DAZZLED BY THE GRANDEUR OF VERSAILLES

Caroline
21 mai 2018
5 min de lecture

When it comes to over the top of grandeur and opulence, the Versailles palace is in a class of its own.

Visiting the palace of Versailles is to experience the majesty of the royal history of France in a glittering enchantment.

An important point to start this post : a part the photos of the Hamlet of the Queen which are all mine, I have chosen voluntarily to share the stunning pictures directly edited by the Château de Versailles on its website.

It was unthinkable to me to describe such a magnificent estate and use poor personal pictures. For the credits follow this link :

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/website-credits#publishing-manager

A few numbers to measure how astonishing the building and the whole estate are :

(document pariscityvision)

FROM A HUNTING LODGE TO A PALACE

At the beginning the estate of Versailles was only a hunting lodge used by Louis XIV's father in the mid 17th century.

The future king Louis XIV first comes to Versailles in 1641 and becomes quickly fond of the place.

He undertakes major works on it. Thereafter and until the end of his life in 1715, the Palace and all the estate will be constantly impacted by a stream of building projects to add or modify forecourts, pavilions, new wings, the Grand Commun, the Royal Chapel and of course the gardens.

The residence gradually goes from being a simple hunting lodge to a residence for leisure and only in 1682 it becomes the main residence of the French Court and government.

For King Louis XIV it is important to make the palace an expression of power and authority, as if glory may come by war but also by stunning buildings.

When King Louis XIV died in 1715 his palace and estate are far from finished.

Following his death, Versailles enters in a long period of neglect until the young Louis XV returns to Versailles in 1722 and creates more intimate and private spaces and major works as the Royal Opera House.

Born in Versailles like his grandfather, Louis XVI becomes king before the age of twenty. The celebration of his marriage to the Archduchess of Austria Marie Antoinette in 1770 at the Royal Opera House is one of the greatest events to take place in Versailles in the late 18th century. Then unlike his grandfather, Louis XVI spends most of his time in Versailles.

He is very fond of his wife and in 1774 he offered her the Petit Trianon originally built by Louis XV for his mistress Madame de Pompadour.

Marie Antoinette makes it her private domain.

The Queen Marie Antoinette had a hard time adapting to Versailles’ complex etiquette. Surrounded by a group of close friends, she often seeks refuge in her private apartments at the Petit Trianon or in her hamlet, a picturesque and adorable but mock village built especially for her.

(all those pictures are mine ©Behind the Seine)

She prefers the company of her close friends and try to stay in her estate away from the pomp and ceremony associated with her position.

The Queen Marie-Antoinette is a great fan of entertaining so she organises elaborate entertainment at court as putting on plays two or three times per week and also reviving the tradition of grand balls.

She also creates games room and becomes a keen player of billiards and cards.

Marie-Antoinette plays harp. She is also fond of the cabinetmaker and royal furniture supplier Jean Henri Riesener and the painter Elisabeth Vigée le Brun whose successful career as a portraitist artist owed much to the queen’s support, and who produced around thirty portraits of her.

The Queen also devotes much of her time to fashion, being advised daily on what to wear by her favourite designer and stylist, Rose Bertin and her hairdresser, Léonard, with elaborate new hairstyles which she adores.

Because of extravagant expenses, Marie Antoinette sinks gradually lower in the public esteem.

The sovereigns will rapidly loose popularity, not only among the people but also among the nobility, as a result of heavy taxes.

At the Revolution in 1789, far from having been pillaged as we may imagine, the Palace of Versailles is relatively unscathed.

Although the furniture and many of the works of art are removed, the palace continues to be an attraction, with guided tours organised.

Only with the accession to the throne of Louis-Philippe in 1830 , Versailles brings back to life, when he decides in 1833 to create a museum dedicated "to all glories of France".

The Palace takes a long time to recover, used for celebrations, official visits or to host the most important events in the history of France.

Once a palace, now a museum

Nowadays over 60,000 works, major exhibitions and guided tours are available to visitors during their journey of discovery through this major historical site. Numerous events are organised in the Royal Chapel, the Royal Opera House, and the equestrian Academy of Versailles, while the Musical Fountains show bring the parterres and groves in the Garden to life each year to the sound of baroque music.

The collections reflect the dual identity of the Palace, as both a palace occupied by the kings of France and the royal court, and later a museum with sculptures and paintings dating from the 16th through to the 19th centuries. But also the palace’s historic apartments restored and refurnished.

a few tips to enjoy your day in versailles :

*Book online a one day passport with timed entry to skip lines and have entry to the whole estate (palace and gardens) , audio guide included. 27€ including access to fountain show if open (March to October).

The price seams heavy but the comfort is absolute. This ticket guarantees access to the Palace within half an hour of the selected time. No long lines and a full day to enjoy all Versailles at your convenience. On high season (April - October), lines outside can be one hour to buy the ticket and another hour for security check.

So in any case BUY YOUR TICKET ON LINE.

* Remember that admission is free for under 18Y or European residents under 26Y (excepted for gardens in fountain days) with supporting documents.

* Start your visit with the palace when just opened at 9AM or before closing to avoid crowds. Busiest days Tuesdays and weekend. On high season, it used to be always crowded as you can see on my picture an April morning at 10AM.

* Take a full day to visit he whole estate.

Once you have visited the Palace you cannot enter in again. Note that the visit is linear, so you can’t really bounce around among multiple rooms in any particular order. It’s also important to know that it can be difficult, if not impossible, to backtrack.

* Make a break for lunch time. Several offers within the estate for all kind of budgets.

But you can also go out of the estate, in Versailles city center for lunch (check on tripadvisor the good advice).

Try to visit the palace in the morning before lunch and the outsides (Trianon, Queen's hamlet and gardens) in the afternoon so when you come back from lunch, you can go directly to the gardens where there is no long lines to enter.

* Use the little train to explore the park (Trianon -Queens hamlet- gardens) getting on and off at different stops within a single circuit and a full 8€ or reduced 6.10€ ticket (free under 12Y).

You can also rent a bike, an electrical vehicle.

* The Palace is open every day except on Mondays from 9:00 am, but the estate of Trianon and the Coach Gallery only open in the afternoon.