Versailles: history, architecture, and cultural significance

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 appeals court located in the suburb, and a highly valued educational institution, the academie de Versailles, which operates from its borders and is a focal point for students in the south western region of France.

Prior to becoming a city and a highly visible suburb of Paris, Versailles was simply another idyllic French village. 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 on to inspire numerous Western political and cultural efforts. There were several reasons why this centerpiece of the city would serve as motivation for various other monarchs and builders. One of these reasons pertained to the fact that the palace was a shining example of baroque architecture, which revered around the world for its classical style and flair. It contained magnificent fountains and highly detailed gardens that were symmetrical and unusual for the time period in which they were tended to and created. Andre Le Notre is credited with designing the unique shapes of the gardens (Pincas 80), which would prove to be as emblematic of the gardens as the gardens themselves were emblematic of the city of Versailles.

One of the most notable facets about both the historical and contemporary regard for Versailles pertains to what is has come to represent. Since the king and various members of the nobility were privileged enough to reside there during the final years before the French Revolution, the city and its palace has come to be regarded as an emblem of absolute monarchy which would soon be displaced by democracies within the world. It is largely due to its symbolic value that this palace and the city which encases came to inspire other Europeans and Westerners to build monuments emblematic of a certain culture or way of life. The Palace came to be known as a representation of the sort of power and autonomy which characterized the reign of King Louis. As such, it provided inspiration to rulers as far away as in modern day Russia; Peter the Great's palace was modeled after the Palace of Versailles. Somewhat closer to Paris, the palace was also the source of motivation for the building of the Potsdam palace of the Prussian monarch, Frederick the Great.