Palace of Versailles in Paris. Architecture of Versailles description of the Palace of Versailles. Exterior architecture and interior design of the mansion

Versailles Versailles

Versailles, a city in France, southwestern suburb of Paris. It was first mentioned in 1075. In 1682-1789 the main residence of the French kings. The palace and park ensemble of Versailles grew out of the hunting castle of Louis XIII (1624, rebuilt in 1631-34, architect F. Leroy), transformed during several construction periods (1661-68, architect L. Levo; 1670-74, architect F. d" Orbe; 1678-89, architect J. Hardouin-Mansart) into a vast palace dominating the surroundings (façade length 576.2 m) with magnificent decoration of the ceremonial and residential interiors and a park. The layout of Versailles is based on three roads, fanning out from the palace to Paris, to the royal palaces of Saint-Cloud and So. They also formed the basis of the plan of the city of Verona, where the nobility settled. The junction of these roads in the court d'honneur (court of honor) is marked by an equestrian statue of Louis XIV. The middle road on the other side of the palace is continued by a spectacular main alley with the pools of Latona and Apollo and with the Grand Canal (length 1520 m), forming an axis of symmetry of a clear network of straight alleys of a huge regular park with geometrically correctly trimmed trees (1660s, architect A. Lenotre), with elegant pavilions, fountains, decorative sculpture (F. Girardon, A. Coisevoux, etc.). The façade of the palace, facing Paris, is formed by: the Marble Court (1662, architect Levo), the Court of Princes (right wing, later called the "Gabriel wing", 1734-74; royal chapel - 1689-1710, architect Hardouin-Mansart; left - " Dufour wing", 1814-29) and the Court of Ministers, framed by the wings of the ministry buildings and a cast-iron lattice (1671-81, architect Hardouin-Mansart). The façade of the palace from the park side consists of the central (from 1668, architect Levo, completed by the architect Hardouin-Mansart), southern (1682) and northern (1685, both architect Hardouin-Mansart) buildings; Opera House at the end of the northern building (1748-70, architect J. A. Gabriel, sculptor O. Pazhu). The interior decoration of the palace was carried out in the 17th-18th centuries. (architect Hardouin-Mansart, Levo, painting by C. Lebrun, etc.). To the north of the Grand Canal are the palaces of the Grand Trianon (1670-72, architect d'Orbe according to the plans of the architect Levo, 1687, architect Hardouin-Mansart) and the Petit Trianon (1762-64, architect Gabriel), which is adjacent to a landscape park (1774, A. Richard) with the Belvedere (1777), the Temple of Love (1778), the Maly Theater (1780, all by architect R. Mick) and the “village” of Marie Antoinette (1783-86, architect Mick, artist J. Robert).In 1830 the ensembles of Versailles were turned into the National Museum of Versailles and Trianons.

Literature: M. V. Alpatov, Architecture of the ensemble of Versailles, M., 1940; Benoist L., Histoire de Versaille, P., 1973.

(Source: “Popular Art Encyclopedia.” Edited by V.M. Polevoy; M.: Publishing House “Soviet Encyclopedia”, 1986.)

(versailles), palace and park ensemble of the 17th–18th centuries. near Paris. In 1682–1789 - the main residence of the French kings. Louis XIII built a hunting castle here (1624; architect F. Leroy) and laid out a park. His son Louis XIV planned to create his country residence at Versailles; at the same time, he wished to preserve his father’s castle by adding new buildings to it (architects L. Levo, 1661-68; F. d’Orbe, 1670-74; J. Hardouin-Mansart, 1678-89). The central part of the palace is U-shaped. In the background, behind the two front courtyards, the façade of the old castle is visible. The side buildings spread out to the left and right, like the wings of a giant bird. The facades are designed in style classicism; their composition and decor characterized by simplicity and laconism. The main facade of the three-story palace faces the road to Paris. The second main floor (mezzanine) is the highest. A balustrade runs along the flat roof, completing the walls of the facade. In subsequent centuries, the palace was partially rebuilt. Of the interiors from the time of Louis XIV, the War and Peace Halls and the famous Gallery of Mirrors (designed by C. Lebrun) have been preserved. Tall mirrors on one wall match the windows on the opposite. This visually expands the space of the hall. The interior decoration uses marble cladding, gilding, luxurious crystal chandeliers and carved furniture; walls and lampshades decorated with picturesque compositions. The decoration is designed in the so-called. "big style" combining elements baroque and classicism. Some of the interiors from the time of Louis XV, created in the style of rococo.

