Versailles [antikvár]

The Versailles Estate With its throe châteaux, fiardciis, park and annexes, Versailles is an immense estate. Althdush L.uiis Xlll had a hunting-l.idge and garJen hiiilt there, it was Louis XIV who was the true creative force. He turned Versailles iiito a sumptuous estate and ensured its destiny. From 1682 to 1789, Versailles was the seat and later the symbol of absolute monarchy, since the estate, modelled according to the Sun King's wishes, reflected his perception of power. For the service of the King and his magnificence Not too close to Paris, where insutgeitcy was always a threat, but not too far away, the site had great potential tor building. It thus fulfilled the King's desire to have bis court permanently around him, which no other royal residence in the surrounding areas permitted. At the expense of considerable building work, decorating and excavation work, and laying on water, everything was created for the service of the King, bis pleasure and his magnificence: the town, the annexes - including the stables, the Grand Commun for the lodgings of the officers of the royal house, the wings for the ministers, the château with its public and private apartments, the gardens for walking, the small park and, beyond, the large park for bunting Furthermore, ever^'thing was ordered arouitd a main axis passing through the very centi'e of the royal dwelling, where the King's Bedchamber was located from 1701. The estate today Three centuries after it was created, the estate is still vast despite losing its hunting grounds. The figures testify to this: 800 hectares, 20 km of roads, as many enclosing walls, 200,000 trees and moi-e flowei's planted each year, 35 km of canalisation, II hectares of roofing, 2153 windows, 700 rooms, 67 staircases, etc. It retains from its origin ]. Hardouin-Mansart's noble architecture, both Versailles and the Grand Trianon, the regular layout of Le Nôtre's gardens and exotic groves, ari abiindance of statues makittg it the largest open-air sculpture museum in the woi'lJ, and its sparkling fountains still func-ttouitig as of old. Although the interiors of the château have seen more changes with time, the 18th Century left its imprint of at elegance and nature on the estate: the Petit Trianon, built by Gabriel hy order of Louis XV and, under Louis XVL the Grove of the Baths of Apollo, designed by Hubert Robert, and the Queen's Hamlet, so revealing of Marie-Antoinette's personality We invite you to take time to discover all the riches of Versailles, bathed in so much history, which we ate attempting to safeguard, restoi-e to life and share with you. 4-n IU-: VHRsAiiajis r.sTATR