Palace of Versailles

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Palace of Versailles
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Quick Facts

• Located in the outer suburbs of Paris
• Symbol of absolute monarchy
• Biggest investor King Louis XIV

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King Louis XIV

• Known as the Sun King
• Great interest in Versailles
• Grew up in disorders of Civil War
• 1678

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Purpose of Palace of Versailles

• Power in center government offices, homes of
  thousands of courtiers, their retinues,
  attendant functionaries of the court lived in the
  Palace.
• Strict court etiquette that Louis XIV established
  was epitomized in elaborate ceremonies parties.
  

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Court Etiquette

• People who wanted to speak to the king could not
  knock on his door. Instead, using the left little
  finger, they had to gently scratch on the door,
  until they were granted permission to enter.
• A lady never held hands or linked arms with a
  gentleman. Besides being in bad taste, this
  practice would have been impossible because a
  woman?s hooped skirts were so wide. Instead, she
  was to place her hand on top of the gentleman?s
  bent arm as they strolled through the gardens and
  chambers of Versailles. It is also mentioned that
  the ladies were only allowed to touch fingertips
  with the men.
• Women and men were not allowed to cross their
  legs in public.
• When a gentleman passed an acquaintance on the
  street, he was to raise his hat high off his head
  until the other person passed.
• A gentleman was to do no work except writing
  letters, giving speeches, practicing fencing, or
  dancing. For pleasure, he engaged in hawking,
  archery, indoor tennis, or hunting. A gentleman
  would also take part in battle and would
  sometimes serve as a public officer, paying the
  soldiers.

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Construction

• Drained swamps moved forests to create 250
  acres of formal gardens
• Entire estate 2,000 acres
• 30,000 laborers
• Charles Lebrun main decorater

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Building Campaigns

• 4 building campaigns each corresponding with a
  war.
• 1st campaign to celebrate the two Queens of
  France
• Alterations in Chateau and garden

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Building Campaigns Cont

• 2nd campaign LeVaus envelope two BIG
  apartments.
• King Queen suites
• 2 of 7 total suites that were designed to align
  with each other as celestial bodies

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Building Campaigns Cont.

• 3rd Campaign Hall Of Mirrors.
• 235 foot long ballroom lined along 1 side with 17
  HUGE mirrors so courtiers could admire their own
  selves as they danced
• 4th Campaign Royal chapel