The Palace of VersaillesRisha SheniPeriod 5 Global 10

Description

• Versailles, France• Northern France• 10 miles from Paris• 2,014 acres• Served as French royalty’s estate

• Served as national government center

• Currently a museum

History• Represents absolutism and affluent royal

• Built as hunting lodge (1631-1634) for Louis XIII

• Louis XIV (right) renovated (1661-1710) it into the lavish estate that it is today

• UNESCO World heritage site

Breakdown• Grand Apartments • Queen’s apartments• King’s apartments • Hall of Mirrors • Chapels• L’Opera • Museum • Gardens• Grand Canal• Walks• Additions

Chambers…

Chambers Continued…

Hall of Mirrors

• La Galerie des Glaces• Most famous room• Created after the Dutch War in 1678

• Louis XIV• Location of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended WWI

Hall of Mirrors Structure• 17 arcaded mirrors• Large windows• 73 meters long, 10.5 meters wide

• Decorated with chandeliers, thousands of candles, paintings, sculptures and bronze

Gardens• 230 acres • Begun by Louis XIV in 1661• 40 years construction• Includes Grand Canal• 50 fountains, 200,000 trees, 210,000 flowers annually

Fountains

French Revolution• During the French Revolution, angry women stormed the Palace of Versailles in search of justice and equality. They damaged areas of the palace, but restorations and renovations since that time have repaired and replaced most of the damage from this incident and many others, including a storm,

Bibliography• http://www.ivc.edu/academics/schoolFA/arthistory/Documents/VERSAILLES_Fall_05/interior.html

• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/versailles/

• http://en.chateauversailles.fr/the-palace-

• http://www.britannica.com/Palace-of-Versailles