Palace of Versailles facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Palace of Versailles
Château de Versailles (French)
Garden façade and fountains; Hall of Mirrors
General information
Architectural style	Classicalism and Baroque
Location	Versailles, France
Coordinates	48°48′17.3″N 2°7′13.2″E / 48.804806°N 2.120333°E / 48.804806; 2.120333
Construction started	1661; 364 years ago (1661)
Owner	Government of France

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Chateau and Park of Versailles
Criteria	Cultural: i, ii, vi
Inscription	1979 (3rd Session)
Area	1,070 ha
Buffer zone	9,467 ha

The Palace of Versailles (pronounced vair-SY or vur-SY) is a huge former royal home in Versailles, France. It is about 12 miles (19 km) west of Paris. King Louis XIV ordered it to be built.

The French government owns the palace. Since 1995, it has been managed by the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles. Around 15 million people visit the palace, park, or gardens every year. This makes it one of the most popular tourist spots in the world.

King Louis XIII first built a simple hunting lodge here in 1623. When he died, his son Louis XIV took over. Louis XIV expanded the lodge into a grand palace between 1661 and 1715. It was a favorite place for both kings. In 1682, Louis XIV moved his court and government to Versailles. This made the palace the unofficial capital of France. Kings Louis XV and Louis XVI also lived there, mostly changing the inside. But in 1789, the royal family and government moved back to Paris. During the French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles was mostly empty.

Napoleon used Versailles as a summer home from 1810 to 1814 after he became Emperor. He did not fully restore it. After the kings returned to power, they lived in Paris. It wasn't until the 1830s that major repairs were made. A museum of French history was created inside the palace.

In 1979, UNESCO named the palace and park a World Heritage Site. This was because it was so important for power, art, and science in France during the 17th and 18th centuries. The French Ministry of Culture also lists it as a very important monument.

Building the Palace of Versailles

Versailles around 1652, an old drawing by Jacques Gomboust

In 1623, King Louis XIII built a hunting lodge on a hill near a village called Versailles. It was about 12 miles (19 km) west of Paris. His main home was the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. From 1631 to 1634, architect Philibert Le Roy replaced the lodge with a small castle for Louis XIII.

When Louis XIII died in 1643, his son Louis XIV became king. The small castle was left empty for ten years. Louis XIV decided to rule France by himself. After his chief minister died in 1661, Louis XIV ordered his father's castle at Versailles to be expanded into a palace.

Louis XIV was very impressed by a grand home called the Vaux-le-Vicomte. Its gardens and buildings were designed by Louis Le Vau, André Le Nôtre, and Charles Le Brun. Louis XIV hired these same talented people for his own projects at Versailles. He personally oversaw the plans and building of the palace.

How the Palace Grew

Versailles in 1668, painted by Pierre Patel

Le Vau's garden side around 1675

At first, work at Versailles focused on the gardens. In the 1660s, Le Vau only added two small buildings and a front courtyard to the castle. But by 1668, Louis XIV decided to make Versailles a full royal residence. He chose to build around his father's old castle instead of tearing it down. From 1668 to 1671, the old castle was covered on three sides by a new building. This gave the palace a new, Italian-style look facing the gardens. However, the courtyard side kept its old style, which Louis XIV did not like.

Versailles around 1682, an old drawing by Adam Perelle

In the 1670s, work focused on the inside of the palace. Louis XIV also asked architect François d'Orbay to design a city around the palace. This city, also called Versailles, would house the growing government and court. In 1674, Louis XIV began building the grand Ambassadors' Staircase. He also had the last parts of the old village of Versailles removed.

After a war ended in 1678, Louis XIV appointed Jules Hardouin-Mansart as the main architect. Mansart added the famous Hall of Mirrors between 1678 and 1681. He also expanded other parts of the palace. Mansart built large stables for horses and a building for servants and kitchens. He added two new wings to the palace to house the many members of the court.

Wars and money problems slowed down building in the late 1600s. Work stopped completely during one war. Louis XIV had to cut funding and cancel some plans. He and Mansart then focused on building a permanent palace chapel. This chapel was built from 1699 to 1710.

