Versailles, France: Ultimate Royal Palace - Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide - Travel Bite

Summary

Versailles was the model for royal palaces across Europe and the personal monument of Louis XIV, the “Sun King.” Louis transformed his father’s modest hunting lodge into an enormous palace, reportedly spending about half of France’s annual economic output on the project.

For roughly a century, Versailles served both as the royal residence and the center of the French government. Louis XIV used the palace to centralize power: by bringing nobles and government functions to Versailles, he could supervise the state while keeping the aristocracy occupied with court life. France became Europe’s dominant power, and French language, fashion, music, theater, and manners spread across the continent.

The palace’s design and decoration reinforced Louis’s authority. Classical imagery, especially references to Apollo and the sun, presented the king and his family as divinely favored rulers. Lavish rooms also celebrated courtly pleasures, including feasts, dancing, games, and romance. Court life was highly ceremonial: even the king’s waking, bedtime, and meals became public rituals, and nobles competed for the honor of assisting him.

Versailles also reflects the costs and changing priorities of Louis’s long reign, which lasted from 1643 to 1715. The War Room recalls France’s military strength and the many expensive conflicts fought under Louis. The Peace Room depicts reconciliation with European powers and conveys the king’s eventual weariness of war. Near the end of his life, Louis advised his great-grandson and successor to be a peaceful king.

The Hall of Mirrors was one of the palace’s great spectacles. Its mirrors, candlelight, gilding, and elaborate court gatherings impressed visitors, who could also look out toward the extensive gardens.

Visitor Tip

To avoid the busiest crowds and ticket queues, visit late in the day, avoid weekends, and use a museum pass to bypass the ticket line.

Speakers and Sources

• Rick Steves — narrator and presenter.
• Louis XIV — quoted in the narration as saying, “L’état, c’est moi!” (“The state, that’s me!”) and, near the end of his reign, advising his successor to be a peaceful king.