{"id":673391,"date":"2022-10-30T09:48:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-30T06:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tourism.com.de\/?p=673391"},"modified":"2024-04-21T03:36:16","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T00:36:16","slug":"what-to-see-in-versailles-in-1-day-on-your-own-route-photo-description-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourism.com.de\/en\/what-to-see-in-versailles-in-1-day-on-your-own-route-photo-description-map\/","title":{"rendered":"What to see in Versailles in 1 day on your own – route, photo, description, map"},"content":{"rendered":"

The sights<\/a> of Versailles attract tour<\/a>ists here at any time of the year. This is not surprising: the ensemble is located<\/a> just 20 km from Paris<\/a>. You can get here in less than an hour. And entering the park, visitors experience a sense of embarrassment: so many beauties are next to each other. But it is worth concentrating, correctly compiling a route<\/a>, and everything immediately falls into place. Moving from one object to another, it is realist<\/a>ic to get an idea of \u200b\u200bhow the last monarchs of France lived. Or maybe feel like one of them. We will tell you what you can see<\/a> in Versailles in one day on your own<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Palace<\/a> of Versailles<\/h2>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

There is no government reside<\/a>nce in the world<\/a> that surpasses the Palace of Versailles in luxury. And it all started with the fact that the King of France<\/a>, Louis XIII, liked the hunting grounds around the village of Versailles, where he came to hunt in the possession of a native of Florence, Gondi. Louis immediately ordered to rebuild a hunting lodge nearby. After the death of Gondi, all the surrounding lands began to belong to the crown. The hunting lodge was slightly expanded and significantly strengthened, after which it began to resemble a small fortress. It was here that Louis 14 lived from the age of 5 until the beginning of his official reign.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

Louis was afraid to live in the capital, he preferred a well-fortified country residence. Her position was extremely fortunate: only 20 km from Paris<\/a>. Being at a distance, the king at the same time kept the aristocrats under surveillance. But Louis 14 is not alien to issues of prest<\/a>ige: he understood that the majesty of the palace would allow him to raise authority among his own subjects and neighbors, so they did not spare money from the treasury for the arrangement of Versailles.<\/p>\n

Book a private transfer from Paris to Versailles for 5 031 RUB<\/a><\/p>\n

The palace was expanded, and the area<\/a> around was landscaped, a garden and park ensemble was created. After the arrest of the Minister of Finance Fouquet, all the confiscated fortune went into action, and the architects Leveau, Lebrun, Lenotre, who worked on the Fouquet Palace, were instructed to complete the construction of the royal residence: the monarch was struck by the luxury of the residence of the disgraced minister. Even the wars waged by France did not serve as an obstacle to the work: construction was only suspended and then continued.<\/p>\n

The descendants of Louis 14 also continued to improve the palace, but the scale was already completely different. The work mainly concerned the alterations of interiors and landscape design<\/a>. The Palace of Versailles is the central part<\/a> of the city<\/a>, where the aristocrats of France were forced to settle in order to keep up with the king. And each built the more or less sumptuous apartments<\/a> that now adorn the suburbs of Paris.<\/p>\n

mirror gallery<\/h2>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

A unique<\/a> hall from the reign of the Sun King. This magnificent gallery was created as a perpetuation of the victories of the monarch:<\/p>\n

But the Sun King would not be himself if he did not pursue quite prosaic goa<\/a>ls: the richly decorated gallery was intended for a comfortable transition of the royal family from the palace to the church. Even in France the weather<\/a> is unpleasant. And all this luxury served for the benefit of the state: receptions were held here, chic balls were held, important agreements for the state were signed. Part of the rich interior was removed at various times and melted down for the needs of the French army. But even today the grandeur of the Mirror Gallery amazes tour<\/a>ists. And the French government continues to use this part of Versailles for state receptions.<\/p>\n

Royal Apartments<\/h2>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

This is a part of the Versailles castle<\/a> of 6, which belonged personally to the Sun King. The value of the apartments is that the interiors have been preserved almost completely. And today, tourists<\/a> willingly inspect the premises where the great monarch once lived.<\/p>\n