A masked ball in the Hall of Mirrors (1745) by Charles-Nicolas Cochin

Kings Louis XV and Louis XVI mostly kept Versailles as it was. They focused on changing the inside of the palace. Louis XV added a ballroom and expanded his private rooms. He also started building the Royal Opera of Versailles in 1748. This theater was not finished until 1770 because of wars and money issues. In 1771, Louis XV had one of the wings rebuilt in a new style. This work also stopped due to money problems. In 1789, the French Revolution forced the royal family to leave Versailles forever.

Versailles' Role in History

Reception of the Grand Condé at Versailles, painted by Jean-Léon Gérôme

The Palace of Versailles was very important to Louis XIV's way of ruling. It showed off French art and culture. It also helped him bring all the power to himself. Louis XIV used grand parties in the gardens to show off his power. These events were known all over Europe.

From 1678, Louis XIV wanted Versailles to be his main government seat. He made the palace bigger to fit his entire court. In 1682, he officially moved the court to Versailles. This helped him control the French nobles. They came to Versailles to gain favor with the king. This made them less powerful in their own regions.

Louis XIV died at Versailles on September 1, 1715. His great-grandson, Louis XV, became king. The court moved back to Paris for a while. Versailles was not used much until 1722, when Louis XV moved the court back.

The 7-year-old Mozart during his stay at the Versailles Palace

In 1763, a 7-year-old Mozart and his family visited Versailles. They even had dinner with the king. Mozart played music during his visit.

In 1783, important treaties were signed at the palace. These treaties officially ended the American Revolutionary War. On September 4, Spain and France signed peace treaties with England at Versailles.

On October 5, 1789, thousands of people from Paris marched to Versailles. They were angry about the high price of bread. They surrounded the palace and forced the King and his family to return to Paris the next day. This was a major event in the French Revolution.

After the royal family left, the palace was closed. In 1792, the new revolutionary government ordered all art from the palace to be moved to the Louvre. In 1793, they sold off all the royal property at auction. This included furniture, mirrors, and kitchen items. The empty palace was then used as a storage place.

Versailles in the 1800s and 1900s

The Lords' Antechamber at Grand Trianon

Banquet for Queen Victoria hosted by Napoleon III in the Royal Opera of Versailles, August 1855 by Eugene Lami

Proclamation of the German Empire, 18 January 1871, 1877 by Anton von Werner

When Napoleon became Emperor in 1804, he thought about living at Versailles. But the cost to fix it up was too high. He did restore the Grand Trianon as a summer home for his family.

After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, King Louis XVIII considered moving back to Versailles. He ordered repairs, but it was too expensive. He did not live there.

In 1830, a new king, Louis-Philippe, came to power. He decided to turn the palace into a museum. It would be dedicated to "all the glories of France." The museum opened in 1837. Its most famous room is the Galerie des Batailles (Hall of Battles). This hall has many large paintings of French victories.

Emperor Napoleon III sometimes used the palace for big events. He hosted a lavish banquet for Queen Victoria in the Royal Opera of Versailles in 1855.

During the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), the German army took over the palace. Parts of it, like the Hall of Mirrors, became a military hospital. The German Empire was officially created in the Hall of Mirrors on January 18, 1871.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, efforts began to restore the palace. These efforts were stopped by two world wars but continue today.

The Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles, 28 June 1919 by William Orpen

Versailles became famous again in June 1919. The Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended World War I, was signed in the Hall of Mirrors. An American millionaire, John D. Rockefeller Jr., gave a lot of money to help restore the palace between 1925 and 1928.

More restoration work happened after World War II. The Royal Opera of Versailles was reopened in 1957. In 1978, parts of the palace were damaged by a bombing. Since the 1950s, the goal has been to restore the palace to how it looked in 1789.

Palace Design and Layout

Map of the main floor (around 1837). The Hall of Mirrors is red, the Hall of Battles is green, the Royal Chapel is yellow, and the Royal Opera is blue.

The Palace of Versailles shows how French architecture changed from the 1630s to the 1780s. The oldest part was built for Louis XIII using brick, marble, and slate. Later, Le Vau added a new building around it in the 1660s. This new part was inspired by Italian villas. When Mansart expanded the palace in the 1680s, he followed this new style.

