning of a 17-year restoration of Versailles. Already, the original layout of the Versailles gardens has been completely restored, and in the inner Marble Courtyard the royal grille has once again shone with gold.

Versailles Park (Parc de Versailles)

Unique landscape compositions that are considered perhaps the most exquisite in the world. In 1661, in parallel with the construction of the palace, King Louis XIV commissioned the landscape architect André Le Nôtre to create a park that would not only be in harmony with the grandeur of the royal buildings, but also surpass all known parks in terms of luxury. The construction of Versailles Park took more than 40 years, but The monarch was pleased with the result obtained - a breathtaking panorama opened up immediately upon exiting the palace through the Marble Courtyard.

Park of Versailles Gardens of Versailles

After the Great French Revolution, it was decided to open a museum in the Palace of Versailles, and since then, walks along the picturesque alleys of the royal park are available to all tourists.

Ballroom (Salle du Jeu de paume)

From an architectural point of view, it is not particularly remarkable, although it was built next to the Palace of Versailles back in 1686. It is quite possible that this room would remain in the annals of history as the place where royal sports were held. But Fate decreed differently... Life at the court of the French kings of the 17th century was described by contemporaries as endless receptions with a series of entertainment events. Such a pastime meant not only balls and enchanting performances, but also sports.

The Sun King, known throughout the world, was very fond of playing ball - a kind of analogue of tennis of that time. The courtiers actively supported their monarch in this hobby, therefore, the Ball Game Hall was quite a popular place. However, the Ball Game Hall gained worldwide fame for a completely different reason - in this room in 1789, representatives of French townspeople, under the leadership of Jean Bailly, took a solemn oath to preserve their alliance to create a constitution for the kingdom.

Today, in the Games Hall there is a museum, the exhibition of which tells about the historical event that brought the French Revolution closer: a sculpture of the speaker Jean Bailly, busts of deputies and a huge canvas depicting the Constituent Assembly at the moment of taking the oath.

Petit Trianon

Modern historians believe that the palace was built by Louis XV for the Marquise de Pompadour as a sign of the monarch's favor. The palace was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, a court architect and supporter of classicism. Construction lasted about 6 years and was completed in 1768. The building turned out to be small, simple, architecturally consistent - without the elaborate decoration inherent in the architecture of the first half of the 18th century, but the interior decoration of the Petit Trianon is made in the Rococo style.

The two-story palace looks very elegant - classic French windows, pilasters and an Italian balustrade at the top, Corinthian columns and a wide stone terrace at the base.

Today the Petit Trianon is a museum dedicated to Queen Marie Antoinette. Its exhibition features paintings from the 18th century, as well as furniture and interior items that restore the atmosphere typical of that era.

Municipal Museum of Lambinet

Dedicated to the history of the city, located near the Palace of Versailles, erected in 1750. The design of the three-story building, developed by Elie Blanchard, included all the stylistic features characteristic of that time - French windows, small balconies with patterned grilles and the crown of the facade, a classic pediment with a sculptural composition allegorical themes.

In 1852, the mansion became the property of Victor Lambine, whose descendants, 80 years later, donated the building to the city to organize a museum in it. Today, the exposition of the Lambinet Museum presents three areas - the history of the development of the city, captured in documents from different eras, a collection of art objects of the 16th-20th centuries and the reconstruction of interiors of the 18th century. A total of 35 rooms are available for inspection, and in most of them the original decoration and paintings have been preserved , furniture, sculptures and many interior items - gilded watches and candelabra, dishes, crystal lamps and vases complete the decor, returning visitors to the atmosphere of the 18th century.

Former Royal Hospital (Ancien Hôpital Royal de Versailles)

Also known as Hôpital Richaud, it is located near the local train station; received the status historical monument relatively recently - in 1980. Under Louis XIII, a need arose for buildings of a social nature - in 1636, a small almshouse was built, which existed on rather modest funds received from charitable communities. Under Louis XV, the almshouse was transformed into a royal hospital, financed by the treasury. The hospital premises were rebuilt and significantly expanded by order of Louis XVI.

The design of the new building, carried out by the architect Charles-François-d'Arnaudin, included 3 buildings: in the central part of the building, the elderly were housed, and in the two side ones, the sick. In addition, a church was built next to the hospital, adjacent directly to the buildings, so that patients could go to church services without going outside. The service in the hospital was also at the same level - excellent living conditions, good food and repeated cleaning. As a hospital, the building existed until recently, and then part of it was sold to a transport company.

