What you'll discover during your visit:
- A passion for power and glory
How Louis XIV transformed Versailles from a hunting lodge into a symbol of absolute monarchy.
The role of architecture and decoration as political propaganda.
The importance of the famous Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces).
- A passion for the arts
Louis XIV was a great patron of the arts: painting, sculpture, music, and dance.
He himself danced ballet and founded art academies.
Works that glorify the king as an almost divine figure.
- A passion for gardens
The gardens were designed as an extension of the king's power.
Mythological symbolism, especially related to the god Apollo (associated with the Sun King).
Carefully planned fountains, statues, and perspectives.
- Passion for personal life and for women
The influence of his favorites and mistresses at court.
Private life versus carefully managed public image.
