Palace of Versailles
Versailles · France · Founded 1837
The grandest royal palace in Europe — Louis XIV's monument to absolute power, with the Hall of Mirrors, royal apartments, and 800 hectares of formal gardens. One of the most visited historic sites in the world.
About Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles was the seat of French royal power from 1682 until the Revolution of 1789. Louis XIV, the Sun King, transformed a hunting lodge into the largest palace in Europe to project the absolute authority of the French monarchy — a statement of power that inspired royal courts across the continent for a century.
Converted into a museum by King Louis-Philippe in 1837, the palace now holds 2,300 rooms, including the dazzling Hall of Mirrors — a 73-metre gallery lined with 357 mirrors reflecting 17 arched windows overlooking the gardens. The formal gardens, designed by André Le Nôtre, extend across 800 hectares and include the Grand Canal, fountains, and the Petit Trianon.
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A small ask before you go
You've just explored one of humanity's greatest collections of beauty. Art has the power to move us, inspire us, and change how we see the world. But millions of people will never see beauty like this — not because the art isn't there, but because they can't see at all.
Preventable blindness, caused by conditions like cataracts and trachoma, affects people of all ages across the world's poorest communities. A small gift — for the cost of a museum ticket — can provide a simple surgery to restore someone's sight and transform their life.