The palace was mostly finished by the time Louis XIV died in 1715. It has a U-shape when seen from the east. It has 2,143 windows, 1,252 chimneys, and 67 staircases. The palace and its grounds have greatly influenced architecture and gardens around the world. Many other palaces copied its style.

Royal Apartments

Plan of the main floor (around 1742). The King's Grand Apartment is dark blue, the King's Private Apartment is light blue, the Queen's Grand Apartment is yellow, and the Queen's Private Apartment is red.

When Le Vau built around Louis XIII's old castle, he added grand apartments for the king and queen. These were called the château neuf (new castle). The main apartments were on the first floor, facing the gardens. The king's and queen's private rooms stayed in the château vieux (old castle).

The king's main apartment had seven rooms. Each room was named after a planet and a Roman god. The queen's apartment was similar. After the Hall of Mirrors was built (1678–1684), the number of rooms in these apartments was reduced.

Three queens of France lived in the queen's apartments: Marie-Thérèse, Marie Leczinska, and Marie-Antoinette.

Ambassador's Staircase

Model of the former Ambassador's Staircase

The Ambassadors' Staircase was a grand staircase built from 1674 to 1680. It was the main entrance to the palace and the royal apartments. Louis XV had it torn down in 1752 to make space for his private rooms.

The staircase was covered in colorful marble and gold. The walls and ceiling were painted with scenes celebrating Louis XIV's victories. Paintings showed people from all over the world looking into the staircase. A marble statue of Louis XIV was placed above the first landing.

The King's State Apartments

Meal at the House of Simon the Pharisee by Veronese in the Salon of Hercules
The Salon of Abundance
The Salon of Venus
The Salon of Mercury

The Hall of Mirrors was built between 1678 and 1686. This led to big changes in the State Apartments. They were originally meant for the king to live in. But he turned them into galleries for his best paintings. They also became places for his many parties for the court. These parties were often held three times a week in the evenings.

The Salon of Hercules

This room was once a chapel. It was rebuilt starting in 1712 to show off two large paintings by Paolo Veronese. The painting on the ceiling, The Apotheosis of Hercules, was finished in 1736. It gave the room its name.

The Salon of Abundance

This room was the entrance to the King's Cabinet of Curios. This cabinet held Louis XIV's collection of jewels and rare items. A painting on the ceiling shows some of these treasures.

The Salon of Venus

This room was used for serving snacks during evening parties. A life-size statue of Louis XIV dressed as a Roman emperor stands here. The ceiling painting shows the goddess Venus.

The Salon of Mercury

This room was Louis XIV's official bedroom when he moved the court to the palace in 1682. The bed is a copy of the original. The ceiling paintings show the god Mercury. An old clock in the room was made in 1706. When it chimes, figures of Louis XIV and Fame appear from a cloud.

Salon of Mars
Ceiling in the Salon of Apollo, showing the Sun Chariot of Apollo
Bust of Louis XIV by Bernini in Salon of Diana

The Salon of Mars

This room was used by the royal guards until 1782. It was decorated with a military theme. Later, it became a concert room. Today, it has portraits of Louis XV and his Queen.

The Salon of Apollo

This was the royal throne room under Louis XIV. It was used for formal meetings. The original silver throne was melted down in 1689 to pay for a war. The central painting on the ceiling shows the Sun Chariot of Apollo. Apollo was the king's favorite symbol.

The Salon of Diana

Louis XIV used this room for playing billiards. Courtiers could watch him play from galleries. The room's decorations show scenes from the life of the goddess Diana. A famous statue of Louis XIV by Bernini is displayed here.

Private Apartments of the King and Queen

The King's bedchamber
The Queen's bedchamber
The gilded cabinet of Marie-Antoinette
Billiard Room of Marie-Antoinette

The King's Private Apartments

These rooms were at the heart of the palace. They were for the personal use of Louis XIV and later kings. Kings used these rooms for daily ceremonies, like waking up and going to bed. Many courtiers would watch these events.

The King's apartment was reached from the Hall of Mirrors. The King often ate his evening meals alone in front of the fireplace. Courtiers could watch him dine.

