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*Learning resources for product buyers


Modern_18. Palace of Versailles

[Europe_France]

Background Knowledge of Palace of Versailles

A masterpiece of Baroque architecture located in Versailles, Yvelines, 22 kilometers southwest of Paris, it is famous for its gorgeous buildings and extensive landscaped gardens. 


  ● Location: In the city of Versailles, France 

  ● When constructed: 17th–18th centuries 

  ● Size: The entire length measures 680 m. The entire area, including the gardens, measures approximately 8 km2. 

  ● Materials: Stone 

  ● Features: - Originally built as a hunting lodge by Louis XIII, but was transformed in 1668 at the order of Louis XIV into a U-shaped palace.

                       - In 1680, two large buildings were added, and from 1682 until 1789, the royal family, thousands of nobles, and their servants stayed in the palace.

                       - After the French Revolution (1789–1799) started, the palace was used as a library and a hospital. From 1837 it has been used as an art museum.

                       - Symbolizes the monarchy of France and serves as one of the best examples of the baroque-style palace architecture.

                       - Was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.


1. Interesting Story about Artifacts and Historic Sites

Palace of Versailles: Built for the Sun King Louis XIV


In the 17th century, there was a king named Louis XIII. He really liked to go hunting, so he built a fancy house called a palace in a city called Versailles. It was not a big palace at first, just a small one for hunting. But then another king named Louis XIV came along, and he wanted to show off his power and greatness. So, he made the palace bigger and fancier.


The Palace of Versailles was like a castle with lots of decorations. It had beautiful statues and patterns all over. One of the most famous rooms in the palace was called the Hall of Mirrors. It was super long, about 73 meters! On one side of the room, there were big windows, and on the other side, there were many mirrors. Some mirrors were as tall as a two-story house! Can you imagine that?


Outside the palace, there were amazing gardens. They were like a big, beautiful park with flowers and fountains. One of the fountains had a special sculpture of a god named Apollo. He was pulling a chariot out of the water. It was really cool!


The king, Louis XIV, wanted all his important people to live near the palace. That way, he could keep an eye on them and make sure they were loyal to him. He also wanted to be in charge of the nobles who lived all over the country.


The Palace of Versailles was always being changed and made bigger. It was like a never-ending construction site because the king wanted to show that he had all the power in the world. But then something important happened called the French Revolution. During that time, the king and queen were killed, and the palace was used for different things. Finally, in 1837, it became a history museum. Some parts of the palace were changed into exhibition halls, but the main building stayed the same.