A symbol of Classical perfection, the largest palace in the world was the sumptuous reflection of an era of intensive creation, and emblem of absolute power. Just like in the times of Louis XIV, entry to the Palace, which was built by Le Vau and J..

Starting at the terrace of the Château de Versailles , you can explore the grounds on foot, by horse-drawn carriage or in a small boat on the Grand Canal. The rectilinear Axe du Soleil , with its water parterre , fountains, statues (such as the D..

There is a huge esplanade passing the entrance gate facing the palace where the Avenues of Saint-Cloud, Paris and Sceaux, divided by the royal stables, come to an end. In the middle, there is a statue of Louis XIV.

Begun in 1768, the opera house was inaugurated in 1770 for the wedding celebrations of the Dauphin, the future Louis XVI to Marie-Antoinette. It was the first oval-shaped hall, in France and one of the first examples of the so-called Louis XVI style ..

The central pavilion of the Château of Versailles, jutting out from the wings, avoids monotony by the addition of intermittent rows of sculpted columns which break the rigid horizontal lines. The Italian-style flat roof is concealed by a balustrade b..

This delicate château made mainly of pink marble, was built by Mansart, and was reserved for the royal family. It is decorated in a sober manner, furnished with Empire, Restoration or Louis-Philippe style furniture. The flower gardens are full of cha..

Created in 1670, the Grand Canal is shaped like a large cross. The longer arm is 1 650m long and 62m wide, while the shorter one is 1 070m long and 80m wide. Several years ago, the 1 872 trees surrounding the canal were cut back to 15m to reveal the ..

Louis XV was a great lover of botany, thus the reason for this park and château remodelled by Marie-Antoinette. From a formal garden perspective, the château, built by Gabriel is a Louis XVI style work of art. However, what makes the Petit Trianon fa..

Extravagantly proportioned, by the Classical standards of Versailles, this basin extends northwards beyond the rectangle formed by the gardens. Designed by Le Nôtre, and the largest basin in Versailles, it acquired its present appearance in 1741 unde..

The "Queen's Hamlet" consists of a dozen or so thatched and plain-tiled cottages that overlook the Grand Lac. A watermill and the Tour de la Pêcherie - called the Marlborough Tower after a popular nursery rhyme introduced to Louis XVI's cou..

These stables built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart are two symmetrical buildings which owe the term of "big" and "small" to their use. The. small stables were used for the carriages, team horse and the equipage. The big stable, was for..

Although this 1754 church is rather cold, it is a beautiful example of the classic style. It was built to serve the "old Versailles" and the Parc aux Cerfs.

This church was built in 1686 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart. It receives sunlight through a dome-lantern. A Doric order reigns inside this church which offers visitors the chance to judge, sculptured medallions representing figures from the New Testament..

All the atmosphere of an 18C residence captured in a mansion where art and history come together: exceptional pieces ("vieux Paris" porcelain), reconstruction of the "green room" belonging to comedy actress Julia Bartet, rival of ..

Designed by La Quintinie over 9 ha of marshy grounds, these 29 gardens provided the king and his court with fruit (figs, melons, asparagus, etc.) and vegetables. It has survived up to date and its produce is now offered to the general public.

Except for a small circle of followers, this ancestor of tennis is no longer played. These 17C courts would have undoubtedly disappeared had they not been the setting for the famous royal tennis oath on June 20, 1789. At this ceremony, the representa..

At n° 5 of this street which used to be the ministries and services road, we find the old Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Navy. It was here, in 1762, that the alliance between France and the American "insurgents" took place. Today, it i..

Its name comes from the church of Notre-Dame and is centred on Paroisse Steet and the Market Square, made up of four right angled buildings which match the names of the squares, Flour, Herbs, Seafood and Meat. Behind this wholesale food market, the b..

In 1755, boutiques topped by mansard roofs were aligned around these four small town squares (Puits, Avoine, Fontaine and Terre).

Paved in black and white marble, this courtyard has been raised to its original level. It is surrounded by Louis XIII's château, the façades of which were altered and enriched by Le Vau and Hardouin-Mansart, who added balustrades, busts, statues and ..