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Compared to the history of the Palace of Versailles, the history of the Hall of Mirrors is shorter. It wasn’t part of the Palace’s initial plan, and sometime in 1678, King Louis XIV decided to build the Hall of Mirrors.
It wasn’t part of the Palace’s initial plan, and sometime in 1678, King Louis XIV decided to build the Hall of Mirrors. He decided to combine a few rooms of the Kings and the Queen’s apartments and the large terrace in the Palace’s front and create one large room.
In 1685 the Doge of Genoa and the ambassadors of Siam (1686), Persia (1715) and the Ottoman Empire (1742) crossed the full length of the gallery, under the scutiny of the French Court seated to either side on tiered seating, before they reached the king.
Almost 50 years later, the Hall of Mirrors witnessed the signing of Treaty of Versailles. Signed on 28 June 1919, it ended the war between Germany and the Allied Powers and signaled the end of World War 1.
Take part in the history of the palace of Versailles by supporting a project that suits you: adopt a linden tree, contribute to the missions of the Palace or participate in the refurnishing of the royal apartments.
The Hall of Mirrors The Hall of Mirrors, the Peace Room and the War Room. The Hall of Mirrors. The Hall of Mirrors, the most famous room in the Palace, was built to replace a large terrace designed by the architect Louis Le Vau, which opened onto the garden. The terrace originally stood between the King’s Apartments to the north and ...
The Peace Room is symmetrical to the War Room and contains the same marble panel decoration and chased trophies of arms in gilded bronze. Here, however, Le Brun decorated the cupola and arches on the themes of the benefits of peace brought to Europe by France. From the beginning of Louis XIV’s reign this room was separated from the hall by a movable partition and was considered part of the Queen’s Apartment, constituting the final room after the Queen’s Chamber. During the reign of Louis XV, every Sunday Marie Leszczyńska gave concerts of religious or secular music, which played an important role in musical life in Versailles and which were continued by Marie-Antoinette during the subsequent reign. When required, the partition separating the room from the Hall of Mirrors was removed and the room formed part of the King's State Apartment.
It was also here that the Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919, ending the First World War. Since then, presidents of the Republic have continued to receive official guests here.
During the latter events, the throne was placed on a platform at the end of the hall near the Peace Room, whose arch was closed off. Rarely has the show of power reached such a level of ostentation. In 1685 the Doge of Genoa and the ambassadors of Siam (1686), Persia (1715) and the Ottoman Empire (1742) crossed the full length of the gallery, ...
Political successes are illustrated through the 30 painted compositions on the vaulted ceiling by Le Brun, which depict the glorious history of Louis XIV during the first 18 years of his reign , from 1661 to the peace treaties of Nijmegen. Military and diplomatic victories and reforms with a view to reorganising the kingdom are illustrated ...
Mansart and Le Brun designed and built the Hall between 1678 and 1684. The Hall is decorated with marble. The "French order" capitals depict a cock, Apollo, and fleur-de-lys. The walls and cornices are decorated with gilded bronze trophies by Coysevox, Tubi, Le Gros, Clérion, and Flamen. The niches contain depictions of Bacchus, Urania, Modesty, Venus in Modesty and antiques from the collections of King Louis XIV.
French Prime Minister Clemenceau chose the Hall of Mirrors to sign the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I on 28 June 1919. The Hall of Mirrors still serves for state occasions such as receptions for visiting heads of state.
The Hall is decorated with marble. The "French order" capitals depict a cock, Apollo, and fleur-de-lys. The walls and cornices are decorated with gilded bronze trophies by Coysevox, Tubi, Le Gros, Clérion, and Flamen.
In 1745 the Hall was the scene of " The Yew Tree Ball ". It was at this event that Louis XV met Madame de Pompadour. In the 19th century, the Prussian king, William I, was declared German emperor on 18 January 1871 in the Hall of Mirrors by Bismarck and the victorious German princes and lords. French Prime Minister Clemenceau chose the Hall ...
Image: Myrabella / Wikimedia Commons. It is fair to say that the Hall of Mirrors has helped end many wars by being the spot where the treaties got signed. For instance, in 1783, Britain and the USA signed the Treaty of Paris. This treaty was responsible for ending the Revolutionary War.
The financial superiority got established by using 357 mirrors , which were expensive luxuries back then. The artistic superiority was established by the sculptures, furniture, and other works of art that decorated the Hall of Mirrors. Back to Top.
The Hall of Mirrors is the most popular room in the Palace of Versailles. The French also call it Grande Galerie or Galerie des Glaces. More than 10 Million tourists visit the Palace of Versailles every year, and all of them see this artistic marvel called the Hall of Mirrors.
If you are visiting during the peak tourist season, the Fountain Shows and Musical Gardens are an added attraction. The Fountain Shows and Musical Gardens ticket also gets you access to the Versailles Palace and Hall of Mirrors. Most seasoned tourists opt for a local guide to take them through.
It was the most used room during the times of the Kings. Of everything there to see in Palace of Versailles , the Hall of Mirrors gets the most visitors. Back to Top.
It has a 40-feet (12.2 meters) high ceiling decorated with colorful paintings. Charles Le Brun, a noted French artist of the period, painted 30 compositions on the vaulted ceiling depicting Louis XIV and France’s glorious history. While the construction of the Hall of Mirrors may have stopped, its restoration hasn’t.
The courtiers and visitors with no direct access to the King could drop in a word or pass on a note to him in the Hall of Mirrors. It also hosted extravagant ceremonies such as royal weddings, ceremonial balls, diplomatic receptions, etc. Back to Top.