The huge Versailles Park (1660s; architect A. Le Nôtre), created during the reign of Louis XIV, is a classic example of a French, or regular, park. Its territory is divided into regular geometric shapes with bosquets (shrubs cut into smooth walls), lawns and giant water mirrors of swimming pools, enclosed in perfectly square, round or hexagonal frames. The central planning axis of the ensemble is its semantic core. It passes strictly through the central part of the palace, where the chambers of Louis XIV were located. On one side it is continued by the road to Paris, on the other by the main alley of the park. On the central axis there is a fountain “The Chariot of Apollo” - the god who personified Louis XIV, the “Sun King”. The park and the facades of the palace, located to the left and right of the axis, are built according to the laws of symmetry. The garden is decorated with a greenhouse, flower beds, fountains and sculptures.

Versailles Park also includes the ensembles of the Grand Trianon (1678-88; architects J. Hardouin-Mansart, R. De Cotte) and the Petit Trianon (1762-64; architect J. A. Gabriel). The latter was built under Louis XVI for Queen Marie Antoinette in the style of early classicism of the 18th century. Next to it is a charming landscape park (1774; architect A. Richard) with a lake and a decorative village with a mill and a dairy farm (1782-86; architect R. Meek). The ensemble of Versailles, the brilliant holidays that took place there, and the style of court life of the French kings had a huge influence on European culture and architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries.

(Source: “Art. Modern illustrated encyclopedia.” Edited by Prof. Gorkin A.P.; M.: Rosman; 2007.)

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Versailles- Versailles. Castle. VERSAILLES, a city in France, a suburb of Paris. About 100 thousand inhabitants. From 1682 to 1789 the residence of the French kings. Tourism. Mechanical engineering. The largest palace and park ensemble in the style of French classicism of the 17th and 18th centuries... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

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The king forced the aristocrats to live in Versailles, keeping everyone under control. Whoever left the palace lost all privileges, the opportunity to receive posts and ranks.

After the death of Louis XIV (1715), his five-year-old son and the Regency Council of Philippe d'Orléans return to Paris.

The walls of the palace also remember the visit of Peter I to the royal mansion. The Russian Tsar studied the building in order to apply what he saw during the construction of Peterhof.

Louis XV did not change the building much, he only completed the Salon of Hercules, begun by his father, the Opera Hall, and the Petit Trianon Palace. Louis XV decided to build part of the building for his daughters, so the Staircase of the Ambassadors, the official road to the Great Royal Apartments, was destroyed. In the park, the king completes the construction of Neptune's Pool.

Around the palace, a city grew over the years, the population of which grew to 100 thousand, including the artisans serving the king and his vassals. Three rulers (Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI), while living in the palace, did everything so that all subsequent generations would admire the beauty and uniqueness of the architectural ensemble of Versailles.

In 1789, Louis XVI and the National Assembly, under pressure from the National Guard led by Lafayette, moved to the capital of France. Versailles ceases to be the political and administrative center of the country. Napoleon Bonaparte, having come to power, takes care of Versailles. In 1808, golden mirrors and panels were restored, and furniture was delivered from Fontainebleau and the Louvre. Plans for reconstruction were not destined to come true: the First Empire collapsed, the Bourbons again took the throne.

During the time of Louis Philippe, the palace became a historical museum of the French nation. Paintings of battles, portraits, busts of commanders and prominent figures of the country were added to the decoration of the castle.

Versailles also happened to be the representative office of the main headquarters of the German troops from October 1870 to March 13, 1871. In the same year, France is defeated by Germany, and the German Empire is proclaimed in the Gallery of Mirrors. A greater humiliation for the French could not be imagined! (Revenge would be just as humiliating at the end of World War I). A peace treaty signed a month later allows the French government to make Versailles its capital. Only in 1879 was Paris restored to its status as the main city of the country.

Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the harsh terms of which included large payments and recognition of the sole guilt of the Weimar Republic.

