What is the layout of the palace in Versailles. Salon "Big Appliance". Opening hours of Versailles

Palace of Versailles(French: Chateau de Versailles)- one of the French royal residences, which was built in the suburbs of Paris, the city of Versailles, in the 17th century. Today it is one of the most popular attractions not only in France but also in the world.

The complex of the Palace of Versailles, which includes several more "small palaces" and a park, is the largest in Europe. Despite the splendor and size, the general view of the Palace of Versailles is holistic, it does not create a feeling of heaps of elements and excess, which allowed it to become a model for other royal residences of the Renaissance. But Versailles itself became a symbol of the immoderate and irrational spending of public money at the peak of the absolute monarchy. This palace is interesting, since it is unlikely that in the next historical period there will be residences anywhere that can outshine Versailles.

Story

Construction history Versailles complex quite simple, it can be retold in just one sentence: King Louis XIV, at the peak of both his own power and the strength of France itself, wanted a new residence and built it. But the political background and the role of Versailles in world history is very extensive and interesting.

Location before construction

Versailles was a small village at some distance from Paris, about 20 kilometers from the center of the French capital. The first mention is found in a document of 1038, then a certain feudal lord Hugh de Versailles owned it. The settlement was on the busy road from Paris to Normandy, but plague and war virtually destroyed the village in the following centuries.

The story related directly to the royal palace begins in 1575, when the Florentine Albert de Gondi, who made a career at the court of Charles IX, received these lands in his possession. Then, at the beginning of the 17th century, at the invitation of the Gondi family, Louis XIII came to Versailles to hunt. The king liked the area very much and in 1624 a small royal hunting residence was built here. After the death of the last representatives of the Florentine family, the lands pass into the possession of the crown.

Extension of the Château of Versailles

In 1632, after the annexation of the lands of Gondi, the first expansion of the hunting house takes place. Two auxiliary wings, a wall covering the entrance, and four towers were completed. A moat was dug around, and the territory was protected by a separate wall. Thus, the small hunting lodge was turned into a fortified royal country residence. The future Louis XIV lives here, who became king at the age of 5, was crowned only in 1654 and began to really rule only in 1661. By the beginning of the reign Louis XIV future main palace expanded even more, two large outer wings appeared, several auxiliary buildings, the outer walls were updated.

In parallel, political processes are taking place, which influenced the fact that it was the Palace of Versailles that in the future became the permanent location of the royal court. Until 1661, his mother, Anna of Austria, and the minister, Cardinal Mazarin, ruled for the king. The future king, miraculously survived civil war- Frondu, understood that he had to concentrate power in his hands, but he acted with extreme caution. After waiting for the death of the cardinal in 1661, Louis XIV announced that he was beginning to rule personally, without the help of the first minister.

In the same 1661, Nicolas Fouquet was arrested, who held the position of Minister of Finance in France, thanks to which he made himself a huge fortune and gained power. Fouquet just in 1661 completed the construction of a private residence, another famous french palace— Vaux-le-Vicomte. This estate was arrested, and the trio involved in the construction: Louis Leveau (architect), André Le Nôtre (specialist in gardens and parks) and Charles Lebrun (artist, also involved in interiors) went to work for Louis, who was struck by the beauty of the palace of the main financier.

André Le Nôtre is also famous for building the park that later became Champs Elysees.

Construction of the royal palace at Versailles

The transformation of Versailles from a country estate into the palace that we see today was carried out in three stages, each of which began between the wars led by Louis XIV. At the same time, the royal court completely moved here from the Louvre only in 1682, but de facto the king spent much of his time in Versailles even before that.

The construction of a new royal residence pursued many political goals. Firstly, Louis XIV, who supported absolutism, was afraid of betrayals and coups, therefore he preferred to keep the aristocratic elite nearby. Secondly, it was more dangerous to be in Paris than in a country residence if there was an uprising among the people. Thirdly, the king's possession of a palace of this level of luxury strengthened his power not only in France, but also on the world stage. Under Louis XIV, France was at the pinnacle of cultural, political and military power, and the Palace of Versailles was one of the proofs of this.

First stage

The work of the first stage of the reconstruction of the palace and the park of Versailles began in 1664, and ended in 1668, as France began a war with Spain. At this time, the castle and the park were expanded to be able to receive a large number of guests, up to 600 people.

Second phase

After the end of the war for the Netherlands, in 1669, a second building campaign began in Versailles, which lasted 3 years. The main changes are the complete restructuring of the central part, which used to be a hunting lodge.

The north wing was converted into apartments for the king, and the south wing for the queen. West Side was turned into a terrace, which would later become the famous Mirror Gallery. A unique luxurious octagonal bath was also equipped, filled with hot water. The upper floors were occupied by private rooms, as well as apartments for royal children.

It is interesting and very unusual that the chambers for the king and queen were of the same size and almost mirror-like layout. Given the attitude of Louis XIV towards his wife, Maria Theresa, most likely, a political goal was pursued - in the future to unite the two kingdoms on equal terms, but these plans could not be realized.

Third stage

After the end of another war, the Dutch, in 1678, the third campaign for the construction of Versailles began, stretching until 1684. It was during it that the most famous room, the Mirror Gallery, was built on the site of the terrace. It connected the chambers of the king and queen and became famous for its luxurious decoration, which amazes even now, although in fact a significant part of the luxury items were already sold in 1689.

Of the new buildings in Versailles, two large wing, in which the greenhouse is located, the chambers of the princes of the blood, as well as rooms for representatives of the nobility who lived in the palace. In addition, it was during this period that considerable attention was paid to the park part.

