Once home to French kings and queens, the Palace of Versailles is a popular attraction in Paris.
Versailles was the center of French political and social life for over a century.
The royal palace has over 700 rooms, stunning gardens, fountains and parks.
But beyond its undeniable beauty, the palace holds a treasure trove of fascinating stories and secrets waiting to be discovered.
In this article, we will share some interesting facts about the Palace of Versailles that even tour guides cannot tell you!
1. The Palace was Built with Combined Visions
The Palace of Versailles that we see today wasn’t built by just one person. It took the combined talents of several key figures to create the grand palace.
Louis Le Vau, André Le Nôtre and Charles Le Brun were the main three figures involved in building the palace.
Louis Le Vau was the main architect who expanded the palace’s main parts in the 1600s under King Louis XIV.
André Le Nôtre designed the amazing gardens, parks and grounds surrounding the palace. These gardens cover a huge part of Versailles, making it look more grand.
Charles Le Brun was the artist who helped design the inside of the palace, including the paintings and decorations.
Each of these people added their own touch to the palace’s design, and together, they created a masterpiece of French architecture and design.
Built in the 17th century, the Palace of Versailles became the seat of power in France’s monarchy when Louis XIV moved the court from Paris until the French Revolution.
2. It was Originally a Hunting Lodge
The Grand Palace of Versailles we see today was a hunting lodge before becoming a palace.
It all started with King Louis XIII in the early 1600s. He loved hunting, and the land where Versailles sits has plenty of animals.
So, the king bought the land and built a small chateau, like a hunting lodge, to stay in overnight when he didn’t want to travel back to Paris or another town.
Over time, this chateau got bigger, and more land was added.
Then, in the 1600s, King Louis XIV had a grand vision. He turned the simple hunting lodge into the magnificent palace we see today.
It became so big that over 5,000 people could live there!
3. Makers of the Hall of Mirrors were Secretly Stolen
The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles is the most famous part of the palace.
It was constructed in 1678 under the architect Jules Hardouin Mansart, and building the hall wouldn’t have been possible without clever convincing.
Back in the 1600s, Venice was the only place that knew how to make big and clear mirrors.
According to legend, the Venetian government wanted to keep this knowledge a secret.
To do so, they even kept an eye on the craftsmen’s movements and forbade them from leaving the city under penalty of death.
King Louis XIV really wanted these mirrors for his palace, but France didn’t have the skills to make them.
So, France secretly convinced some skilled mirror makers from Venice to come to France and build the mirrors for the palace.
This was kind of like stealing a secret because Venice never wanted to share it.
Today, the hall has 357 mirrors, which were among the most expensive items to possess at the time.
4. The First World War I Ended in the Palace
The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles has witnessed many grand events throughout history.
It was originally designed to be a grand place, lit by thousands of candles during celebrations.
However, besides these grand celebrations, it has also witnessed some serious historic moments.
The most important of these was the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I between Germany and the Allied Powers.
It was signed on June 28th, 1919, in the Hall of Mirrors at the royal palace, exactly five years after Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination, which led to the beginning of the war.
Fun fact about the Palace of Versailles:
The palace was so large that there was a huge gap between the kitchen and dining room. So, it was often cold when King Louis XIV’s food arrived at his table.
5. The Smell of Gardens Made Visitors ill
The gardens of Versailles are some of the palace’s largest and most popular parts.
These gardens contain over 600 fountains, 372 statues, 55 water features, and over 20 miles of water pipes.
There are hundreds of plants, trees and flowers in these gardens.
Today, you can easily roam around the garden and enjoy the refreshing smell of the flowers; earlier, some visitors fell ill due to the smell.
In the 17th century, when the gardens had strongly scented flowers such as jasmine, tuberoses and hyacinths in Trianon, their smell was so strong that it made some guests ill.
6. The Palace Gave Birth to the Idea of Zoos
Today, the Palace of Versailles is known for its royal appearance and grandeur.
However, earlier, the palace grounds had several menageries, which were like small zoos that housed wild animals and birds brought from all over the world.
One of the very first things built at Versailles was a special area for animals, designed by the architect Louis Le Vau.
This menagerie was actually quite unique for its time. It was one of the first places to keep different animals in separate areas that suited their needs.
Visitors could even see the animals from a balcony in the centre of the menagerie.
