Hall of Mirrors (Versailles) facts for kids
The Hall of Mirrors is a very famous and beautiful room inside the Palace of Versailles in France. It's also known as the Grande Galerie or Galerie des Glaces in French. This amazing hall was built a long time ago, between 1678 and 1684. It was designed to impress important visitors and show off the power of France.
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Building the Hall of Mirrors
The Hall of Mirrors was built on what used to be an outdoor terrace. This terrace was first designed by an architect named Le Vau. Later, two other famous designers, Mansart and Le Brun, worked together to create the Hall. They built it between 1678 and 1684.
Amazing Decorations
The Hall of Mirrors is decorated with beautiful marble. The tops of the columns, called "capitals," show special designs. These designs include a rooster, the sun god Apollo, and the fleur-de-lys. The fleur-de-lys is a symbol that looks like a lily flower and was used by French kings.
Golden Trophies and Statues
The walls and the decorative borders near the ceiling, called "cornices," are covered with gilded bronze trophies. "Gilded" means they are covered in a thin layer of gold. These golden decorations were made by famous artists like Coysevox and Tubi.
In special spaces called "niches," you can see statues. These statues include figures like Bacchus, who was the god of wine, and Urania, who was the muse of astronomy. There are also statues of Venus, the goddess of love, and old statues from the collection of King Louis XIV.
Incredible Ceiling Paintings
The ceiling of the Hall of Mirrors is covered with amazing paintings. These paintings show important events from French history. Some parts show the War with Holland, which happened from 1672 to 1678. Other paintings use a clever trick called "trompe l'œil." This means they "trick the eye" into thinking flat surfaces are three-dimensional. These paintings show the War of Devolution from 1667 to 1668. They also show new rules and changes King Louis XIV made when he first became king.
Furniture and Lighting
Inside the Hall, there are beautiful tables made of alabaster, which is a type of stone. Some of these tables came from the collection of a duke named d'Antin. The vases and busts, which are sculptures of people's heads and shoulders, came from the Royal collections. The Hall also has many chandeliers and candelabra. These were rebuilt in 1980 to look exactly like the original ones from 1770.
Important Events in the Hall
The Hall of Mirrors has been the setting for many important historical moments.
Daily Life of the King
In the 1600s, King Louis XIV used the Hall of Mirrors every day. He would walk through it when he went from his private rooms to the chapel. Many courtiers, who were people who attended the king, would gather to watch the king and his family pass by.
Famous Parties
In 1745, the Hall was used for a special party called "The Yew Tree Ball." At this party, King Louis XV met Madame de Pompadour. She became a very important person in his life.
Major Historical Moments
The Hall of Mirrors also played a role in major world events.
- On January 18, 1871, the Prussian king, William I, was declared the German emperor right here in the Hall of Mirrors. This happened after a war, with important leaders like Bismarck present.
- On June 28, 1919, the Hall of Mirrors was chosen for a very important signing. The French Prime Minister, Clemenceau, signed the Treaty of Versailles here. This treaty officially ended World War I.
Today, the Hall of Mirrors is still used for important events. It hosts receptions for leaders from other countries who visit France.
Gallery
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A beautiful candelabra in the Hall of Mirrors.
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The signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
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A detailed view of one of the chandeliers.
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The large windows looking out onto the gardens.