The main historical milestone was 1682, when the royal court officially moved to the Palace of Versailles from the Louvre, and the nobility was actually obliged to settle next to the king, which led to an increase in the population and prosperity of the city of Versailles.

Fourth final stage of construction

For a long time, nothing was built in Versailles, since the state budget sank heavily due to wars, and in 1689 an edict was adopted against luxury, and even some of the decoration of the royal palace was sold to sponsor the Nine Years' War. But some time after its completion in 1699, the last building campaign of Louis XIV began, which became the longest and ended in 1710.

Its main goal was the construction of a new chapel, the fifth for Versailles in a row. In addition to her, small changes were made to the palace itself, but they were not significant. At the same time, the building of the chapel greatly influenced the appearance of the palace, because, due to its height and rectangular shape, it changed the appearance of the facade, which caused criticism even in those years. But still and architectural style baroque, and rich interior decoration made the chapel of Versailles one of the most interesting elements of the complex.

Palace of Versailles after Louis XIV

Louis XV also made changes to the palace. Their scale is incomparable with the works of his father, but still quite significant. The internal interiors of the main building were redone, in particular - for the construction of chambers for the king's daughters, the Ambassadors' Staircase, the only main staircase of the palace, was destroyed.

Of the main architectural innovations of this period, the Petit Trianon, a separate rather modest palace for the favorite - Madame Pompadour, as well as the Royal Opera are usually distinguished. The project of a permanent theater on the territory of the palace appeared even under its predecessor, but it was Louis XV who found the funds for the theater, which at that time became the largest in Europe and which still functions today.

It is interesting that Peter I visited Versailles. During the trip, he was settled in the Grand Trianon, a separate castle for the king, intended for rest from officialdom. The Russian emperor was inspired by the palace during the construction of Peterhof, but did not copy either the look or the style, but only the general idea.

The reign of Louis XVI was reflected, first of all, in the park of Versailles. It has been significantly altered, mainly because many of the trees have dried up in the hundred years since they were planted. Also, some changes were made to the interiors and facades.

After the revolution

With the beginning of the revolution in France, Louis left the Palace of Versailles and settled in Paris in the Tuileries, and the old residence came under the control of the inhabitants of the city of Versailles. The management was able to protect it from looting, Louis XVI then tried to take out the furniture, but this could not be done.

After the arrest of the king, the Palace of Versailles was sealed, and then a plan was drawn up to reduce luxury and further use of the complex. A significant part of the furniture was sold at auctions, except for especially valuable exhibits that were sent to the museum. The palace itself and the surrounding areas were going to be sold or rented, but in the end they decided to leave it in the possession of the Republic and use it "for the public good." Various confiscated valuables were brought here, which later became the basis of the museum fund. At the same time, the palace itself fell into disrepair, and Andre Dumont took up its restoration, but even then, decor and interior elements were sold to cover government spending.

Napoleon changed the status of the Palace of Versailles back to the residence of the ruler, although he himself did not live in the main building, but in the Grand Trianon. But the exhibits with him were distributed to other museums. Versailles also served as a branch of the Invalides, having received this status even before the emperor came to power.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the palace played an important role in history. Here the German Empire was proclaimed, then the Franco-Prussian peace was signed, and then the famous Treaty of Versailles, which put an end to the First World War.

Global changes were made by Louis Philippe I, who again turned the Palace of Versailles into a museum dedicated to French greatness. This status has actually been preserved to this day, although the museum has been reorganized since that time, and the expositions are built on the basis of scientific rather than political principles. Much for Versailles was made by its curator Pierre de Nolhak, who not only transformed the exhibitions, but also began restoring the pre-revolutionary appearance of the palace.

Nowadays

Today, the Palace of Versailles retains the status of a museum and one of the main attractions of France, but at the same time it retains a number of official state functions. In the 20th century, after the Second World War, the damaged and neglected Versailles had to be restored with money collected from all over France. For certain advertising, absolutely all meetings between heads of state were held here until the 90s.

Now the Palace of Versailles is financially and legally autonomous, and the 5 million people who annually visit this French landmark bring profit to it. Also, between 8 and 10 million visit the park and gardens of Versailles.

Construction cost

One of the most interesting questions regarding the Palace of Versailles is the cost of its construction. At the same time, it is very difficult to give an unambiguous answer, although most of the financial documents have been preserved.

The initial redevelopment of the hunting lodge was funded by personal funds Louis XIV, the king at that time was a feudal lord, had personal land plots from which he received direct income. But then the construction began to be financed, including from the state budget.

Despite the unambiguously high amount of costs, during the construction of the Palace of Versailles it was turned into a “French showcase” and all materials, decor, decoration and other elements, at the request of the king, had to be produced only inside France.

A certain part of the interior items is difficult to express in any value, as they are unique works of art. But, based on the total amount of money spent, you can still derive several calculation methods:

• The simplest and least accurate is a simple conversion of the amount of silver at modern prices for this metal, it gives an amount of about 2.6 billion euros, which is clearly far from reality.
• Another method involves calculating the data on the purchasing power of the then currency and calculating the estimate of Versailles on the basis of these data, according to which the total amount spent on the palace is 37 billion. This is probably the most accurate amount, since it can be assumed that in the modern world for 37 billion euros it is possible to build a similar palace.
• The third method is more speculative, it involves comparing costs with the state budget and gives an amount of almost 260 billion euros, which, despite the wealth of the palace, still looks overpriced. With all this, it should be borne in mind that the costs were not one-time, but stretched over 50 years of construction.

