Palace of Versailles architect. Preserve the legacy of the nation for posterity. Versailles park and palace complex

Versailles is a palace and park complex (Parc et château de Versailles), which is located in the same suburb of Paris. Versailles is included in the list of 100 wonders of the world, and since 1979 it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

• Grand Trianon;
• Petit Trianon (Mansion of Marie Antoinette);
• Farm of Marie Antoinette;
• 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 can be reached in half an hour by 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 daily, 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);
• Large and Small 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).

Prices for tickets to Versailles

Prices are current for 2018.

Admission is free for children under 5 years old, discounts are available for older children, students, and people with disabilities.

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 Frondon uprising, the life in the Louvre seemed unsettling and unsafe to the “Sun King”, so he gave the order to build a palace in the Versailles lands, on the site of his father’s hunting grounds.

The 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 Leveaux, François d'Orbe and painter Charles Lebrun created a grand palace in the style of classicism, which to this day has no equal.

Until 1789, Versailles was main residence kings of France. At the beginning of October 1789, on palace square people gathered, outraged by the 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 rebellion, Versailles ceased to be the center of France's secular life, and the king and his family and deputies of the bourgeoisie (National Assembly) moved to Paris.

Palace of Versailles during revolutions and wars

The maintenance of 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, gold panels were restored here, furniture was brought, 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 national museum, an exposition of portraits, busts, paintings of historical value was exhibited here.

Versailles also played a role in French-German relations. After France lost the Franco-Prussian War, the residence of the German army headquarters was located in the Palace of Versailles (1870-1871). In early 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 place was chosen by the French in order 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 on a visit to France were supposed to meet with the French president in the palace.

In 1995, Versailles received the status of a legal entity and became a state institution. Since 2010, the institution has received the name "Public institution of the national possession and the Museum of Versailles".

What to see in Versailles: halls and interiors of the palace

Each room, salon and bedroom is a masterpiece that shows how much talent and work has been invested here.

mirror gallery

The Mirror Gallery is considered the heart of the Palace of Versailles. Its area is 803 sq. m. There are 357 mirrors in the gallery, 17 windows installed in parallel. 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 has been called "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 lined with colored marble. A spiral staircase leads to the second tier of the chapel.

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 arranged here.

Salon Diana

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 Salon of War was created to glorify the legendary military merits of the French. on the walls there are monumental canvases telling about victories.

Salon "Bull's eye"

The salon window overlooks the inner oval courtyard. Persons close to the monarch or titled nobility could be here to watch the royal apartments through a hole that resembles a bull's eye in shape.

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 is why his bedroom looks like a theatrical scenery. When the king woke up and went to bed in the bedroom, there were selected persons who had the pleasure of enjoying this action. As soon as the "sun king" woke up, four servants presented a glass of wine, and two - a lace shirt.

Queen bedroom

The Queen's bedroom features a huge bed. The walls are decorated with stucco, portraits and various picturesque panels.

This is only 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 go 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".

Approximately 350,000 trees grow on the territory. Trees, shrubs and lawns are cut as it was intended by the creator of the complex in the 17th century.

Activities and entertainment

Versailles constantly hosts various events and shows. Especially here there is something to see at the height of the tourist season.

Night show of fountains

From May to September, on Saturdays, a light and musical show of fountains is arranged for guests. Besides being indescribably beautiful, the spectacle 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.

Exposure

Exhibitions are held periodically in the galleries and other premises of Versailles. Both contemporary artists and paintings by artists of past centuries are exhibited here.

Palace of Versailles on the map of Versailles

Versailles is a palace and park complex (Parc et château de Versailles), which is located in the same suburb of Paris. Versailles is included in the list of 100 wonders of the world, and since 1979 it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The whole complex is divided into the following main areas:

• Château (main palace in Versailles);
• Grand Trianon;
• ..." />

Fabulous Palace of Versailles is a testament to the extravagance of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The palace and its beautiful formal garden became the main model for palaces throughout Europe.

• From Paris: 22 km from Paris, 35 minutes by car.

Versailles opening hours:

April - October:

• Palace 9:00 - 18:30, last entry 18:00, ticket office closes at 17:50. Closed on Mondays.
• Trianon Palace and Marie Antoinette Manor - 12:00 - 20:30, closed on Mondays.
• Garden - daily 8:00 - 20:30.
• Park - daily 7 - 19 for vehicles and 7 - 20:30 for pedestrians.

November - March

• Palace 9:00 - 17:30, last entry 17:00, ticket office closes at 16:50. Closed on Mondays.
• Trianon Palace and Marie Antoinette Manor - 12:00 - 17:30, closed on Mondays.
• Garden and park - daily, except Mondays, 8:00 - 18:00.

Entrance to Versailles:

• A ticket to the Palace of Versailles costs 15€ for adults (including audio guide), reduced price - 13 €, under 18s free of charge.
• "Hidden Versailles" - with a guide, private apartments - 16 €.
• Trianon Palace and the estate of Marie Antoinette - 10 € (preferential - 6 €).
• Complete Versailles: 18 €(25 € on days of music concerts).
• Forfaits Loisirs combo ticket (all of Versailles + tickets from Paris and to Paris)- 21.75 € weekdays, 26 € weekends. You can buy at the SNCF railway ticket offices. (the best option).

In summer after 15:00 entrance to the territory of the palace (park) for free.

The first Sunday of every month from November to March - a free tour of the apartments, the coronation room, the Trianon Palace and the Marie Antoinette estate.

How to get to Versailles:

From public transport, the most convenient way to get to Versailles is by direct train:

• : stop Versailles Rive Gauche(ticket zone 1 - 4, regular T+ is not valid).
• : Versailles-Chantiers(from) or Versailles-Rive Droite(trains from Gare St-Lazare). Travel time is about 20 minutes. Then walk to Versailles following the signs - 15 minutes.

Train ticket to Versailles: 7.10 € in both directions, at the ticket machine you need to choose final destination appointments - Versailles Rive Gauche.

Tickets are valid: Paris Visite (1 - 5 zones) - from 11.15 € / day.

