The Zenith Of Grandeur And Royalty

The Palace of Versailles

A Palace is a place that has long been associated with royalty, politics, governance, luxury, splendour, and elaborate feasts. The Palace of Versailles is one such place and is a symbol of pride for the nation of France. It was the vision of the French monarch who ruled during the Ancien Regime - a period when the affairs of nations were controlled by monarchs.

King Louis XIV built the Palace

The idea of constructing a palace in Versailles was conceived by King Louis XIV of France in the seventeenth century. The King did not want to rule from his nation's capital in Paris like his predecessors and also wanted to reside away from his subjects. Therefore, he initiated the construction of a royal residence in the town of Versailles, a rural town to the west of Paris. The new palace was to be built on a former hunting lodge established by the King's father in the town.

Architect Louis Le Vau, designed the palace buildings

Landscape architectt, Andre Le Notre, designed the landscape of the palace

The Hall of Mirrors

The Royal Chapel

The Royal Opera

The courtyard and gardens of the courtyard

The Palace of Versailles also known as Chateau de Versailles ( a chateau is a term used to describe a luxurious residence built in a rural area ) is an edifice that was constructed in Classical Baroque architecture. The palace has a central building with two wings by its sides. It is made up of seven hundred apartments, and two thousand three hundred rooms. It is also surrounded by a large courtyard that looks over beautiful gardens that lie next to it. It had beautifully designed halls and rooms like the Royal apartments, the Hall of mirrors, the Royal Chapel, and the Royal Opera. The palace became a model for architecture, horticulture, and art during and after the Ancien Regime in Europe. Its buildings were designed by renowned baroque architect Louis Le Vau while famous landscape architect Andre Le Notre designed the landscape.

The Palace and settlements that grew beside it

The construction of the royal residence in Versailles transformed the town from a rural area to an urban center. Its construction was over two decades. Residential settlements also began to spring up close to the palace as a lot of people like servants and skilled artisans who were in the royal service migrated to the town. This development changed the status of Versailles from a serene town to an epicenter of numerous human activities.

The Palace of Versailles was listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. It is the second highest visited tourist destination in France after the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The palace embodies the rich history, culture, and heritage of France. It is also an asset for the country as it is a major tourist attraction that generates revenue for the government.This magnificent building is a hallmark of pride to its people.

The Palace of Versailles is the epitome of opulence, architecture, art, and creativity. It is a legacy of the ingenuity of the human mind.

---

Thanks for reading,
See you on the next one guys.

---

_{all image source added in photo captions}