Versailles park and palace complex

The administration of the palace divides the entire complex into a number of main areas: the Chateau itself, the Grand and Petit Trianons, Marie Antoinette's farm, as well as the garden and park area. All these parts of Versailles are available for inspection, and you can even walk in the park, with some exceptions, for free.

Chateau in French is simply a "palace", but at the same time official name the main building of Versailles. It makes no sense to go on an excursion to the complex and not visit the royal palace, because most often it becomes the first object that a tourist visits.

After passing through the main entrance to Versailles, the visitor enters the courtyard of the Chateau and can go both directly to the palace and get into the park, and see the royal residence later.

Inside the Chateau, the main attraction is the Hall of Mirrors - the central gallery connecting the two wings, decorated with a very rich finish and a large number of mirrors. In addition to him, the royal chambers, private rooms of the king's daughters, the queen's bedroom are shown.

Some of the premises are available for inspection only as part of organized groups or guided tours.

Also in the Chateau is a museum of the history of the Palace of Versailles, several art galleries, the most famous of which is the Hall of Battles, in which the canvases tell about the main battles in the history of France. Sometimes you can see the interior of the Royal Opera, it depends on the schedule of preparations for concerts.

On the territory of the Versailles complex there are two separate palaces, which are called Trianons. The Grand Trianon is inferior to the size of the Chateau, but not every European monarch had a main palace of a similar size, since the Trianon building itself has almost three dozen rooms, has a separate courtyard and a garden with ponds.

The Great Trianon was used as a place of residence for the king and his relatives outside the strict palace etiquette, in some seclusion. Also, all the rulers who came on visits to France traditionally settled here, among the guests of the Grand Trianon were: Peter I, Elizabeth II, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, etc. And all the French rulers lived in it after the revolution, since the Chateau performed other functions and even Napoleon did not want to use it as the main residence.

Inside the Grand Trianon, visitors will find several rooms that have completely preserved the interiors of past centuries, the empress's bedroom, and several art galleries. The billiard room and the Mirror Salon also look quite interesting.

Small Trianon

But the Small Trianon is really a small two-story mansion, which was occupied by women all the time. Initially, these were the favorites of Louis XV - Madame Pompadour and, after her, Dubarry, and then the young Marie Antoinette received this building. The mansion is distinguished by some modesty even in the interiors, although the interior salons and the queen's bedroom, where visitors are now allowed in, are decorated quite richly.

The Petit Trianon functions as a museum of Marie Antoinette, a significant part of household items and interiors are original, others have been restored by restorers. Tourists are also shown the technical premises where the servants worked - during construction, they tried to isolate the attendants as much as possible, it was assumed that even a served table would be raised to the dining room by a special mechanism, but this idea was never implemented. Also in the Petit Trianon is a small personal theater of the Queen, where her performances were staged, in which Marie Antoinette herself played on stage.

Marie Antoinette, who had a lot of free time, built small village near his mansion. Of course, this is not a real village, but a small and even caricature settlement, reflecting an idealized idea of ​​\u200b\u200bpeasant life.

But the farm was fully functional, consisted of 12 residential buildings, goats, cows, pigeons, chickens and other farm animals also lived here, there were gardens and beds. The queen personally milked the cows and weeded them, although the animals were bathed daily, decorated with bows, and the “peasant women” living here were ordered to keep a pastoral look all the time.

The farm has been preserved almost unchanged, various animals still live here and, in fact, now it is a small petting zoo. In general, the place looks very nice, since many houses were built in the form in which they were depicted by artists of the 18th century in pastoral landscapes.

For a larger entourage, houses were artificially aged, for example, cracks were painted on the walls with paint.

Park of Versailles

The park part of the palace complex attracts almost as many tourists as the palace itself, especially since the entrance to the park is often (when the fountains are not working) free of charge. The territory of the park itself is very large, about 5 square kilometers, and it is divided into several conditional zones, two main ones:

• Garden - the part directly adjacent to the palace with neat bushes, paths and pools
• Park - classic dense plantings with paths, places to rest, etc.

Almost all park zone Versailles is full of fountains, pools and canals. It makes no sense to list them all, but there are a number of the most famous and notable: the fountain of Neptune, Grand Canal, fountain of Apollo.

Fountains do not work all the time. They are turned on most often on weekends, at which time the entrance to the park becomes paid.

It is very difficult to go around the entire park at one time, many do not even have time to reach the Trianons, so you can take 2 days to travel to Versailles, especially since special tickets are sold for this.

Events

Various events are regularly held in Versailles, some of them on a regular and permanent basis during the "hot" tourist season.

musical fountains

Every weekend, as well as on some other holidays and not only dates, all fountains turn on at full capacity, arrange musical show. This is the best time to visit Versailles as the 18th century fountains are truly impressive.

Night show of fountains

During the tourist season (from May to September), every Saturday after the closure of Versailles for the bulk of tourists, a fountain show with music, lighting is arranged, and everything ends at 11 pm with fireworks over the Grand Canal.

Ball

Before the start of the night show, a real ball is arranged in the Hall of Mirrors. Musicians and dancers perform classical French music and demonstrate dances traditional for royal balls. Historical costumes, gallant gentlemen and beautiful ladies, of course, are an integral part of this performance.

Other events

Other events are also held at the Palace of Versailles. Firstly, these are various temporary exhibitions. Various art exhibitions of both contemporary artists and authors of the past, themed rooms, etc. are exhibited in the galleries of the palace or other buildings on the territory of the complex. Secondly, plays and concerts have been staged at the Royal Opera recently (after reconstruction). Also, master classes, performances by artists, etc. are held in Versailles, it is recommended to find out the details on the official website.

