The Palace of Versailles

One of the things I love about reading historical fiction is the learning aspect. So, when I'm reading about a specific time and place I like to roam the internet, looking at pictures and reading more information on the places that I visit in my reading travels. Today, I am in Versailles with a young King Louis XV.

In 1624, Louis XIII, the king of France, began the building of a modest hunting lodge in the small village of Versailles. Well, as modest a lodge as one could expect from a French King. By moving the royal court and the seat of the French government, Louis XIV hoped to gain greater control of the government from the nobility, and to distance himself from the population of Paris.

Here are some interesting facts about Versailles:

• Built chiefly by Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin-Mansart during the last half of the 17th century.
  
• There are over 700 rooms housing up to 20, 000 nobleman before King Louis 16th was overthrown.
• World War I was ended here with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
• Housed all the Kings of France from 1682 until 1790
• In 1685, 36 000 people and 6 000 horses were working on the construction of the 500 meters long palace which took altogether 50 years.
• About 37,000 acres of land were cleared to make room for tree-lined terraces and flower plants.
  
• The gardens had 1,400 fountains, set in a formal pattern of lawns and walks adjacent to the mile-long Grand Canal. The 240-foot-long Hall of Mirrors was lit by 3,000 candles.
• Louis XIV: (1638 - 1715) "The Sun King" was the longest ruling monarch in European history ruling as absolute monarch from 1643-1715.
  
• The Creation of the World Clock was originally intended for a ruler in India, but after seeing the beauty of it, Louis changed his mind and kept it for himself