Train timetable to Versailles - RER C:

Route map RER C (download PDF):

Maps of Versailles:

A Brief History of Versailles

Versailles is located about 20 kilometers from Paris. The first mention of the city and the estate was in 1038, when the name appeared in the charter of the abbey of Saint Pere de Chartres. At the end of the 11th century, Versailles was a provincial village comprising the castle and the church of Saint-Julien, which remained prosperous well into the early 13th century. After the Hundred Years War, however, only a handful of people lived there.

royal presence

In the 16th century, the Gondi family became the rulers of Versailles, and the city became popular when the future King Louis XIII visited the place and was fascinated by its beauty. In 1622 he bought land in the area and set about building a small house of stone and brick.
Statue of Louis XIV
Ten years later, he became the master of Versailles and began expanding his lodge. He soon acquired more land as well as the property of Gondi. Louis XIII died in 1643.

Sun King

In 1662, the new king - Louis XIV - was very interested in Versailles. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, distrusted the Parisians and wanted to move his royal residence away from the Louvre, which was constantly at the center of political fuss. The Sun King was largely responsible for the expansion of Versailles, which resulted in the building that still stands today. He hired the architect Louis Le Vau and the painter Charles Le Brun to build this Baroque masterpiece that has become a typical example of all palaces in Europe. The famous gardener André Le Nôtre was responsible for the unrivaled garden of Versailles.

royal chapel

After the death of the architect Le Vau, Jules Hardouin-Mansart was ordered to triple the size of the palace. Under his watchful eye, the north and south wings, the Orangerie, the Grand Trianon (castle) and the royal chapel were built. Later, an opera and the Petit Trianon (a small castle) were added, which was built between 1761 and 1764 for Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour.

French revolution

During the French Revolution, the incredible collection of paintings, antiques and other works of art that had been accumulated at Versailles were donated to and other important items were sent to the National Library and the Conservatory of Arts and Crafts. Most of the furniture, according to historians, was sold at auction.

Royal Palace

After the Revolution, Napoleon spent his summers at Versailles until he abdicated. Later, Louis-Philippe lived here, who in 1830 turned the castle into a grand museum dedicated to the "Glory of France". The Chapel, the Opera House, and the Hall of Mirrors were preserved, but many of the smaller rooms were demolished to make way for spacious exhibition halls. However, in the 1960s, the curator Pierre Verlet managed to get some of the furniture back and restore a number of royal apartments.

Today, visitors can visit Versailles, see most the interior of this magnificent palace, as well as the world-famous garden.

Versailles Museum:

Notable numbers include:

mirror hall

Some call the Hall of Mirrors Louis XIV's most notable contribution to Versailles. Main Feature The hall is seventeen mirrored arches that reflect the seventeen arcade windows that overlook the equally magnificent garden of Versailles. Each arch contains twenty-one mirrors, for a total of 357 mirrors in the room. This magnificent hall is 73 meters long, 10.5 meters wide and 12.3 meters high. Statues and busts are displayed along the walls. The Hall of Mirrors has always played an important role in history, including in 1919, when the first World War officially ended, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles in this hall.

royal chapel

Currently, the chapel is already the fifth in a row in the palace. Construction began in 1689 and was completed around 1710. Here is a "tribune" on the same level as the royal apartments, overlooking the nave, where the kings sat while participating in mass. The architecture is a combination of Gothic and Baroque. Many details of the chapel remind cathedral churches of the Middle Ages, including a gargoyle and gabled roof, colored marble tiles on the floor, columns and carved pillars.

Grand Apartment

Originally known as the apartments of the planets (each of the 7 salons of this apartment has a painting of the planets), it was the apartments of King Louis XIV. While all the apartments are mesmerizing, the most notable are the ceilings painted by the King's painter Charles Lebrenoy and his team of artists.

Royal Opera

The auditorium of the Opera is clad entirely in wood, making it one of the most acoustically live theaters in the world. Although it was a court theater and was not intended for a huge audience, it seats over 700 people. Gold, pink and green dominate the decor of the Opera, whose construction was finally completed only in 1770. It was first used for the wedding ball of the future King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and boasts a unique mechanical system that elevates the floor to stage level. Today, the Opera is still used for concerts and opera performances.

park geometry

Spread over 100 hectares, the garden of Versailles is the largest palace garden in Europe. It was created in the 17th century by the landscape gardener André Le Nôtre, who designed what can be considered the quintessential French formal garden. The garden is laid out in the form of a geometric pattern created by paths, shrubs, flower beds and trees. Le Nôtre also drained the swampy, sloping terrain and created a series of pools and a large channel known as the Grand Canal.

Fountain of Laton

Several fountains adorn the pools. The most famous are the Laton Fountain - with a statue of the goddess Latona - and the Apollo Fountain - named after the sun god and depicting the sun king riding in chariots. There are several other fountains in the garden such as the Neptune Fountain. The fountains were installed to entertain the many guests invited to the lavishly organized balls of King Louis XIV.

Another notable decoration in the garden is the Colonnade, a circular row of marble columns designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart.

Small Trianon

In Versailles there are also several smaller palaces located in the garden: the Great Trianon and the Petit Trianon. About 10,000 people worked in the Palace of Versailles, so you could not count on privacy. Therefore, King Louis XIV ordered the construction of the Grand Trianon, a palace almost as luxurious as the main palace, where the king could escape the formalities of the court and arrange a rendezvous with his mistress. His successor, King Louis XV later built an even smaller palace - the Petit Trianon - for the same reason.

And in general, in the palaces of France, we cannot 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 all over the world with the idea of ​​​​the most significant and magnificent palace, erected at the behest of one monarch. The 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 the 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 includes a monumental building of the palace and a number of park structures of "small forms", and, most importantly, a park that is 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 of the 17th century, which had a strong influence on the urban planning of the 18th century. Versailles generally became, as it were, " ideal city", which the authors of the Renaissance dreamed and wrote about and which, by 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 the immediate vicinity of Paris. But let's talk about everything in more detail ...

The mention of Versailles first appeared in a charter of 1038 issued by the Abbey of Saint Peter. It spoke about a certain seigneur Hugh of Versailles - the owner of a small castle and the territories adjacent to it. The emergence of the first settlement - a small village around the castle - is usually dated to the middle of the 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 14th century that followed brought with it a terrible plague 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. He began to recover only in the next 15th century.

