Versailles
The city of Versailles has a lengthy and proud history, dating back to its inception in the 17th century. Today the city is internationally renowned for a number of different facets. The most salient one of these is probably the Palace of Versailles, which was formally constructed in the middle of the 17th century and has gone on to inspire a number of other palaces as well as types of government practiced there. Additionally, Versailles was a highly influential city in the political sphere, and has functioned as the de facto capital of the country of France on a number of different occasions. There are several other European cultural designs that were inspired by Versailles and its famous palace, which has come to be renowned throughout Western Civilization.
Versailles is located approximately 10 and a half miles south of France, and is a decidedly idyllic location. It is approximately 450 feet above sea level and is surrounded by forests and woods on virtually all sides. As such, it has come to exist as a suburb for the wealthy and the privileged in contemporary times. Although it is no longer associated with functioning as the capital of France (that honor has always gone to the French city of Paris, despite the lengthy time periods in which various monarchs and political figures operated out of Versailles), there are still a number of important sociological and cultural functions which are based in Versailles. There is an important...
As early as the end of the 16th century King Louis XIII would frequent this part of France as a guest of Albert de Gondi, the proprietor. The original inception for the palace of Versailles was a hunting lodge that Louis began building in the early decades of the 17th century. Shortly thereafter, he was able to legally obtain the land the lodge was located on from de Gondi and begin the time-consuming process of transforming the lodge into a full-fledged palace. This task would be undertaken in earnest by Louis XIII's successor, King Louis XIV. Under his construction efforts, the palace at Versailles would come to be acclaimed throughout the world for its grandeur (Weill 8) and elegance. The gardens were tastefully and artfully done, as were the royal chambers in which the King would reside. Pleased with the success of the building efforts, Louis XIV decided to move his royal court there in 1682. Thus, despite the fact that Paris was still the capital of France, the king would hold court in Versailles for the better part of a century until the end of the 18th century.
The Palace at Versailles would go…
