The Palace of Versailles is a chateau and historic monument in Versailles, France, southwest of Paris, conceived by King Louis XIV to glorify the French monarchy and built as the most important architectural project of his reign, with construction beginning in 1661 and the palace largely complete by his death in 1715. It served as the principal residence of the French kings Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, and as the seat of the court and royal government from 1682 until 1789, except during the Regency years. Covering about 63,154 square metres and containing roughly 2,300 rooms, it is considered one of the masterpieces of French classical architecture and exerted major influence on European architecture and decorative arts through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Facts
LocationVersailles, Yvelines department, France, southwest of Paris 1 Architectural StyleFrench Classical architecture 1 Building Type Commissioned By Construction Floor Area (sqm) UNESCO Inscription Year Current UseMuseum (National Museum of the History of France) 1 Visitor AccessOpen to the public; one of the most visited sites in Europe 1 Connections
In Form
French Baroque royal palace.
In Movement
The defining French Baroque royal palace.
Sources
1. Palace of Versailles (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead para 1, location clause
is a chateau and historic monument in Versailles in the Yvelines department of France, southwest of Paris
Lead para 2, style clause
is considered one of the masterpieces of French classical architecture
Lead para 1, building-type clause
It served as the principal residence of the French kings Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI.
Lead para 2, commission clause
Conceived by Louis XIV to glorify the French monarchy, the palace became the most important architectural project of his reign
Estate-history section, expansion clause
From 1661, Louis XIV expanded the estate
Lead para 3, floor-area clause
It covers about 63,154 square metres and contains roughly 2,300 rooms
Lead para 3, current-use clause
around 1,000 of which belong to the National Museum of the History of France housed in the Palace and the Trianons
Lead para 4, visitor-access clause
As one of the most visited sites in Europe, the estate is central to ongoing discussions about managing overtourism.
Genre reference
The Palace of Versailles is a chateau and historic monument in Versailles, France, southwest of Paris, conceived by King Louis XIV to glorify the French monarchy and built as the most important architectural project of his reign, with construction beginning in 1661 and the palace largely complete by his death in 1715.
View the Source 2. Palace and Park of Versailles (UNESCO World Heritage List)
UNESCO World Heritage CentreListing page, inscription-date fieldQuote, Listing page, inscription-date field
Date of Inscription: 1979
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