3. Before the Palace
The original building
was a hunting lodge
and private retreat
for Louis XIII and his
family.
Louis XIV expanded
the hunting lodge
into the splendor it is
today.
4. Plans for Versailles
Louis Le Vau drew up
the architecture plans
for Chateau de
Versailles. They
called the plans the
envelope because it
enveloped the original
hunting lodge on 3
sides.
5. The construction of Chateau De Versailles began in 1660. The
masterpiece of Louis XIV was not complete until 1688. Changes were
made on Chateau de Versailles until 1774..
The Visionary of Chateau De Versailles
6. Construction type and style
The
construction
system of
Versailles
was cut stone
bearing
masonry.
The style of
Chateau de
Versailles
was baroque.
Baroque
emphasizes
dramatic,
bold curves
and form.
7. There was no luxury or extravagance spared in the building of Versailles. The
corners, ceilings, and walls are covered with lavish carvings, marble, woodwork
and paintings. There are 2,143 windows, 1252 fireplaces, and 67 staircases.
Details of Chateau de Versailles
8. Rooms in Chateau de Versailles
Hall of Mirrors The Congress
Room
The Royal
Chapel
9. “When you arrive at Versailles, from the courtyard side you see a wretched,
top-heavy building, with a façade seven windows long, surrounded with
everything which the imagination could conceive in the way of bad taste. When
you see it from the garden side, you see an immense palace whose defects are
more than compensated by beauties” - Voltaire
Voltaire’s thoughts on Versailles
