Who built the original Palace of Versailles in 1623?
King Louis XIII built a small hunting lodge on a wooded wetland site west of Paris in 1623. The location near the village of Versailles was considered unworthy by his courtiers.
Questions about Palace of Versailles
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Louis XIV move the seat of government to the Palace of Versailles?
Louis XIV moved the seat of his court and government to Versailles in 1682 making it the de facto capital of France. By 1687 all nobility understood that Versailles was now the center of French power.
What happened at the Palace of Versailles on the 4th of September 1783?
The palace hosted the signing of treaties ending the American Revolutionary War on the 4th of September 1783. This event took place during the reign of Louis XIV before the French Revolution began.
How much money did John D. Rockefeller Jr. donate to restore the Palace of Versailles?
John D. Rockefeller Jr. donated $2,166,000 between 1925 and 1928 to restore and refurbish the building. His contribution helped preserve the structure after parts were heavily damaged by Breton terrorists in 1978.
Who designed the gardens surrounding the Palace of Versailles?
André Le Nôtre designed the gardens that have existed since Louis XIV's reign. The landscape was created from boggy wetlands using fortress-building techniques and covered approximately 800 hectares with axial paths flowerbeds hedges and fountains creating rigid order.