Versailles as an architectural and park ensemble did not appear 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 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 stood on the site of the future palace, and fields and endless swamps spread around. In 1624 it was built, on behalf of Louis XIII, architect Philibert Le Roy, a small hunting castle near a village called Versailles.

Near it was a medieval dilapidated castle - the possession of the house of Gondi. Saint-Simon, in his memoirs, refers to this ancient castle of Versailles as 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 site of Gondi, along with the dilapidated palace of the archbishop, and demolished it to expand his park. The small castle was located 17 kilometers from Paris. It was a U-shaped building 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 of Marble, has survived to this day. The first gardens of the Versailles Park were laid out by Jacques Boisseau and Jacques de Menuard.

In the middle of the 16th century, Martial de Lomeni, Minister of Finance under King Charles IX, became the only lord of Versailles. Charles granted him the right to hold four annual fairs in Versailles and to open a weekly market (on Thursdays). The population of Versailles, which was still a small village, was at that time about 500 people. However, the French religious wars between Catholics and Protestants led to an early change in the seigneurial dynasty. Martial was arrested for his sympathies with the Huguenots (French Protestants) and thrown into prison. Here he was visited by the Duke de Retz, Albert de Gondi, who had long hatched plans to seize the territories of Versailles. Through threats, he forced de Lomeny to sign a paper, 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 visit Versailles often, 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 halt. This building became the first royal palace in Versailles. On April 8, 1632, Louis XIII completely redeemed the seigneury from the last owner of Versailles, Jean-Francois de Gondi, for 66,000 livres. In the same year, the king appointed his valet Arnaud as steward of Versailles. In 1634, the architect Philibert le Roy was commissioned to rebuild the old castle of Versailles into a royal palace. However, despite the changes that took place, by the end of the reign of Louis XIII, Versailles did not change much appearance. He, 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 turned into a city and a favorite royal residence.

In 1662, Versailles began to be built according to the plan of Le Nôtre. André Le Nôtre(1613-1700) by this time had already become famous as a builder of country estates with regular parks (in Vaux-le-Viscount, So, Saint-Cloud, etc.). It is interesting that in 1655-1661 N. Fouquet, the largest financier of absolutist France, according to the project of the architect Louis le Vaux rebuilt his country castle. The main thing in the palace and park ensemble of Vaux-le-Viscount was not even the palace itself (quite modest at that time), but the general principle of creating a country residence. The whole of it was turned into a giant park, skillfully arranged by the architect-gardener André Le Nôtre. The Palace of Vaux-le-Vicomte demonstrated the new style of life of the French aristocrat - in nature, outside the walls of a cramped, overcrowded city. The palace and the park are so pleasant 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 architects Louis le Vaux and André Le Nôtre with the construction of his palace at Versailles. The architecture of the Fouquet estate was adopted as a model for Versailles. Having preserved the Fuke Palace, the king took out of it everything that could be removed and taken away, down to orange trees and marble statues parka.

Le Nôtre began with the construction of the city, which was to house the courtiers of Louis XIV and the numerous 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: in So, Saint-Cloud, Paris. Despite the direct analogy with the Roman three-beam, the Versailles composition was significantly different from its Italian prototype. In Rome, the streets diverged from Piazza del Popolo, while in Versailles they rapidly converged towards 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. For the fastest settlement of the city Louis XIV he distributed plots for building to everyone (of course, to the nobles) for a reasonable price with the only condition to build buildings 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, together with his entire court, moved from Paris to Versailles. This was a turning point in the history of the city. By the first quarter of the 18th century (that is, towards the end of Louis' reign), Versailles had become a luxurious royal residence, and its population was 30,000 inhabitants.

As a result of the second construction cycle, Versailles formed 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 not majestic enough to express the idea of ​​​​absolute monarchy. Therefore, for the restructuring of Versailles was invited Jules Hardouin Mansart, the largest architect of the end of the century, whose name is associated with the third construction period in the history of the creation of this complex, the great-nephew of the famous Francois Mansart. Mansart further enlarged the palace by erecting two wings five hundred meters long each at right angles to the southern and northern facades of the palace. In the north wing he placed a church (1699-1710), the vestibule of which was completed by Robert de Cotte. In addition, Mansart added two more floors above the Levo terrace, creating a Mirror Gallery along the western facade, which is closed by the War and Peace Halls (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 a royal bedroom with a view of the city and an equestrian statue of the king, later placed at the vanishing point of the trident of the roads of Versailles. In the northern part of the palace there were the chambers of the king, in the south - the queen. Mansart also built two buildings of Ministers (1671-1681), which formed the third, the so-called "court of Ministers", and connected these buildings with a rich gilded lattice. All this completely changed the appearance of the structure, although Mansart left the same height of the building. Gone are the contrasts, the freedom of fantasy, nothing is left but an extended horizontal three-story building, united in the structure of its facades with the basement, front and attic floors. The impression of grandeur that this brilliant architecture produces is achieved by the large scale of the whole, by the simple and calm rhythm of the whole composition.

Clickable

Mansart was able 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 applied a single architectural motif - a uniform alternation of piers with openings. Such a classic basis 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 had a great influence on the development of world architecture.

Each of the inhabitants of the Palace of Versailles left its 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 to equip separate apartments 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 intrigues passed to him from the Italian ancestors of the Medici and the Savoy dynasty. It was in the Inner Offices, away from the nosy court, that what was called "Everyone's Favorite" made some of the most important decisions of state. At the same time, the king did not neglect either the etiquette established by his predecessor, or the life of the family, which he was reminded of by the queen and especially his beloved daughters.

