Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about 19 kilometres (12 mi) west of Paris, France.
Some of the key events about Palace of Versailles
- 1624Construction of a small hunting lodge began on the site of the future palace
- 1661Major expansion and renovation of the palace commenced
- 1682The royal court officially moved from Paris to Versailles
- 1682The French royal court moved to Versailles, centralizing power and isolating the monarchy from the people
- 1685The Hall of Mirrors, a grand gallery with 357 mirrors, was completed
- 1685The Edict of Fontainebleau was signed at Versailles, revoking religious freedoms for Protestants in France
- 1756The Treaty of Versailles was signed, aligning France with Austria against Prussia and Britain in the Seven Years' War
- 1770The Royal Opera of Versailles was inaugurated
- 1770An extravagant and expensive wedding celebration was held for the future Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
- 1774Louis XVI ascended to the throne, inheriting a kingdom with severe financial problems
- 1783The Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolutionary War, was signed at the palace
- 1783The Treaty of Paris was signed at Versailles, ending the American Revolutionary War but further straining French finances
- 1789The Women's March on Versailles forced the royal family to leave the palace and return to Paris
- 1793The palace was stripped of its furnishings and artwork during the French Revolution
- 1837The Palace of Versailles was transformed into a museum dedicated to French history
- 1871The German Empire was proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors
- 1871The German Empire was proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors, humiliating France after its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War
- 1919The Treaty of Versailles, ending World War I, was signed in the Hall of Mirrors
- 1919The Treaty of Versailles was signed, imposing harsh penalties on Germany after World War I, contributing to future conflicts
- 1979The Palace and Park of Versailles were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.