Cathedral of Saint-Louis

It was originally conceived as an ordinary parish church.

However, in 1684, after the destruction of the Church of St. Julian of Briuda, South part Versailles was left without a church building; the chapel built in its place had to be given, albeit temporary, the status of a parish church. And since, along with the status, came the name - the Church of St. Louis, it was decided to build a real church worthy of bearing the name of the angel of crowned monarchs. In 1742, the project of the future cathedral was approved by Louis XV and construction began. It is curious that the author of the project turned out to be the hereditary architect Jacques Hardouin Mansart, the grandson of the same Jules Mansart who “invented” the Palace of Versailles in his time.

Construction dragged on for a long time and ended after 12 years. The king was not present at the inauguration of the new church; the day before, on August 23, 1754, His Majesty’s heir, the future King Louis XVI, was born. But, a year later, the monarch compensated for the lack of attention by donating 6 bells to the church with the names of the royal heirs. A large organ appeared in the Versailles Cathedral in 1761, and also, thanks to the mercy of the king - Louis personally supervised the manufacture of the instrument by the best master of that time, Francois Henri Clicquot. True, status Cathedral The Church of St. Louis received it much later, in 1843. Today, the Versailles Cathedral is not only a place for regular Catholic masses, but also a kind of concert venue for modern chamber music performers.

Lycee Hoche

An operating educational institution located in the historical building of Versailles.

The building, within the walls of which the Ghosh Lyceum was later located, was erected according to the design of Richard Meek, the royal architect and a great admirer of neoclassicism. The Ursuline Convent (Couvent de la Reine), founded in 1766, was called upon to fulfill a very important mission - to provide an acceptable education to girls whose parents served in the royal court. For 20 years, the monastery, supervised by the queen, enjoyed great success; during this period, hundreds of girls received an excellent education. But in 1789, after the departure of the royal family from Versailles, both the monastery and its activities gradually declined, and after the French Revolution it completely changed its profile and turned into a military hospital.

The authorities of Versailles remembered the successful reputation of the former monastery in matters of upbringing and education in 1802, when the issue of educating children from wealthy families became acute. A year later, a secondary school opens in the building. And some time later, the reconstruction of its premises began, upon completion of which a new French lyceum was opened in 1888, named after Gauche, in honor of General Lazarus Gauche, who was born in Versailles. The lyceum is successfully functioning to this day. And among its graduates there are many celebrities, including former French President Jacques Chirac.

Mansion of Foreign Affairs (Hôtel des Affaires Etrangères)

It stands out among the historical buildings of Versailles not only as an object of architectural art, but also as the room where negotiations took place, thanks to which the Treaties of Versailles and Paris were signed. This marked the end of the US Colonial War of Independence in 1783. The order for the construction of the mansion came in 1761 from the French Foreign Minister during the reign of Louis XV, Francois Choiseul. The main part of the building was planned to be used as an archive storage room, and the remaining rooms would conveniently accommodate the ministry’s auxiliary services. The development of the project was entrusted to Jean-Baptiste Berthier, an architect favored by the king.

And as it turned out, it was not in vain - the four-story mansion building made of brick and stone has a very representative appearance not only from the outside, but also from the inside. The facade of the building, according to the style of that time, is decorated with pilasters with ornaments in the form of symbols of monarchism, the top of which is crowned with statues depicting War and Peace. The entrance to the building is an impressive-sized door with richly gilded decoration. The interior decoration of the premises has been partially preserved in its original form - the front gallery of the first floor with its wooden panels and gold trim, archival cabinets built into the walls. Now there is a municipal library, some of the books of which still remember the Palace of Versailles and its first owners - the kings.

Church of Our Lady (Eglise Notre-Dame)

It is no coincidence that it rises next to the Palace of Versailles: the palace was listed as an official parish of the church, therefore, all the main events in the life of the royal family took place within its walls. It was here that the newborn heirs of the king were baptized, as well as the monarch’s relatives were married or seen off on their last journey. The urgent need to have the opportunity to visit a church in accessible proximity arose for Louis XIV in parallel with his move to the Palace of Versailles. Being an ardent supporter of Catholicism, the king first of all took care of his spiritual refuge.

Louis entrusted the creation of the project to his trusted architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and in 1684 the construction of the church began. In 2 years, the Versailles Church of the Virgin was completely built.

