Versailles
what is up there?
July 2022
After seeing the grandeur and scale, it is difficult to imagine that the Versailles palace had a humble origin. It used to be a small hunting lodge, in a small village called Versailles. King Louis the 13th converted the lodge into a small chateau.
The sun-king, Louis the 14th, commissioned the palace and incorporated in father's chateau in it. The palace was built over many years, 1660-1710.
We visited the palace in July. I would say this is probably not the best time to visit as the temperature could be high—33-35 degrees Celsius. Visiting the gardens could be uncomfortable for many.
King Louis XIV equestrian statue
This statue was made by Cartellier and Petitot in 1816.
This is a common meeting place for the guides, just outside the Versailles palace.
We followed our guide to the palace. The enormity of the palace has become appreciable now.
Statue of France
Two distinguished gentlemen - do not know their name.
There are wonderful statues outside, make sure to look around.
The Palace of Versailles is a mix of: French Baroque architecture with large curved forms, twisted columns, high domes, and later neo-classical style with grandeur of scale, simple geometric forms, doric style columns, blank walls etc
The first room we enter is called the Salon d'Hercule (Hercules room).
The painting above was a gift from the Republic of Venice, "Feast in the House of Simon.
The next painting is on the ceiling. It is called "Apotheosis of Hercules" by Lemoyne (1736).
I spent most of the time looking up at the ceiling. It is unbelievably beautiful and grand. I wonder how the health and safety in the palace were if you had to spend so much time looking upwards admiring the artwork.
Room of abundance
Next comes the petit salon de l'abondance or room of abundance.
This is like the king's drawing room. Guests were served coffee or wine and then taken to a room where the king kept his collectables (cabinet des medailles).
They were taken through this door shown in the picture, to this special room.
Venus room or Salle de Venus
Named after the goddess of love, this room has a statue of the Sun King Louis the XIV himself dressed as a Roman general or maybe an Roman emperor.
Our guide told us an interesting story about the king's hair. The long curly hair is very out of place on a Roman general's head. They tend to have short hair.
Lous XIV lost his original hair due to an illness when he was 19. So he started using wigs. The enviable Alexander-like hair he had is actually a wig. However, his wig started a fashion trend in Europe, and most aristocrats started using wigs following the king.
In this room, Venus is depicted on the ceiling as the goddess of love.
Diana room or Salle de Diane
Diana was the patroness of hunting. This room has a ceiling painting of Diana by Gabriel Blanchard. The other paintings show various hunting scenarios by great kings like Alexander or Cyrus.
Mars room
This room, named after the god of war, Mars, used to be the guard room. Thee are many paintings in this room.
To the left of the chimney is The Family of Darius before Alexander by Charles Le Brun. To the right is The Pilgrims of Emmaus, in the style of Veronese. The king insisted on this as he wanted to prove that French artists were no less capable than Italian Renaissance artists,
On the ceiling, you can see a painting of Mars on a chariot pulled by two wolves.
This room also has a picture of King Louis XV.
So, was he the son of Louis XIV? No!
Grandson? No!
He was his great-grandson. Louis XIV ruled for 72 years, an unbroken record amongst European royalty. All his sons and grandsons died before him!
BTW, King Louis XV's hairs were real!
The Mercury room or salle de Mercure
This was the bed chamber of the king. Kings waking up was apparently something that you could watch if you are a privileged one. More privileged ones would be able to touch the king after he has woken up! Imagine a host of people gathered around your bed to see you waking up!!
This room has a picture of Mercury on his chariot drawn by roosters (symbol of France) by Jean-Baptiste de Champaigne.
There are many other paintings to see, two next to the king's bed are -
David playing the harp by Domenico Zampieri,
Saint John on Patmos by Raphael,
We enter the ceremonial room of the sun king. Although there is no throne, we could see a tapestry with Fleur-de-lis the regal symbol of France.
This room is called Apollo room, named after the sun god, who is clearly visible on the ceiling.
Royal Chapel
We could not enter the chapel, but had a glimpse of it through a door. You may want to go there if you get the opportunity. I have read many excellent reviews. It was completed in 1710.
The Royal Chapel
The most famous room of Versailles is next, the Mirror room - it depicts the military victories of France. In the palace it connects the Kings chamber with the queens chambers.
At the entrance there is a painting of showing France with thunder in her hand and Louis XIV on her shield, striking down her enemies like Germany, Britain etc.
We took a short detour from the hall of mirrors to see these tables, on which the treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 marking the end of world war 1. Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors.
From the hall of mirrors, we moved to another section which was the Queen’s Apartments. It was used by Louis XIV to Louis XV until the french revolution. Louis XV made many changes to these chambers followed by Marie-Antoinette, who not being fond of Louis XIV's style made many decorative changes.
The last room we saw was the coronation room, celebrating the glory of Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul and then Emperor of the French. This room was the only room in the palace where he could display his large paintings.
Some paintings of Emperor and the empress. There is a painting of Napoleon when he was the general, which I have not seen before,
That completes our Versailles tour, Au revoir.