All rooms are interconnected, one replaces<\/a> the other:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The first hall is a loggia. Actually, this is a semblance of a room that courts the chambers of Louis 14. But even this small room is luxuriously decorated with marble.<\/li>\n
  2. It is impossible to immediately get into the personal quarters of the Sun King: you will have to overcome the guard room. The personal protection of the monarch was in it around the clock. This hall is very modest, the walls are painted white.<\/li>\n
  3. The next room is the beginning of the apartment. In it the king dined and rest<\/a>ed. On the walls you can see paintings of famous battle scenes. The authors of the paintings are Courtois and Parrosel.<\/li>\n
  4. The Bull's Eye is the most beautiful room in the apartment. The room is called so because of the window on the south<\/a> side, which is shaped like an ungulate's eye. There are many huge mirrors here (a huge rarity in the time of the Sun King), paintings by Veronese are hung on the walls. The hall is decorated with a lattice, which depicts dancing boys.<\/li>\n
  5. The bedroom is an important room for monarchs. Here they not only slept, but also conducted private negotiations, received ambassadors. It is not surprising that the room is richly decorated: curtains and tapestries, paintings by the great Van Dyck, Car<\/a>avaggio, Domenichino, Reni. The Sun King died in this room.<\/li>\n
  6. The last room is the Royal Council room. The interiors reflect the purpose of the room. There is a bus<\/a>t of Alexander the Great, vases with images of Venus and Mars. There are wood carvings on the walls.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

    To view the apartments, you should buy a single ticket: this is part of the excursion<\/a> program.<\/p>\n

    chapels<\/h2>\n

    \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

    During the reign of the Sun King, the construction of chapels was not only fashionable, but also a profitable enterprise: if the customer immediately paid for the work, then later he was exempted from property tax.<\/p>\n

    At different times, 5 chapels were built:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The first chapel was built by the father of the Sun King – King Louis 13. It was an unpresentable wooden structure 2 floors high. It was broken during the construction of the Tethys Grotto.<\/li>\n
    2. The second customer was the Sun King himself. It was erected immediately after the completion of the new part of the palace. At first, the royal family used the chapel, and then court sessions were held in it. As the park expanded, space was needed for outbuildings, so this chapel was demolished to build a barracks for the guards.<\/li>\n
    3. Louis 14 next to the second erected another one: for himself and family members, and later for the royal court. But soon this chapel also ceased to suit the monarch: it was too cramped and uncomfortable. The fate of this building is more prosperous than that of its predecessors: it was converted into a coronation hall.<\/li>\n
    4. After completion of work on the 3rd wing of the building, the 4th chapel was also built. According to tradition, it was necessary to demolish the grotto Tethys. This chapel was liked by the royal family: it was used for its intended purpose until the beginning of the 18th century.<\/li>\n
    5. The last chapel is an example of long-term construction: work began in 1689 and completed in 1798. True, there was a break for the war. Finished construction Kott. The horizontal lines of the building prevail over the vertical ones, which is why some historians call the St. Louis Chapel a huge hearse. However, the building is richly decorated on the outside, and the luxurious interiors are impressive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Services in the chapel continued until the end of the 19th century. Today it is used by the government for meetings with officials. The chapel has excellent acoustics: concerts are regularly held here.<\/p>\n

      Church of the Virgin<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      Notre-Dame Versailles is a parish church that also served as the home of the owners of the palace. Louis 14, Louis 15 and Louis 16 were married in it, communed and buried. Records of weddings, births and deaths of members of the royal family were made in the parish registers of the cathedral<\/a>. The author of the project is Jules Hardouin-Mansart. He designed the building in the fashionable (for those times) style of French classicism. Construction proceeded quickly: about 2 years passed from the laying of the first stone to the consecration of the cathedral.<\/p>\n

      But when looking at Notre Dame Versailles, a strange impression remains: the cathedral looks too pressed to the ground. This is not an architect's mistake: Louis 14 imposed a ban on the height of the surrounding buildings, so as not to spoil the panorama that opens from the windows of his residence. In the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, restoration work was carried out, new details of facades and interiors were added. The last alteration concerned the main altar: it was replaced in 1999.<\/p>\n

      Conservatory of Versailles<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      The Sun King wanted to lead in everything, including botany. On his behalf, gardeners kept a huge collection of citrus fruits<\/a>, which (as in their homeland) simultaneously bloomed and bore fruit. For this, a specially designed system of watering, pinching and fertilizing was used. A special achievement was that the plants were kept in tubs with earth and placed in the greenhouse only during the cold sea<\/a>son. In the spring and summer months, Pomeranians were exhibited in the garden (in the stalls).<\/p>\n

      The building was built very competently: the light penetrates through the huge southern windows, the ceiling has a vaulted profile. Everything is done in order to accumulate the heat entering inside. But the greenhouse was not only a fashionable addition to the park: here the troupe of the theater of Queen Marie Antoinette gave performances while the permanent premises were being built. And during the commune, the greenhouse was used to keep prisoners.<\/p>\n

      When the cold came, the prisoners were executed in order (according to tradition) to bring tubs of oranges inside. Today in the greenhouse you can look at the huge pool of marble. This is all that remains of the Bath Pavilion. An octagon bath 1m deep and 8m long was purchased for the palace. And she fit only in the greenhouse. Presumably, the Sun King was rinsing his tired feet in the pool after returning from hunting.<\/p>\n