Judging by the records of the parish register, representatives of the monarchical dynasty visited the church regularly. From the point of view of architects, the Church of Our Lady is a vivid embodiment of the traditions of French classicism; from the point of view of parishioners and tourists visiting the church, it is a little massive, but surprisingly beautiful and harmonious a two-tier building. And under the pediment crowning the church with a symbolic image of angels holding the royal crown above the sun, there is a clock, the gilded hands of which count the time in the same rhythmic manner as under Louis XIV.

Madame Elisabeth's Castle (Château du domaine de Montreuil)

That was the name of its last owner - Elizabeth of France, granddaughter of Louis XV and sister of the last French monarch. The sad story of the life of Princess Elizabeth evokes a special attitude towards everything that surrounded her, and the Montreuil estate even more so. The history of the Montreuil estate dates back to the 12th century. At first, it was a fortress, then, by order of Charles VI, it was a monastery of the Celestians. Centuries later, the estate became part of Versailles - Louis XVI acquired it to give it to his beloved younger sister. It was then that these lands, with an area of 8 hectares, received their new name - the estate of Madame Elizabeth.

The castle, where the princess spent most of her life, is not distinguished by either the originality of its architectural solutions or the richness of its exterior. Visually, the building can be divided into three parts - two symmetrical three-story buildings connected by a two-level pavilion. But for Elizabeth, the external decoration did not play a special role - she sincerely cared about people and even opened a special room in the palace in which the doctor received the poor to help them necessary help. When the French Revolution began, the patriotic Elizabeth did not want to leave the country and the people close to her, and shared the fate of the royal family, sentenced to execution.

Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville)

It appeared in Versailles only in the 18th century, when orders stopped coming from the Palace of Versailles regarding the way of life of the townspeople. In 1670, a mansion was built for the French Marshal Bernardin Gigot. In fact, this building, which in the future was to become the building of the city administration of Versailles, was a real palace, the main entrance of which, according to etiquette, was facing the royal palace. It is not surprising that when the opportunity arose, Louis XIV immediately purchased this mansion for his illegitimate daughter of the Princesse de Conti. From that moment on, it became a tradition to organize lavish receptions, balls and simply any celebrations in the mansion-palace. This continued even after the princess was replaced by a new owner, the nephew of Louis XV, Louis IV Henry, better known as the Duke of Bourbon-Condé. But the French Revolution swept through the country like a hurricane, destroying to the ground not only the old political building, but also many buildings associated with it. The Conti mansion was also among the objectionable ones. The building in which the modern local administration of Versailles now carries out its duties, although it was built on the same site, is just a stylization of the era of Louis XIII. But this is the first real Town Hall of Versailles.

Théâtre Montansier

It was built on the initiative of Queen Marie Antoinette and with the full approval of King Louis XV. However, the author of the idea of creating a new theater hall in France belongs to the talented actress Madame Montansier. Madame Montansier's theatrical experience before meeting the French queen was not the most successful: either her ideas did not find a response, or her successes haunted her competitors. Nevertheless, Madame Montansier persistently sought the opportunity to realize her dream - the creation of a theater that was not similar to those already known. Thanks to connections at court, Madame Montansier achieved a reception with the queen and was able to awaken her interest in her plan.

The new theater opened in November 1777 in Versailles, next to the royal palace. The ceremony was attended not only by Marie Antoinette, but also by King Louis XV himself, who was pleased with the visit to the theater. The king and queen were especially impressed by the semicircular shape of the stage, excellent acoustics, realistic decorations and the use of mechanisms, which at that time was regarded as innovation. The decoration of the hall did not go unnoticed - thanks to the soft blue background of the interior, the gilded decorative elements looked very solemn. And the possibility of direct exit from the theater directly to the royal palace finally endeared the king to the Theater.

Today, the Montansier Theater is an officially registered institution, as well as an officially recognized historical monument.

Tickets to Versailles

There are several types of tickets: passports for one or two days, as well as tickets for visiting individual attractions.

One day ticket: 20 euros
Two-day ticket: 25 euros
One-day ticket with visit to the music gardens (April-October): 27 euros
Ticket for two days with a visit to the music gardens (April-October): 30 euros
Ticket to the Palace of Versailles: 18 euros
Ticket to the Grand and Petit Trianon: 12 euros

How to get there

Address: Place d'Armes, Paris 78000
Website: chateauversailles.fr
RER train: Versailles - Chateau
Updated: 04/03/2019

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