The Birth of Versailles: From Hunting Lodge to Palace

Versailles is the most recognisable palace on Earth, but long before the Hall of Mirrors and the fountains, it was a modest hunting lodge for a king who preferred the quiet of the forest. This episode traces the transformation of Versailles from a brick-and-stone retreat for Louis XIII to the glittering symbol of absolute monarchy under his son, Louis XIV. We look at the crucial decision to move the court there in 1682, the ingenious water supply system that fed the fountains, and the daily rituals that turned nobles into ornament. We also consider the cost — both financial and political — of building this stage for royal power. With a nod to the revolutionaries who would later storm its gates, this is the story of how a palace helped shape the very idea of France. #Versailles #LouisXIV #LouisXIII #SunKing #FrenchHistory #Baroque #Palace #CourtLife #HallOfMirrors #LeNotre #Francine #MarieAntoinette #FrenchRevolution #Monarchy #RoyalPalace #History #FexingoHistory #Europe Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo