Page 254 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

252  P ARIS AREA B Y AREA

The Main Palace Buildings of Versailles

The present palace grew as a series of “envelopes” enfolding the
original hunting lodge, whose low brick front is still visible in the
centre. In the 1660s, Louis Le Vau built the first envelope, a series of
wings that expanded into an enlarged courtyard. It was decorated
with marble busts, antique trophies and gilded roofs. On the garden
side, columns were added to the west façade and a great terrace was
created on the first floor. Mansart took over in 1678 and added the
two immense north and south wings and filled Le Vau’s terrace to
form the Hall of Mirrors. He designed the chapel, which was finished
in 1710. The Opera House (L’Opéra) was added by Louis XV in 1770. Main Gate

South Wing
The wing’s original
apartments for
great nobles
were replaced by
Louis-Philippe’s
museum of
French history.

KEY
1 The Main Gate of Honour,
Mansart’s original gateway grille is
surmounted by the royal arms and
is the entrance to the Courtyard
of Honour.
2 Courtyard of Honour
3 The Royal Courtyard was
separated from the Courtyard of
Honour by elaborate grillwork during
Louis XIV’s reign. It was accessible
only to royal carriages.
4 The Clock overlooking the
Marble Courtyard is flanked by
Hercules and Mars.
5 Versailles History Gallery has a
permanent exhibition detailing the
construction of Versailles from Louis
XIII’ s hunting lodge to modern times.

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