For most visitors, who went to the Palace of Versailles, the most common to feeling after the visit was that they were overwhelmed by the extravagance and the opulence of the palace. Apart from the Hall of Mirrors, most people could remember very little of individual rooms. I hope this slideshow would allow you to revisit the palace once again and make a little sense of what you saw. The Palace of Versailles is the most well known example of European Palace. The palace is also a statement of the wealth and power of an absolute monarch. Since then the design of the palace had been copied all over the world. It was constructed during the reign of Louis XIV, when the power of the absolute French monarch was at its zenith. Louis XIV saw the palace as a setting to propagate his own personality cult. It was here at Versailles, Louis XIV daily theatrical rituals were on show to nobility – routines like the king rises, the king retirement at night, even the queen giving birth to the royal babies are opened to the public eyes. Today, the French is keen to shake off this symbol of absolute monarchy but to portrait the palace as achievements of French culture, of French taste and as a place where great international diplomacy is conducted. It was here the Treaty of Versailles was sign, putting an end to the First World War.

1. Versailles The Chateau
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free for non-commercial and personal use. First created 15 Oct 2012. Version 1.0 - 19 Oct 2012. Jerry Tse. London .

2. Brief History
The palace was built between
1664 and 1710, under the reign
of Louis XIV.
In 1682, Versailles became the
official court of the French king,
the centre of political power.
Versailles is not only famous as
a palace, but as a symbol of
absolute monarchy.

3. Louis XIV
The equestrian statue of Louis XIV, who reigned between 1643 and 1715. He was also known as the Sun King.

4. Royal Chapel & Hercules Room
I Royal Chapel
1 Hercules Room

5. Royal Chapel The Baroque chapel was completed in 1708. It took 19 years to build.

6. Royal Chapel Ceiling was painted by Antoine Coypel. The Royal Chapel was the last major building completed
under Louis XIV.

7. Hercules Salon The room is an anteroom to the State Apartments.

8. Hercules Salon Painting on the wall by the Italian Veronese – Meal at the House of Simon the Pharisee.

9. State
These prestigious set of rooms were designed for the king to carry out his official businesses.
Apartments
2 Abundance
Salon
3 Venus Salon
4 Diana Salon
5 Mars Salon
6 Mercury Salon
7 Apollo Salon

10. Decoration Since 2003 the palace has been undergoing a 20 years restoration. Now some decorations are painted in
gold.

11. Abundance Salon A room for refreshments, like coffee, wines and liqueurs were taken.

12. Venus Salon A room used for official business, it next to the “Ambassadors staircase”.

13. Venus Salon
Louis XIV in Roman armour.
A ceiling painting of
Venus.

14. Diana Salon Use for official business, it is also next to the “Ambassadors staircase”.

15. Diana Salon
Painting by de Lafosse, showing Diana
coming to the rescue Iphigenia, above
the fireplace.

16. Diana Salon Ceiling painted by Blanchard, Diana “forgetting her pride and her resolution never to love anyone”.

17. Mars Salon Originally designed as a guard room, it was used for music and dancing on state evenings.

18. Mars Salon
Painting by Dominichino, David
playing the Harp. It was Louis XIV
favourite painting.

19. Mars Salon Ceiling painted by Claude Audran, Mars on a Chariot Drawn by Wolves.

20. Mercury Salon Originally, the room was the ceremonial bedchamber of the State Apartments.

21. Mercury Salon Clock made by Antoine Morand in 1706 for Louis XIV.

22. Apollo Salon
The room was dedicated to Apollo, whom Louis XIV
identified himself with. The original silver furniture in
the room was melted in 1689.
Portrait of Louis XIV at 63 by Hyacinthe Rigaud, French, over the fireplace.

23. Hall of Mirrors and King’s Apartments
8 Salon of War
9 Hall of Mirrors
10 Salon of Peace
19 Oeil de Boeuf Antechamber
20 King’s Bedchamber
21 The Council Carbinet
The Hall of Mirrors together with the two salons on either sides are the centrepieces of the palace. The king’s private
apartments are situated along the central axis of the palace.

24. Salon of War
The room commemorates the
military conquests of the Dutch
War.
Louis XIV on horseback
trampling upon his enemies in
relief.

25. Salon of War
The cove painting depicts the defeat of the Dutch. Hanging from the ceiling is a piece of modern art on exhibition.

26. Central Garden Facade
The Hall of Mirrors and its salons are behind the first floor façade.

27. Hall of Mirrors With its salons, the hall is over 80m long, 10m wide and 13m high. The hall in evening lights.
(Credit : Le Figaro)

28. Hall of Mirrors One of the several classical statues in niches.

29. Hall of Mirrors Ceiling paintings in the hall.

30. Hall of Mirrors Stucco work in the hall.

31. Hall of Mirrors Under a chandelier.

32. Hall of Mirrors Carvings on the lamppost.

33. Hall of Mirrors Chandeliers in the hall.

34. Hall of Mirrors Lampposts.

35. Hall of Mirrors It was in this hall, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending the World War I.

36. Salon of Peace
The ceiling was painted by Le Brun,
depicting France offering peace to Europe.
The cove panels depict Spain, German and
Holland at peace. The painting above the
fireplace shows Louis XV giving peace to
Europe.

37. Salon of Peace Gilded and chiselled bronze trophies decoration on the Salon of Peace.

38. Oeil de Boeuf Antechamber
This ‘Bulls Eye Salon’ was the room for waiting
courtiers to be admitted to the king’s bedroom.

39. Inner Court Facade Behind the first floor façade are the king’s private apartments.

40. King’s Bedchamber
Louis XIV imposed daily rituals for all
of his activities. This began with the
rising ceremony. It was viewed as a
very important moment and the king
liked his court to be present in
numbers; regular attendance was one
of the main criteria for obtaining royal
favour.
The king’s bedroom in evening light.
(credit Le Figaro).

41. King’s Bedchamber The gold thread fabrics of the king’s bed.

42. The Council Cabinet It was in this room the king held his daily councils, including the Council of State and the
Finance Council.

43. Queen’s Apartments
11 Queen’s Bedchamber
12 Peers Salon
13 Antechamber for Grand
Couvert repasts
14 Queen’s Guard Room

44. Queen’s Bedchamber The Fireplace of the queen’s bedroom.

45. Queen’s Bedchamber In this room Queen Maria Theresa gave royal birth in public.

46. Queen’s Bedchamber The head board of the queen’s bed. The fabrics were woven in Lyon.

47. Queen’s Bedchamber Under the gilded sky are paintings, the Queen’s Virtues, by Francois Boucher.

48. Antechamber for Grand Couvert Repasts
The queen’s meals were taken here in public. Silverware for King George III are on display.

49. Queen’s Guard Room This was the room for the queen’s twelve body guards.

50. The Battle Gallery The gallery holds a collection of paintings on French battles, created by Louis Philippe.
38 Battle Gallery

51. Battle Gallery
The gallery of 19th Century paintings of French battles, created by Louis Philippe.

52. Opera Royal The Opera Royal was built hastily to celebrate the marriage of the future Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

53. Forecourt The forecourt at night. (credit : Le Figaro).

54. Sun King at the gate
The End
All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective Music – Zadok the Priest – Coronation Anthems
owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal
by George Frederic Handel composed in 1727.
use.