Versailles Travel Guide

Welcome to Versailles!

In 1682, France's king Louis XIV moved the royal court from the hustle and bustle of polluted Paris to the tranquil countryside of Versailles; it is here where architects, interior decorators and garden designers had been busily expanding the previous king Louis XIII's modest hunting lodge into a massive complex capable of housing 20,000 people. France's aristocrats and nobility were invited to live at the Chau de Versailles, centralizing power and solidifying the strength of the monarchy.

Called the Sun King, Louis XIV inherited the throne at the age of four, and ruled for 72 years. Each day the king appeared at scheduled times to hear from the public. The chateau's grounds include 100 hectares (250 acres) of gardens and a 1.5 km (1 mi) long canal. The Grande Ecourie, or the Royal Stables, were capable of holding 600 horses, and the Grande Appartements give a glimpse at the lifestyle of royalty. Louis XVI built the Queen's Hamlet for the amusement of his unpopular bride, Marie Antoinette, and the Hall of Mirrors is lined with sparkling chandeliers and the palace's finest art.