It just so happened that Versailles throughout its history reconciled the French and Germans. So after the Second World War, he witnessed the restoration of peace between the two countries. Since 1952, the Versailles architectural ensemble begins to gradually be restored with money from the government and patrons. The "Gem" regains its glory, brilliance and value.

In 1995, the Institution of the National Museum and Property of Versailles was created. Since 2010, the name of the body has changed to the Public Institution of the National Estate and Museum of Versailles. This status gave the palace financial autonomy and the rights of a legal entity. Since 2001, Versailles has been a member of the Association of European Royal Residences. Versailles has its own president. Its first president was Jean-Jacques Ayagon, and since 2011 this position has been occupied by Catherine Pegard.

Not a single palace in the world bears any resemblance to the Palace of Versailles; only a few were created under the influence of this unique, luxurious structure. Among them are Sanssouci in Postdam, the Rapti estate in Luga, Schönbrunn in Vienna, and palaces in Peterhof.

Versailles is a beautiful palace and park ensemble of France; in its native language the name of such a famous historical property sounds like this - Parc et ch 226; teau de Versailles, this place is the former residence of the French kings in the city of Versailles, today it is a suburb of Paris, a center of world-class tourism, with a record number of visitors every day. The Palace of Versailles is the largest palace in Europe. Versailles is the main city of the Seine-et-Oise department, and is located 17 kilometers from the capital of France, and is a suburb of Paris.

In 1623, Versailles was a very modest hunting castle, built at the request of Louis XIII of stone and brick, and covered with slate roofing. The hunting castle was now located in the place where the marble courtyard was. Years later, Versailles was built under the strict supervision and guidance of King Louis XIV from 1661, and became an artistic and architectural expression of the idea of ​​absolutism, and a kind of monument to the era of the “Sun King”. The current work of art was created by famous leading architects of those times - Louis Levo and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and the creator of the park was the landscape designer - Andre Le Nôtre. The palace ensemble of Versailles is the largest in Europe; it is distinguished by the harmony of architectural forms, the unique integrity of the plan and the transformed landscape. Since the end of the 17th century, Versailles has been a model for the ceremonial country residences of the European monarchy and aristocracy, but no one has been able to repeat the great masterpiece. Over time, a city arose around the palace.

Versailles is part of the history of the development and revival of France. It was the official residence of the royal family from 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789. Later, in 1801, the Palace of Versailles received the status of a museum and was open to visits by residents of France and visitors; and in 1830 the entire architectural complex of Versailles became a museum; then the Museum of French History was opened in the palace in 1837. The Palace and Park of Versailles were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

Many significant events in the history of France and, indeed, the whole world are associated with this place. The 18th century was a place for signing treaties for the residence; many international treaties were signed at Versailles, one of them was the 1783 treaty ending the War of Independence in the United States. On August 26, 1789, the National Constituent Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, this is the most important document of the Great French Revolution. Then in 1871, during the Franco-Prussian War, France admitted defeat, and Versailles became the site of the proclamation of the German Empire. In 1875, the French Republic was proclaimed. And 1919 was the final year for the First World War; a peace treaty was signed at the Palace of Versailles, which marked the beginning of the political system of post-war international relations - the Versailles system.

The Palace of Versailles is famous for its gardens; there are many terraces scattered throughout their territory, which go down as they move away from the palace. Flower beds, a greenhouse, lawns, swimming pools, fountains and numerous sculptures are a continuation of the palace architecture. The park is decorated with a large number of fountains. One of the most beautiful is the Fountain of Apollo, where Tyubi depicted the chariot of the ancient god, drawn by four horses, which royally and swiftly emerge from the water, and newts blow their shells, signaling the approach of the god. The area of ​​the park and gardens is 101 hectares, the length of the park façade of the palace is 640 m, the length of the Mirror Gallery in the center of the palace is 73 m, width: 10.6 m, height: 12.8 m. There are 17 windows overlooking the park in Versailles and symmetrical mirrors on the opposite wall.

Versailles is a palace complex famous for its architectural structures.

The Main Palace Complex is the residence of the royal family and is an excellent example of French classicism. From the semicircular Place d'Armes there is a beautiful view of the palace with its three courtyards: the Courtyard of the Ministers, with an equestrian statue of Louis XIV in the background. The Royal Courtyard, access here was available only to royal carriages, and the Marble Courtyard, surrounded by the ancient buildings of the hunting castle of Louis XIII.

