A luxurious palace and park ensemble in a suburb of Paris is one of France's main attractions.
Many compare it to Peterhof in Russia, but Versailles is unique. Its construction began in 1661 as a country residence of Louis XIII. The king built a modest hunting lodge. But his successor - the famous "Sun King" - continued the construction, turning a small pavilion into a true palace. The architectural splendor of Versailles long secured its status as the model for the European residences of all other monarchs.
If you are planning a trip to Versailles, you can read this article. But the best way to explore Paris is with a mobile audio guide that you can easily download in the Ever.Travel app.
Thanks to the efforts of Louis XIV, the small settlement outside Paris turned into a center of high society. The king wanted the entire court to be able to come here, and that was no fewer than 20,000 people! Ten years later, fanfares were already sounding in the once quiet provincial Versailles; a picturesque park spread out here, elegant fountains murmured, and coquettish ladies chattered. Inside, the palace was entirely decorated by the finest artists. The king and his courtiers were surrounded by sculptures, marble, gilding, expensive fabrics, and luxurious furniture.
It is hard even to imagine, but the palace has 700 rooms. 350 fireplaces were used for heating. More than two thousand windows let in daylight, and the number of works of art is impossible to count.
To maintain all this splendor and, in particular, to repair the many interior pieces after noisy balls, craft workshops gradually began to appear around the palace. The population of Versailles grew to 100,000 people.
Brilliant balls and court festivities took place not only in the palace, but also in its many gardens. In addition to artfully trimmed trees and fragrant flowers, there are sculptures, pools, fountains with cascades, and grottoes everywhere. Courtiers enjoyed operas and other theatrical performances here. In essence, it was a great stage. This tradition was continued by Marie Antoinette, who built a theater here and performed in it in the leading roles.
The total area of all the gardens and the park is about 900 hectares. The size of the palace itself is also astounding. Its facade is 640 meters long, and the famous Hall of Mirrors is 73 meters long. It contains unique paintings, mirrors, and columns. In addition, you should definitely visit the Gallery of Battles, the palace chapel, and, of course, the Royal Opera.
There are always a lot of tourists in Versailles, but you can avoid the multilingual din if you arrive at the palace very early in the morning or around four o'clock in the afternoon. Just remember that the royal residence is closed on Mondays!
