House of Bourbon

Château de Versailles and grounds

Emblematic of the high point of French art and architecture during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Château de Versailles is among the most important historic sites in all of France. Visitors can relive the splendor of the period through a tour of the opulent palace and meticulously-landscaped grounds.

Ecuries Royales

Directly facing the palace, across from the Place d’Armes, stand the royal stables. Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart (1646-1708), the Grande Ecurie housed the royal mounts, while the Petite Ecurie served to keep carriage horses. Care and grooming of the more than 2,000 horses kept in both stables were provided by a staff of 1,000 pages, footmen, coachmen and grooms, under the direct supervision of the Grand Ecuyer. Imitated throughout Europe, equestrian showmanship reached its pinnacle in Versailles. Performances of equestrian ballet took place regularly at the Place d’Armes.

Origins of French government

It was in Versailles that, during the reign of Louis XV, the first government ministries were established. The war office first opened, followed by the foreign office and then the naval service. The buildings that housed these government agencies are a testament to the foresight exemplified by the architecture of the period. The foreign office, for instance, housed diplomatic archives. For fire safety purposes, neither wood frames nor parquet flooring were used in its construction. La Grande Galerie des Archives comprises a series of seven adjoining rooms representing each of the major powers of the time. The elegantly-appointed rooms feature pale woodwork and paintings depicting each of the capital cities. It was in the Grande Galerie des Archives that the Treaty of Paris was signed. Today, the Hôtel des Affaires Etrangères houses the municipal library, which maintains one of the largest collections in France.

Musée Lambinet

Next to the government ministries stands this private mansion dating from the 18th century. Typical of the homes owned by the affluent bourgeoisie during the reign of Louis XV, its furnishings, paintings and objets d’art convey the atmosphere of the time. The Musée Lambinet is also a museum of art and history boasting one of the most extensive collections in all of Versailles.

Potager du Roi

It was in Versailles toward the end of the 17th century that French gastronomy and entertaining were first elevated to an art. A bountiful array of fruits and vegetables were cultivated, suddenly transforming recipes. French vegetable gardens and orchards soon set the standard for the entire continent of Europe. The first to gain recognition was Le Potager du Roi , planted for Louis XIV by Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinie (1624-1688). The ambassadors and kings who came to see the 16 gardens of Le Potager du Roi marveled at the sight of figs in June and strawberries in December, all due to masterful planting techniques.