After the death of the sun king, Philippe d'Orleans, who became regent under the infant Louis XV, decided to move the French court back to Paris. This was a noticeable blow to Versailles, which immediately lost about half of its inhabitants. However, everything returned to its former state when, in 1722, the grown-up Louis XV again moved to Versailles. 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 French Revolution. It was here that the Estates General met in 1789, and here, on June 20, 1789, the deputies from the Third Estate took a solemn oath not to disperse until their demands for political reforms in France were accepted. Here, in early October 1789, a crowd of excited revolutionaries arrived from Paris, which, having seized the palace, forced the royal family to return to the capital. After that, Versailles again began to rapidly lose population: its number decreased from 50,000 people (in 1789) to 28,000 people (in 1824). During the revolutionary events, almost all the furniture and valuables were taken out of 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 to Louis XV, whose reign was tragically interrupted by the revolution, inherited from his maternal grandfather, the Polish king Augustus of Saxony, an enviable heroic strength; on the other hand, his Bourbon ancestors passed on to him not only a true passion for hunting, but also a deep interest in the sciences. 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 king-creator. Known for his simplicity of taste, he lived in the palace out of necessity. During his reign, the interior 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 plundered. 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. Versailles saved the advantage by one vote. The last of the dynasty, King Louis Philippe ruled France from 1830 to 1848. In 1830, after the July Revolution that placed him on the throne, the House of Representatives passed a law that placed Versailles and Trianon in the hands 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. Lemue, Dorbay, Pierre Guitard, Bruant, Pierre Cottard and Blondel worked with Le Vaux. Mansart's chief assistant was his pupil 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 the drawings of Beren, Vigarani, as well as Lebrun and Mignard. Due to the participation of many masters, the architecture of Versailles is currently 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 twice captured by Prussian troops (in 1814 and in 1815). The Prussians invaded 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 the peace treaty was signed in 1919, which put an end to the First World War and marked the beginning of the Versailles system. international relations.

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 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 design of the ceremonial halls was dedicated to Greek gods. The salon of Apollo was originally the throne room of Louis. The Hall of Mirrors contains 17 huge mirrors, reflecting tall arched windows and crystal candelabra.

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

Small 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 World War II, Versailles was occupied by German troops. In addition, the city had to endure several brutal bombardments, the victims of which were 300 Versailles. 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.

To date, the city retains this status. Being one of the most attractive tourist places, Versailles is justly 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

Gardens of Versailles with their sculptures, fountains, pools, cascades and grottoes, the Parisian nobility soon became the scene of brilliant court festivities and Baroque amusements, during which they could enjoy both the operas of Lully and the plays of Racine and Molière.

Parks of Versailles spread over an area of ​​101 hectares. 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". The Palace of Versailles itself is also striking in its size: the length of its park facade is 640 meters, the Mirror Gallery 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.
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 (trains) go to Versailles from Gare Montparnasse station, Montparnasse Bienvenue metro station (12th metro line). Entrance to the station directly from the metro. Follow to the Versailles Chantiers stop. Travel time 20 minutes. The cost of a round-trip ticket is 5.00 euros.

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

- the residence of the French kings of the dynasty Bourbon. The masterpiece of classicism fascinates with its brilliance, and annually attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. We did not miss the opportunity to join this million.

Versailles - the history of creation

History of creation Versailles sends us back to the era of government Louis XIV who was nicknamed "sun king". And in the light of the sun, the ensemble really looks like a king (however, in rainy weather it looks no less beautiful, maybe a little more modest).

At Louis XIII on the spot modern palace stood ordinary hunting lodge, which the king ordered to be erected for hunting in those places. But his son Louis XIV had their own plans for the area.

At a reception with his Minister of Finance Nicolas Fouquet in honor of the completion of the palace Vaux-le-Vicomte (Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte), Louis XIV was struck by the "royal" luxury and high cost of the building, and even enraged by the open display of all this for show. He himself did not have such a palace, and this struck at the pride of the monarch.

Upon returning from the reception, he called his faithful assistant by name d'Artagnan- a real, not a mythical hero from novels Dumas. Louis commanded d'Artagnan deal with Fouquet, And d'Artagnan figured it out. Fouquet was arrested and imprisoned for life. And his brand new castle was confiscated. So that. And you say "you can't forbid living beautifully."

Inspired by the palace Vaux-le-Vicomte, Louis lured the authors of this work - architects Louis Levo And Andre Lenotra as well as an artist Charles Lebrun on his side, and offered them to build for him a similar palace with a park, only to be "prettier, richer, and bigger." There were no options to refuse - a sad face stood before my eyes Fouquet sitting in a dungeon, and they agreed. And so it appeared.

Construction started in 1661 year and spread over many years. An unprecedented amount of money was swollen. "Sun King" built the same bright and sunny complex as he himself was. Therefore, they are invariably associated with each other, despite the fact that Versailles complex completed even after death Louis XIV his great-grandson and successor Louis XV. Additions were not as global as with "sun king", although they also cost a lot of money to the treasury. Such regular spending became one of the prerequisites for the future unrest of the French people, which will clearly manifest themselves at the end of XVIII century.

Parallel to Versailles Palace Ensemble the city was set up Versailles. It originally housed about 500 person, and by the time of moving Louis XIV along with his entire retinue Versailles castle, already lived in the city 30000 . The main part was made up of service personnel, as well as workers and peasants, supporting the uninterrupted and needless life of the royal French court.

However, back to our favorites 🙂

Having entered the territory through the main gate, we found ourselves on the square, at the head of which is Palace of Versailles. “Here they lived, they didn’t grieve”, I thought. The chambers of the king, queen, as well as guest rooms are located in this place. Where else is he located - not in the forest by the pond.

Finding ourselves on the other side of the fence, we did not understand where to start - we did not have any brochure, and in general we did not have a complete idea of ​​​​what this entire architectural ensemble consists of. It was logical to first go through the main palace, and then act according to the circumstances.

The place where the hunting castle used to be Louis XIII now called marble yard

But here, too, there was a small problem. Fountains, which we also wanted to visit, work only twice a day - from 11 before 12 and with 15:30 before 17 . Before 15 I did not want to wait, and it was decided to go through one wing of the palace, then go to the fountains and return to inspect the palace. So we did. We went to the right wing, took an audio guide in Russian. I had headphones, and I stuck them into the socket - thus I did not have to walk, leaning the device to my ear, which is very convenient. He looked at everyone, grinning with a satisfied physiognomy.

The people, of course, darkness. Sitting practically on each other's shoulders, we moved from room to room, not forgetting to listen to the audio guide. All this was very educational.

A little less than an hour was enough for us to bypass this wing. The time was approaching 11, we left the palace and headed towards the gardens and fountains. I was immediately alarmed that a man with a serious look was standing at the exit. And if you left, they won't let you back in. Then I did not attach any significant importance to this, as I was in a hurry to the fountains.