The main attractions of Versailles: the Salon of Venus, the Royal Chapel, the Salon of Apollo and the Hall of Mirrors, or the Gallery of Mirrors, whose 17 huge mirrors, located opposite the tall windows, fill the space with light, visually pushing the walls apart. Opera created by Gabriel in 1770 on the occasion of the wedding of Louis XVI with Marie Antoinette: the oval-shaped room is decorated with gilded wooden carvings on a blue background.

The gallery of military battles contains 30 epic paintings dedicated to the triumph of French weapons. Busts of 82 commanders are installed along the walls, and the names of heroes are engraved on 16 bronze plates.

The Grand Trianon is a pink marble palace built by Louis XIV for his beloved Madame de Maintenon. Here the monarch loved to spend his free time. The palace was later home to Napoleon and his second wife.

Petit Trianon is a palace built by King Louis XV for Madame de Pompadour. Later, the Petit Trianon was occupied by Marie Antoinette, and even later by Napoleon's sister.

You can get to Versailles from Gare Montparnasse station by train, and by metro Montparnasse Bienvenue - this is the twelfth metro line. Exit to the station directly from the metro, go to the Versailles Chantiers stop, it will take approximately 20 minutes. Then walk another 10-15 minutes and you are in the majestic palace complex of France - Versailles. A transport ticket costs 5 euros there and back.

The castle is visited from May to September, from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. And the fountains operate from early April to early October on Sundays, and from July 1 to September 30 and on Saturdays. Every year Versailles receives 4,000,000 visitors.

Do you admire the classic styles of the 17th – 18th centuries, but can’t choose just one? Let go of your worries - you are not alone. Several centuries ago, during the renovation and expansion of Versailles, Louis XIV faced the same problem and simply combined them. Thus, from a combination of classicism and baroque, an interior style with the same name Versailles emerged.

A little history

Initially, the Palace of Versailles was a hunting lodge. In 1661, Louis XIV decided to turn an inconspicuous building into a luxurious residence, where he planned to gather the entire aristocratic elite of France. The “sun king” realized his idea brilliantly – there is not a single exact analogue of this ensemble.

The best minds and talents of the era worked on the creation of the complex. The park area was landscaped by Andre Le Nôtre. The architects who embodied the king's most daring plans were Louis Leveau and Jules Hardouin. The interiors were designed by Charles Lebrun, a famous decorator who created the court style of Louis XIV.

In the middle of the 17th century, France relied on ancient canons. The king was constrained by this - he was more impressed by the dynamic Italian Baroque, which ultimately led to a mixture of styles. It is also worth noting that over 40 years, about seven hundred rooms were built - maintaining unity turned out to be impossible.

Versailles style today

The Palace of Versailles is not only a symbol of the era, but also an inexhaustible source of inspiration for architects, artists, and designers.

It is unlikely that we will be able to recreate even a part of the grandiose ensemble, since construction by modern standards cost about 260 billion euros. However, no one forbade us from spying on a few interesting ideas.

Finishing materials

To be no worse than the French kings, you should use only first-class materials in decoration: polished stone, natural wood, ceramic tiles and decorative plaster. A floor with artistic parquet looks especially harmonious in such an interior.

It is best to cover the walls with Venetian plaster or matte paint. If you prefer wallpaper, pay attention to bright holiday colors: lilac, turquoise, ruby, gold. A variety of moldings and fabric drapery on the walls are welcome.

Furniture items

Sofas with lion paws, armchairs with soft armrests and rounded backs, elegant poufs and footrests will help create the atmosphere of a French salon XVII in the living room. Everything should be conducive to a leisurely and pleasant conversation. The undoubted decorations will be a shiny piano in the corner of the room and a fireplace.

It is difficult to imagine a palace interior without chests of drawers with curved legs, bureaus, secretaries with many drawers and without dressing tables with luxurious dressing tables. They perform not only aesthetic, but also practical functions, hiding all the most valuable things from prying eyes. Kings have their secrets.