Information for tourists

Versailles on the map

Photo

And a cultural upsurge. The great monarch is especially famous as the customer of the beautiful palace in the world. The merit of the king is that today everyone knows where Versailles is and what it is. But what is known about this monumental structure itself? It will be interesting to get acquainted with its history and touch the legends that it witnessed. Moreover, France was famous for intrigues and palace secrets throughout Europe.

From an unknown village to the center of the country

The Louvre is now one of the most prestigious museums in the world and was once the home of French monarchs. It was within its walls that important treaties were signed and complex interstate issues were resolved. Louis XIV partly spent his childhood there. But the man never had a special love for either Paris or the Louvre.

The official reason for moving the residence was the fear of the king for his life. He stated that in the capital he felt in constant danger, so the suburb of Paris would become the new palace. Then, in 1661, no one had any idea where Versailles was. But after a few years, the fame of the brilliant residence of the Sun King spread throughout Europe.

For the first time, these regions are mentioned in 1038. For more than five hundred years, the place was just a tiny settlement, overgrown with forests and covered with impenetrable swamps. There was a lot of game on these lands, and the father of Louis XIV liked to hunt there. On his initiative, in 1623, a hunting house was built on one of the meadows. There, Louis XIII, nicknamed the Just, often rested with his son.

The first stone is laid - envy

Despite statements about the danger posed by the Louvre, the courtiers knew perfectly well the true reason for the construction of a new residence.

The history of Versailles began on August 17, 1661. It was on this evening, 55 kilometers from Paris, that Finance Minister Nicolas Fouquet organized a housewarming reception. The castle of Vaux-le-Viscount with gardens of unprecedented beauty became the new home. The palace immediately took the lead and ... overtook the Louvre. Unheard of audacity!

Louis XIV was also present at the celebration. He was struck by the grandeur and wealth of the estate, moreover, it aroused envy. Another unpleasant moment was the pride of the owner. That same evening, without waiting for the feast to be completed, the king informed the architects Louis Le Vaux, Jules Hardouin-Mansart and the park planner André Le Nôtre, who were working on the Vaux-le-Vicomte project, that from that moment they were under his direction. Their task is to create an object that will be worthy of His Majesty. It was these three people who were the first to know where Versailles was located.

First obstacles

The masters were friends and understood each other perfectly. The demand that the king put forward was a great honor and ... a significant risk. The first wish of the customer: to leave a modest hunting lodge, which was laid by his father. The 24 by 6 meter building was a big challenge for architects.

The garden projector also ran into trouble. Swampy, dense forests required extraordinary strength to create parks out of them that looked like paradise. But the main obstacle was the king himself. He demanded that everything be done with high quality and in the shortest possible time. It was supposed that it would be not just a palace, but a chic ensemble, so beautiful that it would never even occur to anyone to ask: "Where is Versailles?" As conceived by Louis, this was to be the place where heaven meets earth.

The work began with the construction of houses for thousands of builders in the village. Louis XIV himself, meanwhile, was buying up the surrounding land.

Heart of France

For the magnificent castle, they chose the styles of baroque and classicism. The main facade of the palace is a mirror gallery. Its windows overlooked the park, and the parallel wall, hung with fashionable Venetian glass at that time, which was then considered the cleanest, reflected the schemes of the garden.

The main palace housed the ballrooms and bedrooms of the nobility. Each centimeter was decorated with taste. The walls were decorated with wooden carvings, frescoes, paintings, sculptures stood in the niches. Not uncommon - silver and gold in the rooms. In the front palace was the bedroom of the king himself. On both sides were the halls of Versailles.

Another reason for building such huge complex became Louis XIV. A supporter of absolute monarchy wanted to keep all subjects under control. In such a grandiose palace, where 20,000 subjects could fit, the goal became real. But here it is worth noting that spacious apartments were provided to noble nobles, favorites and favorites, the servants lived in tiny closets.

halls of the gods

The pride of the residence was the Mirror Gallery. Its length reached 73 meters, width - 11 m. 357 mirrors created an optical illusion. It seemed that the park was laid out on both sides of the palace. The hall was decorated with paintings and frescoes, gilded statues and crystal chandeliers.

Then every poor man knew where Versailles was. The king allowed everyone to visit it, because he was sure that it was the pride of all France. Every commoner could turn to the monarch within the walls of the palace.

Halls that were named after the Greek and Tak were very popular. The Diana Hall was used at receptions as a billiard room. All tables were covered in expensive crimson velour, with gold fringe around the edges.

The Apollo Hall served for diplomatic negotiations. In the evenings, skits were shown in it, in which the Sun King himself took part. There was also a French military glory room.

André Le Nôtre designed the royal gardens. Researchers believe that the splendor of the park is associated with the very person of Louis XIV. The fields covered 8300 hectares. Each composition harmoniously fit into the ensemble. The monarch did not want to wait years for the trees and bushes to grow, so they were partially transported from other lands, including pure ones and from Vaux-le-Vicomte.

The layout of Versailles resembles the rays of the sun, radiating from the center into alleys and squares. So the chief gardener wanted to exalt the Sun King Louis XIV.

Thousands of soldiers worked on the canals and fountains, which became known as "Little Venice". There was not enough water for such a mass of pools, so they made special straits from neighboring rivers.

Financial side

The favorite phrase of the monarch was the saying: "The state is me!" It was from these considerations that the treasury immediately found money for construction. But with the continuation of the work, the question of where to get the funds arose more and more often. Initially, a thousand peasants worked at the construction site. In the future, more than 30,000 builders were involved. In times of peace, the king's soldiers also took up the tools.