Controllers also stood at the entrance to the fountains and checked tickets. There are a lot of controllers there - they stand at each object, because tickets for each object are sold separately, and you can not visit everything, but only what you are interested in.

Well, the time has come, and the music began to play. Fountains flowed, cameras clicked, movement began.

There are many fountains. Wandering through the labyrinths of gardens, you can stumble upon some small fountain. You can walk around and watch, or you can not walk. After the fact, I thought that it was not worth taking tickets for them - they were not impressed. I mean, fountains are like fountains, nothing special. You need to understand when they were built. Since then, they have not changed significantly. Today there are much more advanced and interesting fountains, so it is difficult to surprise people strenuously wandering around them.

We walked through the gardens, reached the big fountain of apollo.

Of course, we took pictures this way and that. That's probably why we got a little hungry. We sat down not far from the fountains on a refreshing marble bench and filled up the prepared sandwiches. After that I read on the official website Versailles that picnics are forbidden, but we were not caught, which is very encouraging.

After eating and relaxing, we went to reverse side for the purpose of reviewing Palace of Versailles. And then all the fears were confirmed - a man with a serious look refused to let us back in, strengthening his gaze with decisive gestures. He pointed to a sign with the inscription “no entry”, smiled and, completely satisfied with himself, turned away.

Not particularly upset, we decided to go around the palace, assuming that we could enter from the other side. But on the other hand, there were no serious people, no hint of an entrance, and we went to the fence, passing along which we again found ourselves in a huge crowd of people who were eager to get inside.

This is where we started scratching our turnips. What to do next was decidedly unclear. It is quite obvious that we did not go through the whole palace. Plus, there was a strong impression that there were still unseen objects (for a long time I was not so close to the truth, there were still 4 hours of such objects on foot). Standing as if rooted to the spot, and thoughtfully turning our heads in all directions, we were like Stirlitz - close to failure. And then the sign of the tourist information center caught my eye on the left. Somewhere inside the subconscious, a fragile animal called "hope" stirred slightly.

We walked cautiously in that direction. would be in Russia, no problems would have arisen, but we were in France, with the appropriate knowledge of languages. Only English at the level "es, know, idontnow". I still wonder how we even traveled abroad on our own, practically without knowing the language.

With trembling hands, we opened the door and entered. A woman came up and asked something in English. Here I fell asleep. Stumbling, I began my beautiful story about the problem that fell on us like spring snow on our heads.

For half an hour there was a verbal struggle with this woman, or rather with an overseas language. The fight was unequal - the woman obviously knew more words than I did. But I won. Almost on the fingers they explained to us that everything is not so bad. You just need to stand in line again and never leave the palace without seeing it completely. Plus, we were solemnly presented with a plan of the ensemble in Russian, with brief description and a schematic map. It was only then that I found out that we hadn't seen practically anything yet. Now we were armed with exhaustive information. With a self-satisfied gait, straightening our stooped shoulders half an hour ago, and raising our revived head high, we went to the end of the winding snake of people. The day was revived.

Free advice:

Having defended "serpentine" turn a second time, we again hoped to quickly slip through the inspection of things. But this time our trick failed. They forced me to open my backpack, and found carefully packed provisions there - buns, sausages and lettuce. They offered to hand over the backpack to the storage room and showed the direction with a hand. I thought that, firstly, then it would not be very desirable to go back for a backpack, and secondly, it would be very desirable to eat in a couple of hours. Therefore, on the way to the lockers, I pretended to forget why I was going, and turned off. Expecting the insane calls of the French, I walked without turning around, but no one paid any attention to me. Everything turned out to be very simple. In such a simple way, food was saved, and we calmly went to inspect castle of Versailles.

On the second attempt, we examined the entire castle complex completely - all kinds of chambers of the king and queen, guest rooms, a mirror gallery, and everything else (there are so many rooms that I almost got lost). The scope and luxury are simply amazing - everything is gilded, bright, shiny, beautiful. There I realized the phrase "looks like royalty". I would love to live there for a couple of centuries.

reached the famous mirror gallery. This is what she looks like in the middle of the day

And like this, when there is no one, only ghosts

To be honest, in all these rooms I am completely confused. If not to be a completely boring researcher of architecture Versailles then remembering everything is unrealistic. Who and where lived, what this or that room is for. For the most part, it's not that important. You just walk around and marvel at the wealth and luxury, as well as the taste with which it was all done. Everything is truly beautiful and wonderful.

Served as a model for many royal residences, and became a kind of starting point for the architecture of future centuries. Many monarchs who visited Versailles inspired to build their residences. Selflessly spent a lot of money, and even surpassed Palace of Versailles in wealth and grandeur. There are examples in our country - in a certain city on Neva 😉

The more closely you peer into the history of France, the more you are surprised at the desire of kings to surpass their predecessors in luxury. Everyone tried to make their residence bigger and richer, spending fantastic money on landscaping, and Versailles in France - a prime example regal splendor, from which is breathtaking.

Versailles - a respectable suburb of Paris

Today, the Museum of Versailles is known throughout the world thanks to Louis XIII of the Bourbon dynasty, who wished to have his own secluded nest. In 1623, Jean de Soisy sold his lands to the king, on which a small hunting lodge of five rooms grew out of stone, brick and roofing slate.

Apparently, Louis XIII really lacked peace and quiet, since he chose such an unremarkable place. The French philosopher Saint-Simon said of him: "Never before have I seen a more desolate and barren place - without water, land and forest". Indeed, only swamps and sand stretched around, and the population was so small that in the chronicles of the 11th century the settlement is mentioned as a modest, unremarkable village, hidden behind a hill, whose name is explained by the name of the first feudal lord-owner - Hugh de Versailles.

This settlement arose only because it lay on the path from Normandy to, and the travelers had to stop somewhere to rest. Louis XIII liked to spend time here with friends, and later, where the mill once stood, and later the Marble Court appeared, a modest hunting lodge arose. Then it was difficult to predict that one day it would grow and become known as the Palace of Versailles.

Located at a distance of 17.1 km southwest of the capitals of France, now Versailles is considered an important administrative center department of Yvelines with a population of over 85,900 inhabitants. Now it is surrounded by lush forests, and a successful layout, laid down in the 18th century, became a model for imitation during the development of Washington.

