At the Palace of Versailles he staged the finest comedies, operas and tragedies and organised spectacular parties. At the start of his reign, before turning to more political allegories, Louis XIV chose the sun as his personal emblem.
NEVER before or after, excepting perhaps under Pericles, has a government so stimulated, nourished, or dominated art as under Louis XIV. Richelieu’s fine taste and judicious purchases had helped the recovery of French art from the Religious Wars.
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 app includes the audioguide tour of the Palace and an interactive map of the Estate.
According to the website of the Palace of Versailles, the daily routine of Louis XIV began at 8:30am, when the First Valet of the Bedchamber came to rouse the king.
It was the most important room and was the location of two important ceremonies where the king would wake up (lever) and go to sleep (coucher) surrounded by his courtiers. The king also had a ceremony for putting on and taking off his hunting boots. These practices were symbols of Louis XIV's moniker of Sun King.
The reign of Louis XVI Unlike his grandfather, Louis XVI spent most of his time in Versailles, where he embarked on several projects for the interior, while devoting himself – in his private chambers – to studying various sciences that he particularly liked.
The Louis XIV style had three periods. During the first period, which coincided with the youth of the King (1643–1660) and the regency of Anne of Austria, architecture and art were strongly influenced by the earlier style of Louis XIII and by the Baroque style imported from Italy.
In 1789, the French Revolution forced Louis XVI to leave Versailles for Paris. The Palace would never again be a royal residence and a new role was assigned to it in the 19th century, when it became the Museum of the History of France in 1837 by order of King Louis-Philippe, who came to the throne in 1830.
The original residence was primarily a hunting lodge and private retreat for Louis XIII (reigned 1610–43) and his family. In 1624 the king entrusted Jacques Lemercier with the construction of a château on the site. Its walls are preserved today as the exterior facade overlooking the Marble Court.
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French Baroque architecturePalace of Versailles / Architectural styleThe Palace of Versailles (built c. 1624-98), a magnificent example of French Baroque architecture, is the most famous royal chateau in France.
Louis XIV, also known as Sun King, chose fashion as the medium of royal authority.
Unlike Italian Baroque buildings, its exterior is restrained and classical (like Renaissance buildings). Unlike curvilinear and undulating Italian Baroque facades, its facade is rectilinear and orderly, with repeated geometrical units.
Louis XIVLouis XIV, king of France (1643–1715), ruled his country, principally from his great palace at Versailles, during one of the country's most brilliant periods. Today he remains the symbol of absolute monarchy of the classical age.
Versailles palace : list of building materialsSlate|BricksIron|Stone
Versailles also helped Louis take control of the nobility by providing enough space to keep them under his watchful eye. The Palace of Versailles supported absolutism during King Louis XIV's reign through propaganda, and control of nobility.
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.
Louis XIV married his cousin (on both sides) Maria Theresa of Spain, the Spanish Infanta, at Saint-Jean-de-Luz in 1660. Their marriage sealed the reconciliation between France and neighbouring Spain. The royal couple had six children. Only the eldest, Louis de France, known as Le Grand Dauphin, would survive to adulthood.
Louis XIV continues to embody the Grand Siècle, synonymous with the splendour of Versailles and the glory of France.
With Louvois he reformed the army and enjoyed a string of military victories. After 72 years on the throne, Louis XIV died on 1 September 1715. He was buried in the Saint-Denis Basilica, and the throne passed to his great-grandson Louis XV, aged five. Louis XIV continues to embody the Grand Siècle, synonymous with the splendour ...
King by divine right. At the start of his reign, before turning to more political allegories, Louis XIV chose the sun as his personal emblem. The sun is the symbol of Apollo, god of peace and the arts; it is also the star which gives life to all things, rising and setting with unfailing regularity. Like the god, Louis XIV was a warrior fighting ...
With enough room to house the whole court, the Palace and its surrounding buildings rapidly became symbols of an age when the nobility were prepared to go to any lengths to be close to the King, who respected the royal tradition whereby the monarch had to be accessible to his courtiers.
Louis XIV and his courtiers were based in the Louvre Palace, then the Tuileries, alternating with stints at the Châteaux of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Vincennes, Fontainebleau and the rapidly-growing Versailles.