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Science The controversial sale of 'Big John,' the world's largest Triceratops. In , work began on building the Royal Chapel , a long-term project completed in , to become the extraordinary masterpiece that we know today. Mansart did not live to see its completion, as he died in ; Charles Le Brun and Pierre Mignard did not even see the work begin, for the same reason.
A new generation of artists then took over, inspiring a change in taste, after decades dominated by the Classical style They simply refurbished the Royal Apartments in the latest style, whilst still religiously preserving the lavish decor of their forefather. However, some projects to radically transform the Palace did emerge under Louis XV's reign, as witnessed by the Gabriel Wing, home to the grand staircase which now leads to the State Apartments.
However, of most significance under this reign was the construction of the Royal Opera House , with its long-imagined, lavish concert hall. In fact, it was only completed in to host the wedding celebrations of the Dauphin and the Archduchess, Marie-Antoinette. The Versailles Tourist Office located on the Avenue de Paris is opened and welcomes you from Tuesday till Thursday from 10 am till pm - till 5 pm.
And from Friday till Sunday from 10 am till 5 pm. The Royal Tennis Court is closed for renovation This model and approach was soon adopted throughout Europe, and menageries of this kind were eventually called zoos. The palace was of course a place for extravagance and entertainment, but is also played an important role in scientific research. During the Enlightenment period, both Louis XV and Louis XVI were passionate about science and collected instruments that had been used during experiments in horology, astronomy, and cartography among other things.
With the creation of the huge menagerie in the grounds of the palace, it allowed zoological studies to flourish. Doctors dissected many animals and the research activities conducted at Versailles later led to the creation of veterinary schools. Also with such huge gardens, there was progress in the fields of botany and agriculture. The garden once comprised botanical species from around the world such as pineapples, vanilla, coffee, and more.
During the French Revolution that began in , the French revolutionary government ordered to dismantle the front gate, which was completely covered with gold. In , the gate was recreated and decorated with , gold leaves. Oudry - Palace of Versailles Palace of Versailles. While there was a bounty of food and drink on constant offer at Versailles, the drink of choice for King Louis XV was hot chocolate. The cocoa drink was a delicacy back then and was thought of as an exotic choice for the royals.
Even Marie-Antoinette had a penchant for hot chocolate. Members of the royal family were lucky enough to have a cupboard in their rooms that housed a sort of a toilet chair, where a chamber pot would be placed under a seat with a hole and be changed by staff when they got round to it. The Palace had become an archetypal seat of power and continued to host the most important events in the history of France, such as the declaration of the German Empire, signed in following France's defeat at war by the Prussians.
The Palace took a long time to recover Similarly, the Third Republic was born in Versailles, as the Parliament took refuge here after the Commune. Between and fifteen presidential elections were voted on by Parliament meeting in Versailles. The arrival of a young curatorial assistant in , and his subsequent appointment as curator in , enabled the Palace to showcase its former role as royal residence. During the horrors of the First World War, Versailles suffered anew.
The beginning of the 20th century was marked by the First World War, and Versailles also suffered during this conflict which forced the Palace to close and its works to be protected. But, like Paris, Versailles was not invaded and, all in all, life continued.
Even though at a slower rhythm, the museum collections grew and visitors arrived, though fewer than before. The Palace spent the war years mobilising support for the national effort and assisting the wounded and the families of soldiers as much as possible.
When it was chosen for the signing of the peace treaty in , Versailles once again became the centre of the world's attention. Recalling the humiliation of , the Allies had the Germans sign in the same place where the German Empire had been declared Despite this resurgence of attention, the Palace suffered a lack of maintenance for several years, due to a crippling shortage of money to renovate it, and it began to show its age.
Salvation came from across the Atlantic in the person of the billionaire John D. Rockefeller, who made two enormous donations to the Palace for its restoration. Recalling the involvement of France in the American War of Independence, the wealthy businessman inaugurated a custom of philanthropy and patronage that became indispensable for the proper functioning of the site.
Thanks to him, Versailles regained its cosmopolitan character, and the entire political, artistic and cultural world rushed to tour it. The terrible storm of devastated the park of Versailles — 10, trees were lost and the damage was estimated at million francs — but nevertheless allowed the possibility of restoring it to its original condition to be considered once again; the project had been started ten years earlier, after another storm, but had run up against resistance.
The idea received fresh support from an international subscription launched in January The Palace itself also required extensive restoration work, and improvements for the reception of the public were essential. The projects notably included restoration of the Hall of Mirrors, the Petit Trianon, the roofs on the central section of the palace and the Royal Gate, alongside major works for security and modernisation which are less visible. The pavilion now constitutes the Palace's new main entrance.
All kinds of major exhibitions and guided tours are now available to visitors during their journey of discovery through this major historical site.
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