Of course, there were no casualties. Hundreds crashed to death on the foundations of the castle. It became even more when the brigades began to work according to the schedule. People worked day and night. Construction in the dark has become fatal for many.

For a long time, the truth was hidden from the king. When the information surfaced, he, not sparing the budget, began to pay compensation to the victims and their families.

Nevertheless, they tried to save on everything. Dozens of fireplaces didn't work. Doors and windows did not fit snugly. This created inconvenience for residents in winter. The castle was very cold.

For a long time, each inhabitant of the palace could rebuild their apartments to their liking. But during the Nine Years' War, all the repair costs fell on the shoulders of the nobles.

Today, several centuries later, it is difficult to estimate the full cost of the palace. And there is no documentary evidence.

The fate of the residence after Louis XIV

The project was the favorite brainchild of the king, because he himself participated in its planning. The palace is not only the court secrets of Versailles, but also events of world significance. Conspiracies and intrigues were woven there, close to the monarch, and the members themselves laughed and cried, loved and hated, there they decided the fate of mere mortals and entire states ...

Two subsequent rulers lived in Versailles. But, due to political and economic upheavals, already in 1789 it was difficult to maintain the palace. The halls were used only as museum rooms.

After losing the Franco-German War, the Hall of Mirrors was proclaimed. A few decades later, the same room witnessed the truce and the loss of the Triple Alliance.

You can't visit France and not visit Versailles. It's not just architecture, it's a dream come true. A symbol of the fact that a person can absolutely everything. The main thing is to have a firm faith in the future and quite a bit of determination to use your chance. If you ever find yourself in France, be sure to visit Versailles. Reviews of tourists about this miracle of architecture are simply enthusiastic. This palace and park ensemble- the most luxurious royal residence in Europe. Huge buildings, spacious squares, large terraces with direct access to the park, galleries, ideal lawns, symmetrical paths, hedges, iridescent flower beds, sparkling fountains - all this was created in Versailles for the amusement of the king, his family, favorites and courtiers.

The amazing thing is ambition! If not for them, the world would never have seen the Palace of Versailles, this priceless gift of the French nation to enlightened humanity. The Palace and Park Ensemble of Versailles (fr. Parc et château de Versailles) is a luxurious, pretentious symbol french monarchy and, in particular, the era of the reign of the "sun king", Louis XIV.

The idea of ​​building a palace and park complex arose from the monarch on the basis of envy, which he experienced at the sight of the castle in Vaux-le-Vicomte, which belonged to the Minister of Finance Fouquet. Louis XIV immediately decided to create an architectural and landscape masterpiece, a hundred times greater than the minister's palace in size and degree of luxury. And he imprisoned his subject, the owner of the residence in Vaux-le-Vicomte.

As a result, in 1662, the architects Louis Leveau, André Le Nôtre and the artist Charles Lebrun began work on the construction of the castle, which lasted until 1715, the year of the death of the "sun king". However, the construction did not end there. Architects Leveau, Francois d "Aubray, Lemercier, Hardouin-Mansart, Lemuet, Guittar, Blondel, Dorbay, Robert de Cotte, Lassurance and a whole galaxy of great masters worked on its appearance at different times.

The majestic synthesis of the palace and the park later passed from one dynasty of monarchs to another, and each of the royal inhabitants of Versailles made its own imprint on its architecture and interior decoration.

Construction stages

Historical chronicles allow us to distinguish three stages in the construction of the Palace of Versailles.

The beginning of the first stage coincided with the twentieth anniversary of Louis XIV. The young monarch decided to expand his father's hunting castle to use it as a royal residence. Team famous architects expanded and renovated castle buildings in the spirit of classicism.

The second phase of the construction of the Versailles complex began after Louis XIV reached the age of thirty. During this period, a new palace was erected, surrounding the old castle like a shell or an envelope. The result was a U-shaped structure, which included two main courtyards: Marble and Royal. Subsequently, here beat the key theatrical life. The premiere of Moliere's play "The Misanthrope" took place here, in the historical walls of the Marble Court of the Palace of Versailles.

The third stage started immediately after the king's fortieth birthday, in 1678. Hardouin-Mansart, who led the further construction, set himself an ambitious goal - to speed up the progress of work as much as possible in order to fulfill the wish of the monarch. The royal court and the government of France in 1682 moved to Versailles. Through the efforts of Hardouin-Mansart, the appearance of the palace has changed markedly. It has two Ministerial Wings and huge North and South Wings.

Even during his lifetime, Hardouin-Mansart began the construction of the Royal Chapel, which was completed by his successor Robert de Cotte.

Versailles in numbers

Located in the suburbs of Paris, the small town of Versailles today is associated by most people exclusively with Versailles royal palace- the apotheosis of pandering to the extravagant whims of the French monarchs.

• The total area of ​​the palace and park complex is over 800 hectares.
• Distance from Paris - 20 km.
• The number of halls of the palace - 700; number of windows - 2000; stairs - 67; fireplaces alone - 1300.
• The atmosphere of the palace-museum is made up of 5,000 pieces of antique furniture.
• 30,000 workers were involved in the construction.
• The 50 fountains of the Versailles Park consume 62 hectoliters of water per hour. For their work, a special water intake system was built from the Seine.
• The park is home to 200,000 trees and 220,000 flowers are planted annually.
• The total amount of funds spent on the construction of the palace is 25,725,836 livres, which is equivalent to 37 billion euros. It is noteworthy that all accounts for the period 1661-1715. have been preserved so far.
• 6,500 paintings and drawings, 15,000 engravings, more than 2,000 sculptures located in the halls of the palace are an integral part of cultural heritage nation.

