Why is the Palace of Versailles important today?

The Palace of Versailles is an opulent complex and former royal residence outside of Paris. It has held sway in the public imagination for years because of its architectural grandeur and political history.

Does the Versailles Palace have any important now?

Palace of Versailles, former French royal residence and centre of government, now a national landmark. It is located in the city of Versailles, Yvelines département, Île-de-France région, northern France, 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Paris.

What is Versailles Palace now?

The Palace of Versailles is currently owned by the French state. Its formal title is the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles Since 1995, it has been run as a Public Establishment, with an independent administration and management supervised by the French Ministry of Culture.

What were the benefits of building the Palace of Versailles?

By building Versailles, Louis shifted the seat of French government away from the feuding, gossiping, trouble-making noble families in Paris. He had the whole palace and its massive gardens built along an East/West axis so the sun would rise and set in alignment with his home.

What happened to Versailles after Louis death and what its function is today?

Following the death of Louis XIV in September 1715, the court abandoned Versailles for Vincennes and transplanted itself briefly to Paris the following December. His timidity led him to increase the number of small chambers in which he felt more at ease than in the grand public spaces created by Louis XIV.

Who lives in Versailles Palace?

The Palace of Versailles allowed a large Court to live close to the King. Depending on the day, there were between 3,000 and 10,000 people here, forming a highly variegated society governed nonetheless by a strict hierarchy that applied to all.

What was life like in Versailles?

Life in Versailles Palace seems luxurious; the royal family had the best doctors at their disposal, swapped clothes several times a day and ate the most exclusive dishes. The king kept several mistresses on after, had a lot of children and lived in a beautiful palace with proverbial spacious gardens.

What day is Versailles closed?

The Palace is open every day except Monday. The Palace opens at 9 am; the Trianon estate opens at noon, from Tuesday to Sunday.

What would the palace cost to construct today?

In 1994, PBS estimated that the total cost of the project could have ranged anywhere from $2-300 billion today!

How much did Versailles cost?

Actual building costs for Versailles are debated by modern historians, because currency values are uncertain. However, Versailles’ price tag ranges anywhere from two billion dollars (in 1994 USD) all the way up to a maximum cost of $299,520,000,000!

When was Versailles last used?

The French Revolution was a turning point in the history of both France and the Palace of Versailles. The main royal residence since 1682 and the reign of Louis XIV, the Palace was abandoned by the royal family in 1789.

Why is the Palace of Versailles so famous?

The Palace of Versailles has been listed as a World Heritage Site for 30 years and is one of the greatest achievements in French 17 th century art. Louis XIII ‘s old hunting pavilion was transformed and extended by his son, Louis XIV, when he installed the Court and government there in 1682.

How many rooms are there in the Palace of Versailles?

A succession of kings continued to embellish the Palace up until the French Revolution. Today the Palace contains 2,300 rooms spread over 63,154 m2. In 1789, the French Revolution forced Louis XVI to leave Versailles for Paris.

Why was Versailles destroyed?

Versailles was only a village at the time. It was destroyed in 1673 to make way for the new town Louis XIV wished to create. Currently the centrepiece of Versailles urban planning, the Palace now seems a far cry from the countryside residence it once was.

What happened to the Royal Opera of Versailles after WW2?

More work took place after World War II, with the restoration of the Royal Opera of Versailles. The theater was reopened in 1957, in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. In 1978, parts of the Palace were heavily damaged in a bombing committed by Breton terrorists.