The first reforms: from the hut to the palace

Since monarchs have always been distinguished by inconstancy, a thirst for change, and the desire for luxury is in their blood, already in 1632 the lands of Gondi were added to the territory of the king, which made it possible to significantly expand the hunting estate. 4 towers, 2 additional wings and a wall covering the entrance join the building. As defensive measures, a wall grows around and a moat appears, and now it is not just a holiday home, but a real fortified castle, ready to soon turn into a royal residence.

Louis XIV, the son of the previous monarch, turned out to be more ambitious, and in 1661 he began to reconstruct his heritage, and then finally moved into it. His desire to prove himself is understandable, because for too long the reins of government were in the tenacious hands of his mother, Anna of Austria, and the minister, Cardinal Mazarin.

Another reason why the Sun King decides to make the Palace of Versailles the center of government of the country is the Fronde of 1648-1653, after which the monarch did not feel too comfortable in Paris.

Inspiration to build beauty royal palace served as the luxurious residence of the Minister of Finance Fouquet - Vaux-le-Vicomte. In 1661, the minister was arrested, his property was confiscated, and the trio of architects who worked on his chateau were hired by Louis XIV with the condition that his mansions become a hundred times better.

Architect of the Palace of Versailles

This project turned out to be a swan song for them, because until the end of their days they were engaged in building and improving the Palace of Versailles.

Construction costs of the Palace of Versailles

Such a colossal plan required great human and financial sacrifices. All free hands were involved in the work, including peasants, soldiers and sailors from all adjacent territories. In order to increase the number of builders, any other construction was prohibited during the construction of the chateau, and this provided more than 30,000 people on the site.

As for money, the amount spent on the castle is shocking - almost 26 million livres, which corresponded to 10,521,867 kg of silver, and in terms of modern money, this is about 259.56 billion euros. At the same time, for the king, all materials were sold at exceptionally low prices, and if the performers went beyond the boundaries of the estimate, they were not paid the difference.

Construction of the Palace of Versailles

At times, the construction subsided, but not for long, and Louis again directed his gaze to the future palace, wanting to complete the grandiose project as soon as possible. Until 1682, he constantly moved between and Versailles, until he decides to completely move to a new residence with the whole court.

This decision is dictated by several reasons. Firstly, the Sun King understood that the only way to prevent a conspiracy in the bud was to keep the aristocratic elite in front of his eyes. Secondly, there was constant unrest in Paris, and it became dangerous to stay there. Thirdly, luxurious mansions demonstrated France to the whole world as the main player in the military, political and cultural field.

The stages of construction are marked by periods of wars. The first phase of perestroika work lasted from 1664 to 1668, when the war broke out with Spain. By this time, the palace was able to receive up to 600 people.

In 1669, after the battle for the Netherlands, the second three-year period of improvement began: the central part, the former hunting lodge, was being changed, and the surrounding territories were being remade. The southern wing was converted into the chambers of Queen Maria Theresa, and is almost identical to the northern wing of the Sun King, and the western zone became a terrace. An octagonal soaking tub and children's rooms on the upper floors were also provided.

In 1678, the Dutch War ends, and the third part of work on the palace begins until 1684. At this time, the western terrace turns into the Mirror Gallery, connecting the separate chambers of the crowned couple. It is distinguished by true chic and richness of design even today, although a large batch of decor was sold as early as 1689.

New outbuildings for princes and nobles appear, and a greenhouse is located in two huge halls. This stage in construction is also marked by the fact that the surrounding land is gradually being transformed into the beautiful gardens of Versailles.

1682 becomes the year of the official move of the royal court to a new residence, and this led to an increase in the population of the suburbs, an improvement in its well-being.

Until 1699, construction came to a halt, as previous military campaigns and stages of work had eaten a solid hole in the state budget. To support the Nine Years' War, which lasted until 1710, some elements of luxurious decor had to be sold, but after its completion, Louis XIV proceeds to the fourth stage of arrangement.

This time was marked by the construction of another chapel, which became the fifth on the territory of Versailles. Differing from the rest in its rectangular shape and height, it changes the facade of the main building, causing criticism of the surroundings. However, later it turned into the most interesting element of the architectural complex.

Construction of the Palace of Versailles under the leadership of Louis XV

By the time the five-year-old Louis XV (nicknamed the Beloved) ascended the throne after the death of the Sun King in 1715, the Palace of Versailles was already impressive with its majestic architecture, vast areas and royal interior decoration. Peter I, who visited France in 1717, does not hide his delight from what he saw and, looking at the mansion with the park adjacent to it, lights up with the idea of ​​building something similar in St. Petersburg.

Under the Beloved, significant changes also take place with the architectural complex, although not as colossal as under his parent.

The first thing he did was complete the salon of Hercules. Under him, the Chambers of Madame, the Dauphin and his wife appeared, as well as the Small Chambers of the King on the lower, second and third levels.

His notable achievements were the completion of the Petit Trianon, the Opera Hall and the dismantling of the Staircase of the Ambassadors leading to the Great Royal Apartments in order to equip the princesses' rooms in its place.

As for the park, unlike Louis XIV, his son paid little attention to the park, and the only significant element of it was the Neptune pool, built in 1738-1741. Radical changes in park area occurred already under Louis XVI, because for a hundred years the trees had time to dry out, and the need to rejuvenate green spaces pulled new grandiose design ideas.

The culmination of innovative ideas in the last years of his reign was the refurbishment of the premises on the advice of the leading architect Gabriel - from the side of the city, the facade was to take on a classic look. Work on this project continued until the twentieth century.

Impact of the Revolution and the Time of the First Empire

In early October 1789, under the leadership of Lafayette, the National Guard and a crowd of people broke into the Palace of Versailles demanding that the royal family and the National Assembly be expelled to Paris. In order not to inflame passions even more, the top of the country submits, moving to the Louvre and, and Versailles loses the status of an administrative and managerial center and is sealed.

From this moment begins the decline of the castle. While Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are in custody awaiting execution, according to a plan to get rid of luxury and use the building for the needs of the new government, the usual looting is going on.

Many items of interior decoration were simply taken away until control was established. After that, some of the items were sent to auction, others to exhibitions.

