Listed as a World Heritage Site for 30 years, the Château de Versailles is one of the finest achievements of 17th-century French art. What was once Louis XIII's hunting lodge was transformed and enlarged by his son Louis XIV, who installed the French court and government here in 1682. Until the French...
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Listed as a World Heritage Site for 30 years, the Château de Versailles is one of the finest achievements of 17th-century French art. What was once Louis XIII's hunting lodge was transformed and enlarged by his son Louis XIV, who installed the French court and government here in 1682. Until the French Revolution, successive kings embellished the Château in turn.
The book is organized by key dates, each corresponding to a major episode in the château's history. Readers will learn that in 1662, Versailles began to become one of Louis XIV's favorite residences, and that he began work on its enlargement. Or that in 1764, Mozart came to Versailles to play for the King. Or that in 1789, the oath of the Jeu de Paume took place there. Or that in 2008, the first contemporary art exhibition was held there, featuring works by Jeff Koons. Or that in 2016, Versailles welcomes over 10 million visitors a year.
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