The Palace of Versailles, in French known as Château de Versailles, is a former French royal residence and centre of government. Now a national landmark it’s located in the city of Versailles, northern France, just 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Paris. Take a look below for 30 fun and amazing facts about Versailles.
1. The Palace of Versailles was built in 1623 by Louis XIII.
2. The original residence was primarily a hunting lodge and private retreat for Louis XIII (reigned 1610–43) and his family.
3. In 1624 the king entrusted Jacques Lemercier with the construction of a château on the site. Its walls are preserved today as the exterior facade overlooking the Marble Court.
4. Under the guidance of Louis XIV (reigned 1643–1715), the residence was transformed (1661–1710) into an immense and extravagant complex surrounded by stylized French and English gardens.
5. The Palace of Versailles remained the French Kings’ home until the French Revolutionaries killed the King, Queen, and imprisoned their kids.
6. The court of Versailles was the seat of French political power only from 1682 to 1789.
7. When it was fully operational around 5,000 people including aristocrats, courtiers and servants lived in the Palace.
8. The palace contains 2,300 rooms spread over 63,154 m2.
9. It took 36,000 workers to construct the palace and its gardens.
10. The gardens of Versailles span across 800 hectares comprised of 1,400 fountains, 400 sculptures, 200,000 trees, and 5.57 km of canal.
11. The palace of Versailles would cost over $2.5 billion to construct in today’s money.
12. The palace of Versailles is the world’s largest royal domain.
13. The Royal Opera of Versailles was architected by Ange-Jacques Gabriel and that’s why is also known as Theatre Gabriel.
14. It was inaugurated in 1770 and for a long time was the largest Opera house in the whole of Europe.
15. The Treaty of Paris of 1783 that was signed at Versailles, ended the revolutionary war between the British and the United States of America, and recognized American independence.
16. The French Revolution which started in 1789 almost destroyed the Palace of Versailles.
17. When the French Revolution began, rioters landed at the gates of the Palace. The 80-meter steel gate, which was decorated with 100,000 leaves of gold, was destroyed.
18. Almost 220 years later, the Golden Gate was restored to its former glory. In 2008, thanks to private donations, the gate was restored and 100,000 leaves of gold were added.
19. The whole restoration cost €5 million Euros ($8 million US dollars – back then this was the exchange rate).
20. During the French Revolution, the artwork at the Palace of Versailles was relocated to the Louvre for safekeeping.
21. After the French Revolution, the Palace was largely ignored and it fell into disrepair.
22. Louis-Philippe, who became King of France in 1830, decided to dedicate the Palace of Versailles to all the glories of France.
23. He decreed that the palace should become a museum and showcase the glorious history of France.
24. The Treaty of Versaille, signed on the 28th of June 1919 brought World War I to an end. The treaty was signed in the Hall of Mirrors.
25. The Hall of Mirrors, perhaps the most famous room in the Palace of Versailles has a total of 357 mirrors.
26. When other royals and dignitaries came visiting, the Hall of Mirrors was lit up with many candles transforming it into what the historians call the ‘corridor of light.’
27. It is believed that depending on the occasion, sometimes as many as 20,000 candles were lit.
28. All the materials used in building and decorating Versailles were made in France.
29. At the time Venice had a monopoly on making mirrors so Venetian artisans were lured to France.
30. The Venetians then ordered the assassination of the mirror makers for giving their secrets away.