Under Louis XIV, 10,000 people could live in the palace at the same time: 5,000 nobles and the same number of servants (servants). Despite the fact that the ensemble of Versailles is the largest in Europe, it is characterized by an amazing integrity of design, harmony of architectural forms and landscape solutions.

The splendor of the Palace of Versailles and the park surrounding it with well-groomed alleys and fountains inspired Peter I in 1717 to build his country residence in Peterhof, which later became known as the Russian Versailles.

Historical milestones

The history of the Palace of Versailles has many ups and downs, revolutionary upheavals, enemy intervention and periods of relative calm. Let's talk briefly about the main historical milestones of the former residence of the French kings.

Under the infant monarch Louis XV, his regent, Philippe d'Orleans, decided to move the French royal court back to Paris. Until 1722, Versailles was in decline, until the grown-up Louis XV again returned to the palace with all his retinue.

At the end of the XVIII century. Versailles was at the center of dramatic events French history. Fate decreed that it was this royal residence, full of luxury and chic, that became the cradle of the Great French Revolution. In June 1789 the deputies of the Third Estate solemnly vowed not to disperse until their demands for political reforms were accepted.

Three months later, a mob of revolutionaries arrived from Paris seized the palace and expelled the royal family from it. Over the next five years, the Faubourg of Versailles lost almost half of its population.

During the revolutionary events, the palace complex was looted, unique furniture and valuables were taken out of it, but the architecture of the buildings was not damaged.

Versailles was repeatedly captured by the Prussian troops: during the Napoleonic wars (in 1814 and 1815) and during the Franco-Prussian war. In January 1871, King Wilhelm I of Prussia established a temporary residence at Versailles and proclaimed the news of the creation of the German Empire.

The point in the First World War was put precisely in Versailles, where in 1919 a peace treaty was signed. This extremely important event was the beginning of the Versailles system of international relations.

World War II caused serious damage to the palace and park complex. The inhabitants of Versailles had a chance to endure a lot: brutal bombardments, Nazi occupation, numerous casualties among local residents. On August 24, 1944, the city was liberated by French troops, and a new stage of development began for it.

There was a moment in the history of the castle when its fate hung in the balance. In 1830, after the July Revolution, it was planned to be demolished. The issue was put to a vote in the Chamber of Deputies. The advantage of just one vote saved the Palace of Versailles for history and posterity.

Family nest of aristocrats and kings

Many famous monarchs and members of their families were born and lived in the Palace of Versailles.

• Philip V- the founder of the Spanish line of the Bourbons, thanks to which Spain for many years was entirely under the influence of France, was actually a French province.
• Louis XV (Beloved)- a despotic and suggestible ruler, who was under the influence of his favorite, the Marquise de Pompadour, who skillfully played on the base instincts of the monarch, ruining the state with her extravagance. According to historians, it is he who owns the famous phrase "After us, even a flood."
• Louis XVI, famous for his rejection of absolutism and becoming the first constitutional monarch in the history of France. Despite this, he ended his life on the scaffold, being accused of conspiracy against the freedom of the nation.
• Louis XVIII, who left his mark on the history of the country as a shrewd politician and authoritative administrator, the author of many liberal reforms.
• Charles X- known for his active counter-revolutionary activities after the fall of the Bastille and decisive measures to restore absolute monarchy in France.

Versailles - the triumph of aestheticism, the center of culture and art

The Palace of Versailles is surrounded by a luxurious park ensemble, which has been delighting the minds and hearts of everyone who finds themselves there for several centuries. And this is not surprising, because. Initially, the palace complex was conceived as a chic place for the entertainment activities of the twenty-year-old king.

Harmonious and perfect park sculptures, wide promenades and graceful alleys, numerous fountains spewing tons of water served as magnificent decorations for royal entertainment. Illuminations and fireworks, performances and masquerades, ballets and all kinds of palace holidays - and this is far from complete list royal entertainment events that took place in Versailles almost daily. At least until it officially became a state center.

Festivals in honor of favorites were traditional for Versailles. The first example was shown by the young Louis XIV in 1664, who instituted a holiday for his beloved Louise de La Vallière under the romantic name "Delights of the Enchanted Island". Legends and rumors of fun at Versailles have been haunting Europe for a century.

Louis XIV was a great admirer of the arts. He inherited 1,500 paintings, and over the years of his reign, he increased their number to 2,300. Several parts of the Palace of Versailles were specially equipped for the exposition of paintings, drawings and sculptures. The majestic interiors were decorated with fresco ensembles by the artist Charles Laurent. Numerous galleries flaunted portraits of Louis XIV by Bernini and Varen.

In 1797, the Museum of Art of the Masters of the French School was opened in the Palace of Versailles - as opposed to the Louvre, where works by foreign masters were kept.

Preserve the heritage of the nation for posterity

Modern rulers are not alien to ambition - in the best sense of the word.

In 1981, French President Francois Mitterrand proposed turning the Louvre into the most grandiose museum in the world and building a huge glass pyramid at the entrance. By the way, this pyramid appears in John Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code. According to the story, it was under it that the tomb of Mary Magdalene and the Holy Grail were hidden.

Two decades later, another French president, Jacques Chirac, initiated an equally ambitious project - a large-scale restoration plan for the Palace of Versailles, comparable in cost to the Louvre renovation project.

The budget of the project for the restoration of the palace and park ensemble of Versailles is 400 million euros and is designed for 20 years. It includes the renewal of the facades of the palace buildings, the interior of the Opera, and the restoration of the original layout of the garden landscape.

When the restoration is completed, tourists will have free access to those parts of the castle, which today can only be accessed as part of organized tours.

