The Palace of Versailles is one of the utmost visited monuments in the world. Often, it is associated with King Louis XIV, “The Sun King.” He is said to be an absolute monarch who ruled France, one of the most powerful nations of the 17th century. He transformed the moderate chateau of his father, Louis XIII, into a sumptuous palace, a symbol of his power.
The Palace of Versailles
or former French royal residence and center of government is now a national
landmark. It is located in the city of Versailles, Yvelines department,
Ile-de-France region, northern France, 10 miles (16km) west-southwest of Paris.
As it is the center of the French court, Versailles was one of the grandest
theatres of European absolutism.
We have mentioned the
main reasons due to which you must have a visit to the Palace of Versailles
during your travel to France.
This Royal Palace was in an ill-suited location
Originally, Versailles
was a village in a muddy area a dozen miles away in the south-west of Paris.
This place, covered with woods and filled with game, represented an ideal
hunting ground. By the end of the 16th century, King Henri IV
and his son Louis XIII enjoyed hunting parties around Versailles to have a
hideaway in the countryside. The building, transformed into a small castle
between 1631 and 1634, represents the first milestone of the future Palace of
Versailles.
Day of the Dupes: the very first historical event in the Versailles
The day of the Dupes
basically recalls two days November 10 and 11, 1630. On November 10, Marie de’
Medici, King Louis XIII’s mother and Queen of France, asked her son to fire
Cardinal de Rich in lieu. Cardinal de Richelieu was an influential advisor of
the king; at the beginning, Marie de Medici introduced him to Louis XIII. He
suddenly turned out to be her most potent rival. Queen Marie de’ Medici strived
to keep an iron hand on her son and the entire kingdom of France.
Notwithstanding Louis XIII’s efforts to reconcile the two opponents, he finally
gave in his mother’s request.