Decor and lighting

The Versailles style, following the Baroque, is not at all stingy in decoration: frescoes, bas-reliefs, floral patterns, sculptural compositions, lace, draperies - everything was mixed in the palace of Louis XIV. But now we have plenty to choose from, don’t you agree?

Mirrors are a special item. They visually increase the space and favorably emphasize the lush decoration of the room. It is no coincidence that the Gallery of Mirrors is the most famous interior of Versailles. You should opt for antique or antique-style options. They look best in massive carved frames decorated with gilding.

Small decorative items are characterized by floral patterns and bright rich shades. There are oriental carpets on the floors, the walls are decorated with tapestries, and armchairs and sofas cannot do without soft pillows.

The lighting in the Palace of Versailles was special. The windows were specially made below the usual level so that the sun could easily penetrate into the rooms, filling them with light and air. Maybe this isn't such a bad idea after all?

To summarize, we have compiled a list of the main features of the Versailles style:

use first-class materials in decoration

decorative plaster is best suited for walls

you can’t do without armchairs, sofas and an ottoman

abundance of decor

floral patterns and rich shades

Of course, the times of formidable kings and luxurious residences are gone forever, leaving us with a rich heritage. Why not turn to him for inspiration and create a light atmosphere of 17th-century palace gloss in your home.

The stunning palace in the suburbs of Paris has become a symbol of the absolute monarchy and luxury of the last French kings.

He made such a strong impression on his contemporaries that many rulers of other states ordered their architects to create something similar for them.

Although all visitors to Versailles associate this palace primarily with the personality of the legendary Louis XIV, the merits of this town were appreciated by the grandfather of the Sun King, King Henry IV, who loved to hunt in the local forests. Henry's son and heir, Louis XIII, ordered the construction of a small hunting pavilion there in 1623. In the early 1630s, the king bought the territory adjacent to his possessions from the Gondi family and the Archbishop of Paris, and ordered Philibert Leroy a new, more representative building.

The Palace of Louis XIII was completed in 1634. It was a rectangular two-story building with two wings perpendicular to the main building.

In the central part there was a royal bedroom, surrounded by reception halls. Fragments of this layout can be seen in the building of the palace that exists today: the facades around the so-called Marble Court (Cour de Marbre) differ from all others by facing in dark red brick, contrasting with light architectural details - window frames, cornices and decorative elements of cream sandstone.

Favorite residence of Louis XIV

When his father died in 1643, Louis XIV was barely four years old, and he often changed places of residence. Officially, the Louvre remained the main royal residence, but the young king did not like Paris. Every year, he and his court left the capital for several months and lived in the castles of Vincennes, Fontainebleau, and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

He first visited Versailles only in 1651, and since then this place became his favorite residence. Soon the king decided to rebuild it in order to be able to spend time together with the whole court in a variety of entertainments. To realize this plan, he invited artists and architects.

The building was designed by the famous architect Louis Leveau. Two artists, Charles Herrard and Noël Coipel, were involved in the redevelopment of the gardens, and the redevelopment of the gardens fell to Andre Le Nôtre, whose task also included designing the greenhouse. Work began in 1661, and three years later the king was already able to invite guests to the first palace celebrations dedicated to theatrical productions, including plays by Moliere. At this time, Louis XIV decided to further rebuild the palace. According to Levo's design, enveloppe were erected in 1668-1681 - two massive wings, northern and southern, which surrounded and almost absorbed the palace of Louis XIII. The wings, located parallel to the central axis of the palace and park complex, were oriented towards the entrance from the city, and the so-called Royal Court (Cour Royal) was located in the space formed between them. On the side of the garden façade, between the projections of the two wings, Levo placed an arched enfilade, above which he built an open terrace on the upper tier. The southern wing was intended for the ruler's apartments, while the northern wing served the queen and her ladies-in-waiting.

A hall full of mirrors

Louis XIV not only made Versailles his permanent residence, but also decided to transfer the government there. To accommodate the large retinue and officials, another large-scale reconstruction was required, which began in 1678. Levo had already died by that time, and was replaced by another royal architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart. He designed the impressive Gallery of Mirrors (Galerie des Glares), built on the garden side between the projections on the site of a former observation deck. The gallery opens onto the garden with seventeen high semicircular windows, opposite which on the inner wall there are mirrors, corresponding in shape and size to the windows.

