Versailles is a city in the Yvelines departement in Ile-de-France region, world-widely renowned for its chateau, the Chateau de Versailles and the gardens of Versailles. Palace of Versailles, former French royal residence and centre of government, now is a national landmark, located 20 kilometres southwest of the French capital. The original residence, built from 1631 to 1634, was primarily a hunting lodge and private retreat for Louis XIII and his family.
Under the guidance of Louis XIV it was transformed into an immense and extravagant complex surrounded by stylized English and French gardens. Declared the official royal residence in 1682 and the official residence of the court of France on May 6, 1682. After the defeat of the War of the League of Augsburg, Louis XIV undertook his last building campaign at Versailles. His building campaign concentrated almost exclusively on construction of the royal chapel.
The Palace of Versailles was abandoned after the death of Louis XIV in 1715. In 1722, it was returned to its status as royal residence. Further additions were made during the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI. On 6 October 1789, the royal family had to leave Versailles and move to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. Following the French Revolution of 1789 the complex was nearly destroyed.
By the 20th century, though it was occasionally used for plenary congresses of the French parliament or as housing for visiting heads of state, the primary utility of the palace lay in tourism. Palace of Versailles have 2300 rooms, 2153 windows and more then 6000 paintings and 2000 sculptures in the museum's collection.
In the evolution of the chateau of Versailles, there have been five chapels. The current chapel, which was the last major building project of Louis XIV, represents one of the finest examples of French Baroque architecture and ecclesiastical decoration.The galerie des glaces (Hall of Mirrors in English), is perhaps the most celebrated room in the chateau of Versailles.
Among the most famous rooms in the palace are the grand appartement du roi, grand appartement de la reine and le petit appartements. UNESCO designated the palace and its gardens a World Heritage site in 1979.
October 30, 2013
A.I.