The King's bedchamber was originally a drawing room. Louis XIV turned it into his bedroom in 1701. He died there on September 1, 1715. Both Louis XV and Louis XVI continued to use this room. On October 6, 1789, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette appeared on the balcony of this room. They looked down at the angry crowd before being forced to return to Paris.

The Queen's Private Apartments

These rooms were for the queen's personal use. They were first arranged for Marie-Thérèse, Louis XIV's wife. Later, they were changed for Marie Leszczyńska and then for Marie-Antoinette. The Queen's apartments were designed like the King's. Both had ceilings painted with scenes from mythology.

Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors is a long gallery at the western part of the palace. It looks out onto the gardens. It was built from 1678 to 1681. The hall is covered in marble and has 578 mirrors facing 17 windows. These mirrors reflect the light from the windows.

The ceiling painting, by Le Brun, shows the first 18 years of Louis XIV's rule. It includes 30 scenes, with 17 showing military victories. The painting shows Louis XIV himself alongside famous figures.

The Salon of War and the Salon of Peace are at each end of the Hall of Mirrors. The Salon of War celebrates French victories. It has marble panels and gold decorations. The Salon of Peace is decorated in a similar way but with themes of peace.

Royal Chapel

Inside the Royal Chapel

The Royal Chapel of Versailles is at the southern end of the north wing. It is 131 feet (40 m) high, 138 feet (42 m) long, and 79 feet (24 m) wide. The chapel mixes traditional French church design with the French Baroque style of Versailles. The ceiling has three large paintings. These paintings celebrate the actions of King Louis IX and include symbols of Louis XIV.

Louis XIV ordered this chapel, his sixth, in 1683–84. It was the last building made at Versailles during his reign. Building was delayed until 1699 and finished in 1710. A full restoration of the chapel happened from 2017 to 2021.

Royal Opera

The Opera towards the Royal Box
Foyer of the Royal Opera
The Royal Opera during the wedding of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette (1770)
Stage of the Royal Opera
Ceiling of the opera, painted by Louis Jean-Jacques Durameau

The Royal Opera of Versailles was first planned by Louis XIV in 1682. But it was too expensive because of the king's wars. Louis XV brought the idea back in 1748. The project was rushed for the wedding of the future Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette.

To save money and time, the new opera house was built almost entirely of wood. This also gave it excellent sound quality. The wood was painted to look like marble. The ceiling was decorated with a painting of Apollo, the god of arts. The new Opera opened on May 16, 1770, for the royal wedding.

In October 1789, the last banquet for the royal guards was held in the opera house. This was just before the king left for Paris during the French Revolution. After the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, the French National Assembly met in the opera house.

Museum of the History of France

Louis Philippe opens the Galerie des Batailles, by François Joseph Heim (1837)
The Gallery of Battles in the Museum of the History of France
The Battle of Taillebourg, by Eugène Delacroix (1837)
Louis Philippe and his sons before the gates of Versailles, by Horace Vernet History Gallery, (1846)

After becoming King in 1830, Louis Philippe I decided to turn the palace into a museum. It would be dedicated to "All the Glories of France." It would have paintings and sculptures of famous French victories and heroes. Most of the palace's apartments were removed to create large rooms and galleries.

The most famous rooms are the Coronation Room and the Hall of Battles. The Hall of Battles shows large paintings of French victories. Some paintings were brought from the Louvre museum. Others were specially ordered for the museum.

Louis Philippe's plans for the museum stopped when he was overthrown in 1848. But the Gallery of Battles is still there. Many visitors pass through it to see the royal apartments. Other rooms on the first floor now show galleries about Louis XIV and his court. They display furniture, paintings, and sculptures.

The Estate of Versailles

The palace, park, and gardens of Versailles around 1700, mapped by Nicolas de Fer. North is to the right.

The estate of Versailles includes the palace, other buildings, and its park and gardens. As of 2021, the estate covers about 800 hectares (2,000 acres). The park and gardens are to the south, west, and north of the palace.

The palace is approached from the east by the Avenue de Paris. This road is about 17 miles (27 km) long from Paris. It leads to a gate between two large stables. Beyond these stables is a large open area called the Place d'Armes. This is where three main roads of the city of Versailles meet.