Pondering over the fate of the palace, they offered to rent or sell it, but in the end they decided to leave it under the control of the republic, and until they figured out a better purpose for it, art objects were brought here, which later replenished the storerooms of various museums.

And yet, individual decorative elements continued to disappear from the walls of the once luxurious mansion - they were sold to fill the state treasury.

The building of the former royal mansion experienced a period of decadence until it attracted the attention of Napoleon I, who returned the status of his residence, but now the emperor.

In 1806, he ordered the architect Jacques Gonduin to do restoration work, but both of his projects were rejected by Bonaparte, and only in 1808 were gold and mirror panels recreated, and furniture was brought from Fontebleau and the Louvre.

Versailles receives museum status

When in 1814 - 1815. and the Bourbon dynasty comes to power again, the last French king, Louis Philippe I, who had several nicknames, sits on the throne: "king-citizen", "king-bourgeois", and finally "king-pear". He turns the Palace of Versailles, built on the orders of Louis XIV, into a museum, which exhibits historical values, paintings with battle scenes, portraits and busts.

But the insidious time has prepared a few more shocks, which, from the height of the passed years in the canvas of history, look like a spectacular addition. So, when France turned out to be the losing side in the Franco-Prussian war, the German army was headquartered in the palace (1870-1871), and in order to further humiliate the French, on January 18 in the Mirror Gallery announced the German Empire, and its Kaiser - Wilhelm I. But already in February, a peace treaty was signed in the same gallery, and a month later the French government returned to Versailles to settle here until 1879.

However, the offense was not forgotten, and in order to return the “debt”, at the end of the First World War, the Mirror Gallery is not chosen in vain to conclude a preliminary truce and the Vienna Treaty with defeated Germany. The Palace of Versailles in France served as a place of reconciliation between the Franco-German sides after the Second World War.

Since 1952, its global restoration begins, for which the government allocated 5 million francs, and also announced through all means of communication about the search for patrons and called for voluntary donations from citizens. In 1979, the architectural complex became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2007 the post of President of the Palace of Versailles was introduced, which was taken by the Minister of Culture Jean-Jacques Aiagon.

Exterior architecture and interior design of the mansion

Since Versailles received the status of a museum, millions of tourists have flocked to it every year to see with their own eyes the grandeur, brilliance and abundance of the palace, where conspiracies and intrigues were the norm, from generation to generation cunning plans were perfected, behind-the-scenes gossip were woven and the secrets of Versailles were created. .

Surrounded by walls that remember the first cry of the kings born here: Philip V, Louis XV, XVI and XVIII, Charles X, you expect that one of the crowned sons of France will appear from around the corner, surrounded by courtiers to the rustle of silk and knock heels.

Such a huge area once belonged to the monarchs, and today the halls of Versailles receive curious visitors. To navigate the large areas (67 thousand square meters), you should know that the complex has several zones: the Chateau, the Small Trianon with the Big Trianon, the territory of the Marie Antoinette farm and the garden and park area. In total, 372 statues, 67 stairs and 25 thousand windows were installed in the palace premises.

The main building and the main attraction of the entire complex, where all tourists strive to get is the Chateau. Passing the main entrance, you will find yourself in its courtyard, from where you can go to the park or to the palace itself, where the Hall of Mirrors is its heart. In fact, this is a passage 73 m long and 11 m wide, uniting both wings of the castle.

The highlight of the Mirror Room is 357 mirrors located opposite 17 windows. The reflection creates the illusion that the garden surrounds the gallery from two sides, and in the evening they once sparkled with the lights of thousands of candles. It was decorated with figured floor lamps, candelabra, bronze-cut silver vases, crystal chandeliers and live orange trees, while the walls and ceiling were painted with scenes from mythology and history, in which the great dramas of court life were played out. Moreover, Louis XIV himself was certainly portrayed as an ancient hero.

Even the furniture here was made of pure silver (as Lebrun intended), which speaks of the original scale, but in 1689, unfortunately, it had to be melted down into coins to support the army.

Also here are the royal chambers, in which the central part is occupied by a bed located at the intersection of three highways connecting the Palace of Versailles with Paris.

The queen's bedroom is also located in the Chateau, and an impressive canopy bed and other interior items are decorated with gilding. Princess apartments are also nearby.

Halls of the Palace of Versailles

There are several interesting halls in the mansion, for example, the Hall of War, where you can see paintings that tell about past epic battles.

Not far from the entrance is the Royal Chapel. Its floor is decorated with a family coat of arms, lined with colored marble, and around the altar there are sculptures of ancient Greek gods made of bronze. The upper tier of the chapel was occupied by the crowned family, while the lower tier was occupied by the courtiers. After the service, the king retired to one of the chambers open today to curious visitors.

The Apollo Hall (or the Throne Hall) - ambassadors were received here, holidays or theatrical performances with musical accompaniment were held in the evenings, in which the monarch often took part.

Billiards were usually played in Diana's Hall. The Salon of Abundance served as a pantry, an exhibition of the royal collection of coins and paintings by Karachi, Veronese and Titian, and in the Hall of Venus, the main exhibit is a statue of Louis XIV.

The Bull's Eye salon is also of interest. Such a dissonant name was given to a room with an opening that looks like a bull's organ of vision. It served as a window through which the courtiers could observe the monarch in his apartments.

The greenhouse, designed by Hardouin-Mansard, has a U-shape, where more than 200 gardeners worked, caring for fruit-bearing exotics, among which there were 3,000 pomegranate, tangerine and orange trees.

At certain times, the Royal Opera House is available for viewing the interior, but this depends on the concert schedule. There are other places where you can only go with a guide.

Palace of Versailles inside

Grand and Petit Trianon at Versailles

The Versailles Museum has two separate palaces. IN Grand Trianon more than 30 rooms, a private patio and a park with ponds. It served as a chamber for the king and his family, where they could feel more frivolous, without adhering to strict etiquette.

At one time there were guests: Peter I, Elizabeth II, Gorbachev, Yeltsin and other political figures.

Petit Trianon was a kind of women's territory. The cozy two-story mansion was originally inhabited by the favorite of the Beloved King - Madame Pompadour. This is the only woman who was allowed to spend her last days at Versailles. Louis really was attached to her, and when she died of a lung disease, he saw her off, standing on one of the balconies of the palace in the pouring rain.

