The Palace of Versailles

#42 - Paris, France

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Who knew a building could cause such a fuss?

Like the French Revolution! Versailles was not just the king's residence for many years and hosted many functions, but it was also a symbol of the high-class and over-the-top spending of the French aristocracy. Everything is exquisite about this place: from the 600,000 sq. ft. of fine-taste luxury, 700 rooms, to the 67 staircases which all took 27 years to build and employed more than 30,000 laborers. In 1789 the French citizens did not agree with King Louise XIV's extravagance and decided to seize the palace and sentence him and his family to death on the guillotine - hence the French Revolution. If not for its complexity and architecture, Versailles is our #42 AbsoluteVisit for its beauty and historical value.

Slide 1: Versailles Palace Hall of Mirrors

by Visualist Images
Slide 2: Versailles Palace clsoe up

by WVJazzman
Slide 3: Versailles Palace fountain

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Slide 4: VersaillesPalace gardens

by MarsdenBoy
Slide 5: Versailles Palace gardens fountains Oran

by Victor Riverola
Slide 6: Versailles hallway

by acweiss
Slide 7: Versailles view from the Palace gardens

by Sethgo

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Quick Facts & History

When the palace was built, Versailles was only a small country village. But with the construction of the palace and the growth in its prestige and importance, the city has now grown into a major suburb of Paris, France.
The palace took 50 years to complete, utilizing 36,000 workers and 6,000 horses for the 500 meter (1,640 ft) long palace. Upon completion, the palace could accommodate up to 5,000 people including servants, and served as the center of political power for France from 1682 until 1789 (when the royal family was driven from the palace by angry citizens).
The Palace of Versailles is one of the largest palaces in the world with over 700 rooms, 2000 windows, 1,250 fireplaces, 67 staircases and over 1,800 acres of parkland.
Being of such prominent political prowess, many important decisions and documents were made within the Palace of Versailles, including the Treaty of Versailles, which concluded World War I.
The Palace of Versailles is also the site of the famous rebellion of women and other townspeople who marched to the gates demanding bread of King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette. The couple were later overthrown and executed.
The Hall of Mirrors is located within the Palace, designed specifically to reflect sunlight out into the garden in commemoration of the Sun King, Louis XIV.

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Places That Are Nearby

Palace of Versailles

#42

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