Address: Place d "Armes, 78000 Versailles, France.

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The word "Versailles" from a proper name has long turned into a household name and has become a symbol of brilliance, luxury and impeccable taste. The Palace of Versailles today is one of the most visited attractions in France. And this is quite understandable - after all, there are imitations of this masterpiece of the era of absolutism in the world, but no equal has ever been created for him.

Louis XIV wanted to make a miracle; ordered - and among the desert, wild, sandy, were the Tempe valleys and a palace, which in Europe has no similar splendor.

Nikolai Karamzin

Symbol of the French monarchy

It is interesting that the reason for the creation of the palace was ordinary human envy. Having once seen the Vaux-le-Vicomte palace, which belonged to the then finance minister Fouquet, Louis XIV could no longer sleep peacefully: he convened the same team of architects that created the minister’s palace, and set the difficult task of doing “the same thing, but 100 times better". The wish of the monarch was fulfilled: the architect Louis Leveau began construction in 1661, and 21 years later Versailles became official royal residence- an unprecedentedly short construction time for a grandiose building with an area of ​​​​more than 6 hectares, consisting of 3500 rooms! When creating the palace and its decor, the latest technologies of that time were used: for example, Italian craftsmen were invited to decorate the famous Hall of Mirrors, who at that time alone mastered the technique of amalgamation. For major construction work, masons from Flanders were ordered along with their secrets - the professional reputation of the Flemings in those years was the best in the world.

Although the project is striking in scale, during the construction of the palace they tried to maintain austerity: for all the splendor of the decoration, not a single toilet was provided in the building, and half of the fireplaces were pure decoration.

Gravedigger of the French Monarchy

If the French were building the Palace of Versailles today, the construction would cost them a quarter of a trillion euros (the Americans launched 15 spacecraft to the moon for half the amount). Add to this the costs of expanding and rebuilding the palace, maintaining a crowd of thousands of courtiers and lackeys, grandiose spending on balls and celebrations - and it becomes clear how heavy a burden the palace was for the economy. While Versailles was prettier, France was impoverished, and less than a century after the "Sun King" his kingdom fell, and armed sans-culottes ruled in the halls of the palace.

Palace of Versailles today

Although Versailles became one of the reasons for the death of monarchical France, today it paradoxically saves France: thanks to the multimillion-dollar flow of tourists, Versailles became a donor to the national economy - and so significant that the Republic allocated 400 million EUR for its reconstruction. Currently, more than 1000 rooms of the palace are open to the public, including the world-famous Hall of Mirrors, the Large and Small Royal Chambers, the Hall of Battles and the Royal Opera.

Practical information

The easiest way to get to Versailles from Paris is to take the RER line C (any city pass with zones 1-4 will do). Also from eiffel tower there are special buses.

Opening hours: the palace is open to the public from April to October on all days except Mondays. Ticket offices are open from 9:00 to 17:50, the ticket price for an adult is 20 EUR. Prices on the page are for July 2018.

Until now, Versailles, this masterpiece of the Sun King Louis XIV, is considered a real treasure of culture. Many attempts were made to create a semblance of Versailles (for example, a palace near St. Petersburg, built on the orders of Peter, who dreamed of building a Russian Versailles). However, all the same, it is this structure of France that remains a unique work of architectural art.

Location of Versailles

Before the Versailles palace complex was erected, the area itself was of little note. Here is how Saint-Simon spoke of her: “Never before have I met a more despondent and ungrateful place - without water, without land, without forest.” The terrain was really sandy and. Before the palace complex was erected on the lands of Versailles, there was nothing remarkable here.

The oldest village of Ile-de-France Versailles is mentioned in historical documents X century. It says that it was even "not a village, but a very modest village, hidden behind a hillside, there are a great many of these scattered around the capital."

Versailles was crossed by the road leading from Normandy to Paris, which was about 18 km away. That is why travelers often stop here. The village of Versailles went down in history due to the fact that Catherine de Medici met here with the future King Henry IV.

Henry's son, Louis XIII, enjoyed spending time at Versailles with his friends. Historians noted that by nature Louis was a very timid person, and he liked solitude. It was here that a small hunting lodge was built on the site of a former windmill, which later grew into a magnificent Palace.

History of Versailles

Versailles ( administrative center Department of Yvelines) - a village 24 kilometers from Paris, was chosen by King Louis XIII for the construction of a modest hunting castle. However, his more ambitious son Louis XIV, dissatisfied with his other palaces (among which were the Tuileries), in 1660 decided to rebuild Versailles into a luxurious palace and park ensemble. Everything here was supposed to amaze with splendor and scope - after all, the king wanted the entire royal court to be located here. Construction work began in 1661. For the first two years, Louis XIV, who went down in history as the Sun King, spent countless sums of money from the treasury.

The construction of Versailles lasted several decades and required not only incredible financial expenses, but also the involvement of many thousands of workers. In the midst of construction work in Versailles, there was a shortage of workers, so soldiers and sailors were often called in to help.

The first architect of Versailles was Louis Leveau, later he was replaced by Jules Hardouin-Monsart, who led the construction for thirty years. The design of the parks was entrusted to André Le Nôtre.

It all started with the titanic work of draining the swamps, putting earth, sand and stones in their place, leveling and creating artificial terraces. Then the workers began to dig canals and build water pipes, which, already in the initial period of the construction of Versailles, was intended for fountains and cascades, which later would glorify the Palace of Versailles.