      Fountain of Apollo<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      At the site of the pool, where the fountain is located, a pond was dug out during the first builder of the residence (Louis 13). It was called swan. Whether swans were found here or not, is unknown. But for the plot of the fountain, the former name came in handy: these winged creatures were part of the retinue of Apollo's mother. God rides a chariot across the sky, repeating the path of the heavenly body: after all, it is Apollo that illuminates the earth. But for the sake of the successful construction of the composition, the movement of the cart goes in a completely different direction.<\/p>\n

      But the ripples on the water, sunlight create a complete sense of movement. Apollo leads the chariot along the great canal, and therefore the movement of the god is endless. The jets of the fountain form a lily: the heraldic symbol of the monarchs of France. The central stream breaks out by 20 m, and the side streams by only 15. But this is also impressive. Fountain Apollo described La Fontaine. The writer was shocked by the simultaneous combination of fire and smoke that ordinary jets of water create.<\/p>\n

      Lambine Museum<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      The building was built for his family by the contractor Louis 15 Blanchard. He designed the project himself. But the history<\/a> of the center<\/a> begins in the middle of the 19th century, when Lambinet bought the building. He began to collect a collection, which included porcelain, old knick-knacks. In the 30s of the twentieth century, the heirs of Lambinet handed over the mansion to the municipality, and then it was decided to place the exposition in it. The Blanchard collection was taken as a basis, which was replenished with artifacts previously stored in the library.<\/p>\n

      Today Lambin presents the opportunity to get acquainted with:<\/p>\n

      A special section tells about the events of the French Revolution and the role of the city<\/a> in them. It is noteworthy that there are few visitors in Lambin, so there is an opportunity to calmly walk around the halls, to study priceless artifacts.<\/p>\n

      Royal Opera<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      This unique building of the late 18th century was in a dilapidated state for a long time and was almost forgotten. But since the opening of the opera, it has amazed with exquisite interiors and innovative productions. The technical equipment of the hall was the most modern. The balconies were devoid of partitions, thanks to which it was possible to accommodate a larger number of spectators: 700 people. The hall was illuminated by a huge plafond, made in the form of Apollo, crowning outstanding artists.<\/p>\n

      The central lamp is surrounded by 12 lampions with cupids, their size is smaller. The pride of architects: amazing acoustics. The viewer in the 1st and last row heard equally well. But soon the music and dances in the opera were replaced by passionate speeches of politicians: the monarchy fell, the republic was established. And then they completely abandoned it. During the Nazi occupation, the building was badly damaged. The theater was remembered in the 20th century. But in order to restore<\/a> its lost appearance, reconstruction was required.<\/p>\n

      It ended only in 2009. The restorers did a great job: the Royal Opera House has its original appearance. The interiors have been completely restored. The technical support of the performances is the most modern. The Royal Opera hosts world celebrities. The repertoire can be found on the official website.<\/p>\n

      Grand Trianon<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      The official residence of the Sun King appointed the castle<\/a> of Versailles. But over time, the monarch realized that it would be nice to have a less pompous, but more comfortable environment around him. But he did not refuse large-scale construction, so he bought the land of the Trianon village. All the houses were demolished, and a castle was erected on the free territory, which was called Trianon. The area around was arranged: alleys, flower beds were laid out.<\/p>\n

      The modest facade was finished with faience tiles. Such a motley building was called the porcelain Trianon. During the reign of Louis 14, they did not see the difference between porcelain and faience. The manufacturing technology of the outer cladding was imperfect: Trianon soon fell into disrepair, the tile cracked and flew around. The Sun King ordered the ugly building to be demolished and a new castle built in its place. Its facade was finished with durable marble. The building was named Marble Trianon.<\/p>\n

      After some time, the Small Trianon was built nearby. Then Marble was renamed Bolshoi. The interiors, although modest (according to the concepts of Louis 14), are still impressive. And the loving monarch used the building to meet with numerous favorites. Subsequently, the heirs visited the castle little, and it was gradually forgotten.<\/p>\n

      Small Trianon<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      A well-groomed park alley leads from the Grand Trianon to the Small. There are benches where you can rest. It is not bad to imagine how the Sun himself enjoyed peace and solitude in the shade of trees. This castle was built for his favorite by the heir of the Sun King. But Madame de Pompadour died without waiting for the gift<\/a>. Therefore, the palace was first received by a new favorite, and then by Marie Antoinette (after the death of the royal spouse). The interiors are not as opulent as in the official residence, rather ascetic. The architect's goal seems to be to prevent chance encounters.<\/p>\n

