Chateau of Versailles

When power of a country is posessed by a single ruler, and the country is prosperous, enormous buildings are erected. The pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Saint Peters Basilica in the Vatican, and, portrayed here, the Chateau of Versailles. And it still happens, like the Basilica of our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Africa.

The palace of Versailles has been extended by many emperors, it is the first of its kind, served as an example for other palaces multiple times, and has seen events of major historic meaning. To name two: the proclamation of German Unity in 1871, and of course the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

The chateau of Versailles is a display of France at the top of its power - a toutes les gloires de la France. Another strong nation emerged on the continent of Europe, distinctive, trend- setting, the pinnacle of civilization, and of unerasable historic impact. Eventually, all empires fall, so did France. Emperor Louis XVI overplayed his cards, anger rose to uncontrollable levels at the ordinary population, resulting in the French Revolution, whose values eventually were spread all over Europe and all of its colonies by Napoleon. The French Revolution brought human rights, legislation, civilization, organization, culinary expansion, abolishment of feudalism, and is one of the great steps of mankind towards a better world. We owe this to the French.

But, lets first dream away in the enormous palace and its even larger gardens and catch a glimpse of the glitter, glamour and amourous events at the time of the great French emperors...

 
 
     
 
 
 
     
 
     
 
     
 

 

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further reading:

Beatrix Saule, Mathieu da Vinha, Visit Versailles, Art Lys, Chateau de Versailles, ISBN 9782854954791. English version of an official guide to the palace and graden, available in several languages.

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/ Official site of the palace with tempting photos and practical information.

http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/treaty-of-versailles American site with movie material.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Treaty-of-Versailles-1919 Compact but informative information on the peace treaty of Versailles with many links to make you get wonderfully lost in European history