The Palace of Versailles Symbolizes the Excesses of Europe’s Ruling Class – Versailles, France
What is It? - During Europe’s first imperial age from 1400 to 1750 AD, leading nations began to explore the world and establish trading ports in distant lands. At the same time, the royal families of these nations built large and grand palaces to impress the rulers of competing powers, their nations’ noble families, and their subjects. The most extravagant royal residence in Europe was built by France’s Sun King, Louis XIV. He began construction in 1668 of a grand new palace in Versailles eighteen miles outside of Paris in the French countryside. During the next 100 years, other opulent royal residences were built or greatly expanded including Catherine’s Place in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal, the Royal Place of Madrid in Spain, and the Hapsburg’s Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria.
Despite its grandeur, the Palace contributed little to the glory of France. Even though King Louis XIV ruled for 54 years, his lavish spending on the palace and costly wars nearly bankrupt the country. By the time he died in 1715, the Palace of Versailles housed 20,000 people and had become the de facto administrative and entertainment capital of the kingdom. It also exemplified the widening gap between the French ruling class and its people. Subsequent rulers continued to indulge themselves at Versailles until the citizenry stormed the palace during the French Revolution in 1789. Eventually, King Louis Philippe, who served as a constitutionally appointed monarch, opened the palace as a museum in 1837. In addition, it has remained a symbol of French power and independence. The Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I and changed national boundaries throughout Europe was signed there in 1919.
What You Will See There - It is difficult to describe the layout of the Palace of Versailles since it has 2300 rooms scattered around the main chateau, the north and south wings of the complex, and the various outbuildings. One common theme in the main building is that there are many halls and rooms which are elaborately decorated with painted ceilings, artwork, and ornate furniture. The reception halls and facilities remain showplaces to this day. The most popular room in the chateau is the Hall of Mirrors. Great functions were held there in a long hall which is adorned with glistening chandeliers and 357 mirrors that reflect the light and the profiles of the palace’s courtiers and guests. Another room called the Gallery of Great Battles contained huge paintings of various engagements of the French military over the years. One large hall adjacent to the royal apartments is called The Coronation Room since was devoted to the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte and his later conquests. Finally, there are numerous bedrooms, sitting rooms and libraries where the royal family and distinguished visitors slept and conducted their daily activities with the assistance of hundreds of servants.
Water is a central theme of the huge gardens and other outdoor areas. There is a grand canal over a mile in length where the king could hold boating parties and fifty fountains with 620 water jets scattered throughout the gardens. The Night Fountain Show and other water displays are a popular summer attraction for visitors. Other special features of the grounds are the small summer palace known as the Grand Trianon which Louis XIV built for himself and his mistress to escape the constant pressure of life at court, and the quaint Petit Trianon which Marie Antoinette frequented with her friends and visitors.
How to Get Here - There are numerous tours from Paris that go to Versailles. However, the experience is likely to be more relaxed and focused on your personal interests if you purchase tickets in advance for a specific date and a specific time to enter the Chateau. A separate ticket is required to visit the Trianon Estate including and the Marie Antoinette Domain. Those areas are also interesting but many people find that visiting the Chateau and the Gardens, and using the free audio guide will provide a satisfactory experience. Once you have arranged your tickets and entrance times, plan on a full day excursion and take the RER Train C from many of the Paris stations to the final Train C stop which is the Versailles station. From there, it is a short walk to the front entrance along with the crowd getting off of the train. Return trains to Paris leave frequently throughout the day.
When to Go - Paris can be extremely crowded and hot in the summer and on the weekends, and visiting Versailles is also challenging during these times. If you are traveling during the high season, one strategy for touring is to arrive early, walk the gardens before the heat of the day, and enter the palace later in the morning at a pre-scheduled time. Another strategy is to book a noontime entry and then enter the palace after the tour groups and early crowds have moved along. Springtime and fall offer more temperate weather and smaller crowds and lines.
Cost - The cost for admission to the Chateau, Gardens and Trianon Estate is usually around 22 Euros for adults and free for children under 18 with additional charges for seeing the fountain and light show, or participating in a group or private tour.