      This idea is prompted by the curves of the corridors, sudden turns and dead ends, narrow, loophole-like windows. And the setting is quite modest, different from other royal residences. There is no trace of the defiant luxury of Versailles here, the interior is rather ascetic. But from the inspection there is an impression of peace. In order to appreciate all the buildings located in the park, it is worth buying a ticket, which is valid for 2 days. Then the grandeur of the main residence will not be able to overshadow the modest charm of the small Trianon.<\/p>\n

      Village of Marie Antoinette<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      Louis 15 used the Grand and Petit Trianons for his pleasures. And Queen Marie Antoinette also needed a place to rest. By her order, at the end of the 18th century, a real village was built along the shore of the lake in the Trianon estate. The roofs of the houses were reed, the walls were artificially aged. A garden was laid out next to each house, fruit trees were planted.<\/p>\n

      The windows were decorated with flowers planted in blue and white pots. Artificial streams were dug on the territory, mounds were piled up. In order to realize all the plans of the queen, the botanical garden had to be destroyed. This action outraged all Europe<\/a>an botanists. Externally, the buildings completely copied rural houses, and inside they were furnished with royal luxury. Marie Antoinette loved to come here to take a break from social life.<\/p>\n

      She put on a peasant dress and walked along the perfectly clean streets of the village. Sometimes she was accompanied by children<\/a>, sometimes by a few friends. Despite the decorative purpose, the village brought a significant income: vegetables, fruits, and dairy products produced here were supplied to the royal table. Miller's houses and dairy farm workers were built to serve the land.
      \nThe Queen personally owned:<\/p>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      The buildings are scattered over a fairly large area<\/a>, so you should prepare for long transitions. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and stock up on drinking water. To visit the village, it is worth buying a single ticket for the entrance to the Trianon estate.<\/p>\n

      King's garden<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      Louis 14 knew a lot about the delights of the kitchen. And in order to enjoy all this, it was necessary to constantly supply the palace with fresh vegetables and fruits. But the garden would not have taken place if it were not for the ascetic Jean-Baptiste de la Quintini. At first, he did not intend to engage in gardening: he studied to be a lawyer. After completing the course, Quintini successfully practiced in his specialty, until he was invited to raise his son by the Minister of the Accounts Chamber.<\/p>\n

      Quintini not only formed an heir, but also expanded his horizons: travel<\/a>ing around Italy<\/a>, he learned about new varieties of plants, studied the technology of growing vegetables and fruits. Upon his return to France, Quintini gave up his litigation and began to study botany. His studies did not hide from the attentive gaze of Louis 14. The monarch invited the scientist to take up the garden. Quintini turned out to be a talented engineer: he thought over the underground heating of the beds, after which the vegetables began to sing all year round.<\/p>\n

      Louis chose a place absolutely unsuitable for a vegetable garden: a swampy lowland with poor peaty soil. Quintini solved this problem too: he drained the place and fertilized it with manure from the stables. Soon the indefatigable monarch wished to have bananas and pineapples on the table. Quintini built several greenhouses. The idea with the garden benefited not only members of the royal family: noble lords began to grow vegetables near their homes. Today there is a garden. Exotic fruits and local vegetables are still grown here, but the scale is already completely different.<\/p>\n

      Royal Tennis Hall<\/h2>\n

      In this hall, Louis 16 played ball (the prototype of modern tennis). And the room became famous during the States General for the fact that representatives of the 3rd estate, who were not allowed into the common hall, sat in it. They held their own meeting and swore that they would remain on the premises until the monarch signed the constitution.<\/p>\n

      Cathedral of Saint Louis<\/h2>\n

      \"What<\/a><\/p>\n

      This cathedral has an unusual history<\/a>. Even before the construction of the ensemble, on the site where the cathedral stands today, there was a small church of Julian Briudsky. But to service the grandiose project, more and more new buildings were required, so the church was demolished. After some time, a wooden chapel was built for the inhabitants of this part of the city, which did not last long. And on the same spot, the construction of the temple<\/a> began again.<\/p>\n

      This time it was designed by Jacques Hardouin-Mansart. Work on the construction of the cathedral took 12 years. But the result exceeded all expectations. The temple was built in the traditional Catholic (Latin) style: it has the shape of a cross. The central nave is surrounded by side naves, which are connected to several chapels. The walls are made of yellowish limestone. They did not paint it: this way the cathedral looked more majestic.<\/p>\n

      The pride of the Cathedral of St. Louis is a massive organ. It was ordered (and also paid for) by Louis XV. The organ weighs more than 50 tons, the sound comes out of 131 pipes. The tool is in working condition, its sound can be heard during service.<\/p>\n

      Versailles itinerary<\/a> for 1 day on the map<\/a><\/h2>\n