Louis XIII first created the estate as a hunting retreat. From 1661, Louis XIV expanded it greatly. At its largest, the estate included a huge hunting ground and the gardens. A 25-mile (40 km) long, 10-foot (3 m) high wall with 24 gates surrounded the estate.

The land around the palace was originally a swamp. It had to be changed to create the beautiful landscape. Earth was moved, and terraces were built. Water from the marsh was collected into lakes and ponds. But even this was not enough water for the palace, city, or gardens. Huge efforts were made to bring water to Versailles. This included building a massive pumping station from the Seine river.

Gardens of Versailles

View of the gardens of Versailles, looking northwest from the palace

The gardens of Versailles, as they look today, were designed by André Le Nôtre. He rearranged an older garden into a grand design. The gardens were expanded as far as the eye could see. They were a team effort between Le Nôtre, Le Brun, and Louis XIV. The gardens are known for their strict order, straight paths, flowerbeds, hedges, and ponds. They became the best example of the French formal garden style. Many other gardens around the world copied them.

Other Buildings on the Estate

The Versailles Orangery

The first other building at Versailles was the Menagerie. It was built between 1662 and 1664. It housed animals and had apartments overlooking their pens. The Versailles Orangery, south of the palace, was built in 1663. It was rebuilt and made twice as big by Mansart from 1681 to 1685.

In 1679, Louis XIV asked Mansart to build the Château de Marly. This was a private retreat about 5 miles (8 km) from the palace. It had a main building and twelve smaller pavilions. It was finished in 1686. The château was later sold and torn down.

La Lanterne is a hunting lodge built in 1787. Since 1960, it has been a state residence.

Petit Trianon

Aerial view of the Petit Trianon and its gardens
West façade of the Petit Trianon
The French Pavilion of the Petit Trianon
The Belvedere in the park of the Petit Trianon

The Petit Trianon was built from 1762 to 1768 for Louis XV and Madame du Barry. It was designed in the Neoclassical style. When Louis XVI became king, he gave the Petit Trianon to Marie-Antoinette. She changed its gardens to the English style and created her own court there.

In 1668, Louis XIV bought and removed a small village called Trianon. He then built the Porcelain Trianon there. It was the first example of Chinoiserie (fake Chinese) architecture in Europe. But its roof leaked, so Louis XIV had it torn down in 1687.

The Grand Trianon

The Grand Trianon with courtyard and gardens. The wing at left is a residence of the President of France.
The Grand Trianon
Interior of the Grand Trianon
The Queen's Theater

To replace the Porcelain Trianon, Louis XIV ordered the Grand Trianon to be built in 1687. It was made of marble in just three months. The Grand Trianon has one story. Its inside rooms are mostly original. Louis XIV, Marie Leszczynska, and Napoleon lived there. Today, a part of the Grand Trianon is a residence for the President of France.

The Queen's Hamlet and Theater

The Queen's Hamlet

Near the Trianons are the French pavilion and the Queen's Theater. The Queen's Hamlet was built from 1783 to 1785. Marie-Antoinette asked for these to be built. The theater was hidden in the gardens and was her private opera house. The hamlet was built to extend her gardens with a rustic, village-like feel.

The Queen's Hamlet included a farmhouse, a dairy, a dovecote, a small house (boudoir), a mill, and a lighthouse-shaped tower. The farm was meant to produce milk and eggs for the queen.

Modern Uses of the Palace

The palace is still used for important political events. Leaders from other countries are often welcomed in the Hall of Mirrors. The French Parliament sometimes meets in Versailles to change the French Constitution. This tradition started in 1875. For example, the Parliament met there in 1999, 2000, and 2003 to pass new laws.

In 2009, President Nicolas Sarkozy gave a speech about the global financial crisis in Versailles. This was the first time a French president had done this since 1848. After the Paris attacks in 2015, President François Hollande also gave a speech to Parliament at Versailles. The president of the National Assembly has an official apartment at the Palace of Versailles. In 2023, King Charles III of the United Kingdom had a state banquet at the Palace during his visit to France.

Images for kids

Panoramic view from the city
Panoramic view from the park