When the château was built, Versailles was a small village dating from the 11th century. Versailles was the seat of political power in the Kingdom of France from 1682, when Louis XIV moved the royal court from Paris, until the royal family was forced to return to the capital in October 1789, within three months after the beginning of the French Revolution. Versailles is therefore famous not only as a building, but as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime.
Gilded rooftops above the Marble Courtyard and the Hall of Mirrors
The Inner Gate and statues along the Inner Fence
Detail of the Inner Gate and statues along the Inner Gate, above the Chapel, and the First Gate
Fountain sculpture
Walkway in the palace
Royal Chapel Organ in the Royal Chapel
Ornamental flower girl
Statue of Louis XIV
Ceilings and murals throughout Versailles Palace
North wing of the palace viewed from the Women’s Quarters
Marble Courtyard and the Women’s Quarters
Clock above the Marble Courtyard on top of the West Wing
Sculpture and gilded roofs of the West Wing
Loire River statue along the Water Parterre and the West Wing
Statues along the Water Parterre
Latona Fountain and Parterre looking towards the Apollo Fountain
Statues along the Parterre and the Green Carpet areas
Statues along the North Parterre
Latona Fountain and Sun Vase
Sculptures and pond along the Parterre
Latona Fountain
River statue along the Water Parterre
Latona Fountain looking towards the Green Carpet area
Statue along the Water Parterre
Apollo Fountain
Colonade Grove and statue of Apollo and the Nymphs, 1666, François Girardon
