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Chateau de Versailles Description
A small hunting lodge in Versailles, originally built for Louis XIII by Philibert Le Roy in 1631-34, was transformed by Louis XIV into the present huge and magnificent palace between 1661 and 1710. First Louis Le Vau (d. 1670) extended the original building by adding two wings on the east side, enclosing the Cour de Marbre. Then Jules Hardouin-Mansart, appointed court architect in 1676, added an additional story to Le Vau's wings and built the Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors) and the long north and south wings on the garden front. Finally came the two Neo-Classical pavilions flanking the Cour Royale, by Gabriel (18th c.) and Dufour (1820). The whole gigantic building is said to have cost 500million gold francs in addition to the
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Hobbies & Activities category: Garden or botanic display;  Architecture - Roman, Greek, classical;  Castle, chateau, palace;  Historic site;  Architecture - Neo-Classical;  Architecture - Baroque or Rococo;  UNESCO World Heritage Site
Chateau de Versailles Highlights

Apollo Salon

The Apollo Salon in Versailles, its walls hung with valuable tapestries, was originally the Throne Room. The ceiling painting of "Apollo in the Chariot of the Sun accompanied by the Seasons" by
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Chambre de la Reine

In the Queen's Bedroom at Versailles, created in 1671-80 for Queen Maria Theresa, 19 princes and princesses were born. The queen also gave private audiences in this room.

The Roccoco ceiling is
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Chambre du Roi

Louis XIV's bedroom (1701) at Versailles, in which he died on September 1 1715, was the principal room in Louis XIII's hunting lodge. It was here that the famous ceremonies of the "Lever du Roi" in
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Chapel

The Chapel at Versailles was begun by Jules Hardouin- Mansart in 1699 and completed by his brother-in- law Robert de Cotte in 1710. Mass is celebrated here at 5.30 p.m. on the first Sunday in the
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Chateau King's Private Apartments

The king's private apartments at Versailles are reached from the Council Chamber. They were decorated in Roccoco style by J.-A. Gabriel (1755 onwards) for Louis XV, who liked to relax here, away
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Coronation Hall

The Coronation Room at Versailles takes its name from the painting by Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) of the coronation of Napoleon and Josephine. In the time of Louis XIV this was a chapel.

Council Chamber

During the reigns of Louis XV and XVI all important State decisions were taken in this room - the Cabinet du Conseil at Versailles. The decoration (by Jacques-Ange Gabriel, 1755) is a masterpiece of French Roccoco.

Exterior

The exterior view of the Château of Versailles from the town is immensely impressive. Three broad avenues meet in the Place d'Armes at the entrance to the forecourt. Flanking the central avenue,
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Gallery of Battles

In the Gallery of Battles (120m/395ft long, 13m/45ft wide) at Versailles, which extends for almost the whole length of the south wing, 14 centuries of French history are depicted in the paintings
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Hall of Mirrors

After the annexation of Lorraine Louis XIV also acquired the dukedom of Burgundy under the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678, thus consolidating France's supremacy in Europe. In the same year he resolved
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Mars Salon

In Versailles, the Salon de Mars, has a ceiling painting by Audran, was formerly the Guard Room. In it is the famous painting of Marie-Antoinette and her three children (1787) by Madame Vigée-Lebrun.

Museum of History of France

The Museum on the History of France at Versailles displays pictures and sculpture illustrating French history from the Crusades to the 19th C. The works by Laurent de la Hyre, Philippe de
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Opera Royal

The Royal Opera House at Versailles (seen only on conducted tours) was built by Jacques-Ange Gabriel for Louis XV. It was completed in 1770, after only two years' work, in time for the marriage of
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Queen's Antechamber

In this antechamber at Versailles visitors waited to be presented to the queen in the audience chamber or in her bedroom. The ceiling paintings, which date from the time of Louis XIV, depict
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Queen's Audience Chamber

Only the ceiling paintings at the Salon de la Reine in Versailles (allegories of the arts and sciences; by Michel Corneille, 1671) date from the time of Queen Maria Theresa of Austria (Louis XIV's
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Queen's Private Apartments

The queen's private apartments at Versailles, in the style of Marie-Antoinette's time (1770-81), can be reached from her bedroom.

Queen's Staircase

The magnificent Queen's Staircase of multi- colored marble, with gilded bronze reliefs on the ceiling fillet and over the doors, leads into the queen's state and private apartments at Versailles
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Salles des Gardes de la Reine

The ceiling paintings and marble walls in the Salles des Gardes de la Reine in Versailles date from the time of Louis XIV; the paintings (1676-81) are by Noël Coypel (1628-1707). The octagonal
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Salon d'Abondance

The ceiling painting of the goddess of abundance with her cornucopia at Versailles is by R.-A. Houasse, a pupil of Le Brun. In this room supper was served at receptions.

Salon d'Hercule

The ceiling painting, "The Triumph of Hercules" (1733-36) at Versailles, is by François Lemoyne. The two paintings by Veronese, "Eliezer and Rebecca" (over the fireplace) and "The Meal with Simon
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Salon de Diane

The ceiling painting of Diana at Versailles with her attributes is by Gabriel Blanchard, the bust of Louis XIV (1665) by Bernini.

Salon de Mercure

Of the original appointments (1670-80) of the Salons d'Apollon, de Mercure and de Mars at Versailles only the ceiling paintings in their magnificent frames remain: the marble has been replaced by
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Salon de l'Oeil de Boeuf

This room (1701) at Versailles, named after the oval "ox-eye" window over the fireplace, originally contained pictures by Veronese, later replaced by portraits of the royal family. A notable
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Salon de la Guerre

From this room - the Salon de Guerre at Versailles - there are extraordinary views in one direction along the Hall of Mirrors to the Salon de la Paix at the other end (which dates from the same
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Salon de la Paix

The Salon de la Paix at Versailles was created in 1680-86 as a counterpart to the Salon de la Guerre at the other end of the Hall of Mirrors. The ceiling painting is by Le Brun, the portrait of Louis XVI over the chimney by Lemoyne.
Address
Château de Versailles
RP 384
F-78008 Versailles
France
http://www.chateauversailles.fr
Hours
April 1 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed9:009:009:009:009:009:00
Closed18:3018:3018:3018:3018:3018:30
November 1 to March 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed9:009:009:009:009:009:00
Closed17:3017:3017:3017:3017:3017:30
Cost
Adult13.50 Euros
Concession or reduced rate10.00 Euros
Child 18 & underFREE
Tips
The château grounds are free admission.
The garden are open every day, including Mondays. Opera House is closed for about 20 months from April 2007 for major restoration work.
The Petit Trianon is closed until June 2008 for major restoration work.
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
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