Versailles Palace, Paris

Versailles Palace, Paris (France)

The Palace of Versailles was the principal royal residence of France from 1682 under Louis XIV until the start of the French Revolution in 1789 under Louis XVI. It is located in the department of Yvelines in the region of le-de-France about 20 kilometres southwest of the centre of Paris. A simple hunting lodging and later a small chteau with a moat occupied the site until 1661 when the first work expanding the chteau into a palace was carried out for Louis XIV. In 1682 when the palace had become large enough the king moved the entire royal court and the French government to Versailles. Some of the palace furniture at this time was constructed of solid silver but in 1689 much of it was melted down to pay for the cost of war. Subsequent rulers mostly carried out interior remodeling to meet the demands of changing taste although Louis XV did install an opera house at the north end of the north wing for the wedding of the Dauphin and Marie Antoinette in 1770. The palace has also been a site of historical importance.