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Why
Versailles is special
Louis XIV, the Sun King, expanded and embellished Louis XIII's
modest Versailles "hunting lodge" palace into Europe's grandest
royal palace. In 1682 it became the seat of the French
government.
Louis XIV spared no expense (and nearly bankrupted France) in
adorning Versailles with the finest furnishings to impress his
subjects and foreign dignitaries. His lavish balls with
fashionably dressed men and women were legendary. So were his
epicurean dinner parties.
The last resident king was Louis XVI, who succumbed to the
French Revolution and the guillotine.
Immense size
Versailles’ physical magnitude astounds visitors – it was once
home to thousands of nobles, bureaucrats, soldiers and servants.
To give you an idea of its enormity, consider that the stables
alone held 2000 horses.
Main tourist attractions
Versailles's most renowned chamber is the Hall of Mirrors, so
named because the light from the 17 tall arched windows on one
side of the room is handsomely reflected by the corresponding
arched mirrors on the opposite wall. This hall is embellished
with fine art and chandeliers.
The royal chapel and living quarters also define grandeur, as do
the immense Versailles gardens dotted with statues and
fountains.
What leading travel books say about Versailles
Versailles is a wonderfully harmonious composition of building
and landscape.
France
Michelin Green Guides
Versailles is Louis XIV's greatest creation, and a world unto
itself.
France
Fodor's
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