Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Palace of Versailles, originally built under Louis XIII as a brick and stone hunting lodge, was profoundly transformed by Louis XIV from 1661. Architects Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin-Mansart enlarged the castle, adding the Envelope, a white stone structure surrounding the original building, as well as the Galerie des Glaces (1678-1684). In 1682 Versailles became the official residence of the French monarchy, replacing Paris. The castle was embellished under Louis XV by architect Gabriel, who built the Royal Opera around 1770.

Abandoned after the French Revolution in 1789, the castle was dispossessed of its artistic treasures, including paintings and statues transferred to the Louvre, while the furniture was dispersed. Napoleon ordered his restoration from 1808. In 1837, Louis-Philippe made it a museum dedicated to "all the glories of France", bringing together works of art representing historical figures and important events, such as the compositions of the gallery of the Battles.

Since 1895, restoration works have helped to reconstruct emblematic sets, such as the Royal Opera House, the Queen's Chamber (as in 1789) and the King's Chamber. Today, the museum houses various collections: paintings, sculptures, royal furniture (such as Louis XV's office), tapestries of the Gobelins, and 19th century decorative ensembles, such as the Gallery of the Battles and the rooms of the Crusades. The estate also includes the park and its sculptures, as well as the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon.

External links