Five pools full of water were built on the first terrace, various artificial flowers made of gilded copper “floated” in them. On the other terrace there were also five pools full of water, and in the water were a sea horse and people, from whose mouths water spouted. Around the pools are stone frogs and monkeys. Below, the builders installed a round pool around which are sculptures symbolizing the four seasons. Each season had its own animals that blew water out of their mouths.

Louis XIV died in 1715. His heir, Louis XV, hired Jacques Ange Gabriel as court architect. Among his many works at Versailles, one should mention the Opera House and the famous Petit Trianon - an elegant, miniature castle in which Marie Antoinette later lived. Under Louis XVI, an elegant library was added to it.

In a certain sense, the entire palace and park ensemble was a grandiose stage where the royal court rested on a grand scale. This tradition was continued by Louis's successors, especially Marie Antoinette. She built her own theater here, where she later liked to have fun with friends.

During the years of the great French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles was plundered several times, many masterpieces were lost. In 1837, by order of Louis Philippe, the giant palace complex was restored. It opened the Museum of the History of France.

Features of the architecture and interior of Versailles

The parks of Versailles are spread over an area of ​​101 hectares. Thanks to the open layout, it is perfectly visible, since the entire territory is perfectly flat - it is impossible to find a mound or a hillock on it.

In the palace park of Versailles, there are many viewing platforms, alleys and promenades, there is even a Grand Canal, or rather, a whole system of canals, which was called "little Venice". In front of the facade of the palace, in front of the windows of the famous Mirror Gallery, in a completely open space, two strongly elongated pools, enclosed in granite frames, symmetrically spread out. These pools immediately catch the eye. Behind these pools began the descent of the Grand Staircase. At its foot there is a space on which, among the giant green stalls, decorated with four "antique" vases, there is a round pool with the "Lato Fountain" (in honor of the nymph Lation, beloved of Zeus, who was forced to flee, fleeing from the persecution of jealous Hera). This fountain is a large sculptural group of lead gilded in places.

A central alley leads from the Latona Fountain to a wide green lawn framed by clumps of ancient trees. In the depths of the lawn is the famous pool with the figure of Apollo riding in a chariot to meet his mother. "Fountain of Apollo" was created by the sculptor Tyuby based on the sketches of C. Lebrun. Under high pressure, the central jet is thrown up with force to a height of 25 meters, and fifteen-meter side jets, rushing up, draw a lily flower - the emblem of the French kings.

To the north of the Palace of Versailles is the Northern parterre, decorated with bronze sculptures "Grinder" and "Squatting Venus". From the northern parterre, a staircase leads to the round pools "Crown" and "Sirens" and to the fabulous in design and beauty of the "Pyramid" fountain with gilded newts and dolphins.

The famous “Water Alley”, which is also called the “Water Theatre”, was designed by J. Hardouin-Mansart. It is bordered by fourteen small round-shaped white marble ones, following one after another in steps. They are decorated with bronze figures of children holding a bowl filled with fruits and flowers. "Water Alley" leads to the highest fountain of the Versailles park - the "Dragon", the central jet of which beats up to 47 meters.

The Palace of Versailles itself is also striking in its size: the length of only one park facade is 640 meters. The main palace complex (Chateau de Versailles) was built in the 17th century by King Louis XIV, who wanted to move here from insecure Paris. Luxurious rooms richly decorated with marble, velvet and wood carvings really impress even the sophisticated visitor.

The main attractions here are the Royal Chapel, the Salon of Venus and the Salon of Apollo. The design of the ceremonial halls was dedicated to Greek gods. The salon of Apollo was originally the throne room of Louis.

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.

The Petit Trianon is one of the many love nests 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.

Marble Court - the main chambers of the king came out here. Theatrical performances were played out in front of Louis's balcony. On this "stage" Molière's troupe played "The Misanthrope" for the first time. Above the high windows of the royal chambers, a clock was installed, which stopped at the time of the death of the king. Until the middle of the 17th century, they showed the hour of Louis's death.

The Mirror Gallery is the largest room in Versailles. It is 73 meters long, 12.8 meters high and 10.5 meters wide. Royal birthdays and marriages were celebrated in this hall, luxurious balls were held, and foreign ambassadors were received. The Hall of Mirrors contains 17 huge mirrors, reflecting tall arched windows and crystal candelabra.

The painting of the Mirror Gallery was entrusted to Lebrun, who was endowed with complete independence of creative activity. On the walls of the gallery, the artist placed 12 medallions and 6. Important events of that time are depicted here: reforms, restoration of navigation, etc. There were also scenes from mythology. The hero of each composition is the king, who can appear in the image of some ancient hero. The ceiling paintings by Lebrun exalt the exploits of Louis XIV between 1661 and 1678.

Salon of Abundance - during official receptions it was used as a pantry, on ordinary days a collection of Louis coins was kept here. It also houses paintings by Titian, Veronese and Karachi.

Throne Hall - audiences of the king, ceremonial receptions, meetings with ambassadors were held here. It was here that the huge throne of Louis was installed in the idea of ​​​​a canopy chair.

Orangery - was built according to the project of Hardouin-Mansart. It is shaped like the letter "P". Here, at the behest of the king, various rare plants. The pride of the royal greenhouse was 3,000 orange, tangerine and pomegranate trees. More than 200 gardeners served this greenhouse.

Of course, the construction of a chic complex in Versailles cost France a round sum. During the time of Louis, more than 80,000 livres were spent on the construction of Versailles, which was simply a colossal amount. However, she did not lose anything, but on the contrary, she only gained. In 1830, the ensemble of the Grand Palace of Versailles became the National Museum of France. Now Versailles is a real treasure, which is considered not only the property of France, but also the cultural value of all mankind.