His parting words to her were: “Well, you chose terrible weather so that in last time take a walk ma'am".

Later, the Petit Trianon was occupied by Dubarry and, finally, by Marie Antoinette. With the exception of the bedroom, this part of the mansion has a more modest decoration, but it had its own theater, where performances were staged with the participation of the queen. Now it has been turned into a Marie Antoinette museum with original personal and interior items, and only a few have been recreated by decorators.

Those in power have their own quirks, and Marie Antoinette had a small village right on the territory of Versailles near her palace. Having a lot of free time, she amused herself by milking cows, weeding beds, feeding birds or decorating animals with colored ribbons.

Stalls for goats and cows, a dovecote and perches for chickens were built here, and 12 houses were also inhabited, and the "peasants" were strictly ordered to observe a pastoral appearance.

This village has been recreated with animals and is open to the public.

Gardens and park of Versailles

The park part surprises with a perfectly flat surface. Even when construction began, the architects leveled the site so carefully that not a single hillock remained on it. The gardens of Versailles cover about 5 sq. km, replete with paths, green bushes and trees, fountains and lakes, impeccable lines of green lawns.

Sitting on the balcony of his chambers, the king liked to watch theatrical performances that took place in the Court of Marble, and it was here that Molière first staged The Misanthrope. And above the windows of the chambers of Louis, the clock counted down, but was stopped at the time of his death.

The monarch liked to walk under the arches and among the marble columns, or arrange dinner meals among them. The theme of ancient gods was close to him, and the gardens of Versailles are generously decorated with their figures.

Directly in front of the Mirror Gallery, two oblong pools stretched parallel to each other, behind which the Great Staircase leads down, and at its foot, surrounded by four stone vases, there is a reservoir with a fountain of Latona, decorated with many gilded figures.

Further, an alley with mighty trees along it leads to a spacious green meadow, beyond which, in a large pool, Apollo drives a chariot drawn by four of Neptune's own water horses - hippocampi. The Apollo Fountain was formed under the guidance of the sculptor Tyubi, who took as a basis the sketches of Ch. Lebrun.

To the north of the palace stands the parterre, decorated with the figures of Crouching Venus and the Grinder. From them, a staircase leads to the pools "Sirens" and "Crown", which have a rounded shape, as well as to the fountain "Pyramid", in which gilded dolphins with newts splash.

To see how the “Dragon” fountain throws a stream of water 47 meters high, you need to go along the famous “Water Alley”, created by J. Hardouin-Mansart, and which has a different name - “Water Theater”. It is notable for the fact that it is framed by 14 small round reservoirs, creating a single stepped ensemble with bronze images of children holding a bowl filled with flowers and fruits.

In addition to many lakes and pools with fountains, the gardens of Versailles are replete with terraces, and the farther from the palace, the level gradually decreases. In addition, it is pleasant to walk along the alleys, imagining how Marie Antoinette once walked along the same path, admiring the sculptures and the play of water jets released by mythological animals.

A park filled with grottoes, pavilions, a system of water channels, vegetation and viewing platforms looks so thoughtful that it has been called "Little Venice".

Events of Versailles

It is worth visiting the grandiose "nest" of monarchs once, and this event will become the main event in your life for a long time. The entertainment that is held here will allow you to plunge into the colorful past of France, visit a real ball at the court, where gallant ladies and gentlemen in magnificent costumes dance to classical music in the same way as several centuries ago.

After that, every Saturday (May-September), when most tourists leave the Palace of Versailles, a night show begins for ticket holders with illuminated fountains and music, and final scene at 23:00 there is a grandiose fireworks blooming over the Grand Canal.

Musical fountains are a wonderful sight, caressing the eyes and ears, and they are turned on on weekends and holidays.

In addition to amazing shows, permanent and temporary exhibitions of paintings by contemporary painters and artists of past eras are worthy of attention, themed rooms are open, and after the reconstruction, the Royal Opera House was opened, where plays are staged and concert performances are held.

Service Offered

To quickly move around the vast territory of the complex, you can rent a bicycle for 6 euros, a segway, an electric car (subject to availability). international law) or for 7.5 euros ride from Chateau to Trianon on a tourist electric train.

Visitors are offered to rent a boat and take a pleasant walk along Little Venice and the Grand Canal.

If you are tired and hungry, you can have a snack in a cafe with an open veranda. Several outlets offer takeaway juices, potatoes and other snacks, and if you want to sit in comfort, check out the restaurants near the picturesque places of the garden.

To visit Versailles itself is a dream that comes true once in a lifetime, and far from everyone, and therefore, in memory of the trip, I want to keep a souvenir. In the museum shop you can buy candles, books, albums, tapestries for pillows with original embroidery, bags, medals and coins, dishes, figurines, even a jar of raspberry jam in a gift box and other items.

Tickets to Versailles

Tickets to Versailles for visiting the farm, Chateau and Trianons - 18 euros, with working fountains - 25 euros.

Buy tickets to Versailles at low prices

A ticket for two days with a full visit to all attractions - 25 euros, with working fountains - 30 euros.

• Chateau - 15 euros.
• Farm and Trianons - 10 euros.
• A park without working fountains - admission is free, with fountains - 9 euros.
• Ball and evening show with fountains - 39 euros.
• Evening show only - 24 euros.
• Only the ball - 17 euros.
• Free admission for children under 5 years old.

Benefits are used by students, persons with disabilities and children aged 6-17.

Purchasing the FORFAIT LOISIRS card will allow you to travel to public transport and will serve as an entrance ticket to the Palace of Versailles and its park part.

Note: you can make video and photography only after an additional payment.

Opening hours of Versailles

• The garden and park area is open 8:00-18:00 (during busy tourist season 7:00-20:30)
• Farm and Trianons - 12:00-17:30 (18:30)
• Chateau - 9:00-17:30 (18:30)
• Closed on Mondays, May 1st, January 1st and December 25th

Panorama of Versailles

From Paris to Versailles on my own

When choosing a day to visit the palace, one must take into account that it is especially crowded here on weekends. Tuesday is also a high attendance, because in most museums it is a day off, and people come here. Also, to avoid big queues, it is better to take early morning or time 15:30-16:00 for an excursion.

Palace of Versailles (Photo)

Photo gallery of Versailles

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