This innovative idea of caring for animals spread throughout Europe, and eventually, these menageries became the zoos we know today.
This is quite the most unique fact about the Palace of Versailles!
7. Played a Role in Scientific Research
The Palace of Versailles also played a crucial role in scientific discoveries.
During the Enlightenment period, kings Louis XV and Louis XVI loved science.
They also collected all sorts of tools used for experiments in things like clocks (horology), studying the stars (astronomy), and making maps (cartography).
The palace had a big animal area, which helped scientists learn more about animals (zoology). Doctors studied animals closely to understand them better.
All this research at Versailles helped lead to the creation of schools for vets (veterinary schools).
In addition to animals, the large garden area with 400+ species of plants allowed scientists to learn about plants (botany) and agriculture.
The palace even had luxurious plants such as pineapples, vanilla, and coffee plants!
8. People in the Palace loved Hot Chocolate
There was always plenty of food and drink available at Versailles, but King Louis XV preferred hot chocolate.
Because of his preference, hot chocolate became popular with everyone at the court.
At that time, hot chocolate was considered a special and exotic treat for the royals.
People also believed it had aphrodisiac effects (increased sexual desire), so the king often gave it to his visiting mistresses.
He even made it himself sometimes, which was unusual for a king. Marie-Antoinette also loved hot chocolate.
When she married Louis XVI in 1770, she brought her chocolate maker to the court, called “Chocolate Maker to the Queen.”
9. It was Destroyed During the French Revolution
The royal gate of the palace was destroyed during the French Revolution.
The luxury and wealth inside the palace made many French people resent Versailles, especially since many outside the palace were poor and hungry.
Marie Antoinette’s extravagant lifestyle was particularly disliked.
When the French Revolution began in 1789, the revolutionary government ordered the removal of the palace’s front gate covered in gold.
In 2008, the gate was rebuilt and decorated with 100,000 gold leaves. Today, you can see the gate by booking your Versailles Palace tickets.
10. The Palace had a Silver Chamber Pot
One of the unique facts about the Palace of Versailles is that its members even sat on a silver pot!
Members of the royal family had separate rooms with silver chamber pots and a hole in their rooms. Staff come by daily to change the pot.
While others at the palace also had chamber pots, they often didn’t have the privacy of a separate room and had to use pots placed in the corners of rooms.
However, the palace’s lack of proper toilet facilities made it quite smelly, especially with so many guests and staff.
Eventually, King Louis XV had better facilities, known as “toilettes à l’anglaise,” installed in his private rooms.
Contents
FAQs
1. What is special about the Versailles Palace?
The Palace of Versailles is special for several reasons:
History: It was the centre of French political power for over a century and has witnessed many significant historical events.
Architecture and Design: It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its grand architecture, beautiful gardens, and opulent decorations.
Artistic Significance: It represents the height of French art and design during the 17th and 18th centuries.
2. What are three facts about the Palace of Versailles?
The palace was built with the combined efforts of architect Louis Le Vau, landscape designer André Le Nôtre, and interior designer Charles Le Brun.
The palace site started as a hunting lodge built by King Louis XIII in the early 1600s, which was transformed by Louis XIV.
The Hall of Mirrors, constructed in 1678, features 357 mirrors and was the site of the 1919 signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I.
3. Why is the Palace of Versailles unique?
The Palace of Versailles is unique because of its historical significance, grand architecture, and extensive and beautifully designed gardens.
It symbolized the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime and introduced innovative concepts such as the menagerie, a precursor to modern zoos.
4. Who owns Versailles?
The government of France owns the Palace of Versailles.
5. Is Versailles Palace real gold?
While the Palace of Versailles itself is not made of gold, many elements, including the gates and interior decorations, are adorned with gold leaf.
The front gate, rebuilt in 2008, is decorated with 100,000 gold leaves.
6. Who first lived at Versailles Palace?
King Louis XIII was the first to build a residence at Versailles, initially a hunting lodge. His son, King Louis XIV, expanded it into the grand palace known today.
7. Is Versailles the largest palace in the world?
Versailles is not the world’s largest palace but one of the largest.
It covers an area of 2,014 acres, with the palace itself having a floor area of approximately 721,206 square feet.
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Featured Image: Britannica.com