The Palace Of Versailles Has A Nasty Past
The Most Stunning Palace On Earth
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most opulent palaces in the world—but all that glitters is not gold. Though it continues to draw around 15 million tourists every year, the beloved heritage site has a rich and shockingly dark history.
Over 200 Films Have Been Shot On Site
If you haven't seen the Palace of Versailles in person, there's a good chance you've seen its glittering Hall of Mirrors in a history textbook, or perhaps in one of the many films that have been shot there.
Since 1904, it has hosted over 200 film shoots, welcoming the artistic visions of directors like Vincente Minelli and Sofia Coppola, among many others—and for good reason.
Humble Beginnings
There's no doubt that the awe-inspiring interiors are a feast for the eyes, but to truly understand Versailles' lasting importance, we must first investigate its surprisingly humble beginnings. Let's rewind to 1623—when the king of France was Louis XIII.
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Not Fit For A King
During Louis XIII's reign, nobody could have foreseen that one of the world's most gorgeous estates would one day rise out of a wooded wetland.
In fact, his court cast a disdainful eye over the site which was located close to the village of Versailles.
Here, the king constructed a simple hunting lodge. But most believed that it was unfit for royalty.
It "Would Not Inspire Vanity"
A courtier named François de Bassompierre went so far as to describe the king's hunting lodge in a brutal way: He wrote that it "would not inspire vanity in even the simplest gentleman". Of course, the fate of this site would ultimately inspire all the vanity in the world.
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