During the day, when the garden was reflected in the mirrors, the gallery turned into an arched pavilion, surrounded on both sides by extensive flower beds; in the evenings, the mirrors multiplied the lights of the candles illuminating the gallery, increasing their brightness. The ceiling depicted scenes glorifying the Sun King and his military achievements. This decoration, completed in 1686, was carried out according to sketches and under the direction of the famous painter Charles Lebrun.

On both sides of the gallery, on the first floor of the risalits, designed by Levo, two luxurious halls were built - the War Hall in the king's apartment and the Peace Hall in the wing that belonged to the queen.

Hardouin-Mansart also designed two massive wings with courtyards, located perpendicular to the central axis of the entire structure. The southern wing was completed in 1684, but construction of the northern wing was suspended due to the ever-increasing cost of the project and was resumed only in the 19th century. The architect rebuilt two separate pavilions built by Levo on the city side, placing between them a spacious courtyard, which was called the Court of Ministers (Cour des Ministres).

Louis XIV and his court moved to Versailles on May 6, 1682, when construction work was in full swing and even the royal apartments were still unfinished. Despite the inconveniences associated with life on the construction site, the king did not change his permanent residence, and the Palace of Versailles remained the residence of French rulers until the revolution of 1789.

The last completed part of the Hardouin-Mansart project was the Royal Chapel, conceived by the architect as an independent building connected to the northern wing of the palace.

Personal apartments of monarchs

Despite numerous reconstructions, the Palace of Versailles looks from the inside as a harmonious whole; the features of classical baroque dominate in a single consistent style. The interiors - in particular, the so-called Grands Appartaments of Louis XIV and his wife, consisting of many halls and connected by a Gallery of Mirrors - amaze with the luxury of decoration, an abundance of sculptures, stucco, gold and wall paintings representing the exploits of the Olympian gods.

There was also room for other buildings in the palace and park ensemble of Versailles. After the purchase and demolition of the small village of Trianon in 1668, Louis Levo built in its place the Porcelain Trianon - an ensemble of pavilions lined with white and black faience tiles.

More than ten years later, Jules Hardouin-Mansart received a decree from the king to build a new palace, which was intended for the personal needs of the ruler. In the lower part of the vast complex, located between the courtyard and the garden, you can see the recreated village buildings, while elegant sculptural decorations and pink marble lining the façade and colonnades give the entire structure an intimate sophistication.

The Trianon Palace became known as the Grand when a new residence of a similar design appeared nearby, called the Petit Trianon. It was ordered to be built in 1761-1768 by Louis XV, the great-grandson and heir of the Sun King, for his favorite Madame de Pompadour. The author of the Petit Trianon was Jacques-Ange Gabriel. Compared to other buildings of Versailles, the palace really looks small, and its interiors combine features of Rococo and Classicism. The Petit Trianon was the favorite residence of Queen Marie Antoinette, who received it as a gift from Louis XVI.

After the French Revolution broke out in October 1789, the royal family had to leave Versailles and the palace was sacked. It regained its shine during the time of Louis Philippe, who ordered the establishment of a museum of French history here. After the final overthrow of the monarchy, meetings of the Congress and parliamentary elections of the President of the Republic were held at Versailles, and the Trianon Palace served as the venue for diplomatic meetings. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Gallery of Mirrors on June 28, 1919, ending the First World War.

Famous Gardens

The modest garden that once surrounded the palace, built by Louis XIII, was constantly changed during the reign of his heir - it was expanded and brought to perfection so that its luxury corresponded to the splendor of the building itself. Andre Le Nôtre, designing the garden in 1661, outlined its main features, which remained unchanged throughout the 40 years of the project. Artists and sculptors worked together with Le Nôtre - the environment of the palace had to meet the aesthetic requirements embodied in its interiors. Closer to the garden façade, floral parterres with a strict chessboard composition were placed, which turned into higher so-called cabinets and bosquets, formed by trellises of trimmed bushes and trees, crowned with crowns of a strictly defined shape. The parterres created a frame for two fountains decorated with sculptural compositions. Closer to the palace there is a multi-tiered fountain dedicated to the goddess Leto (Latona), mother of Apollo and Artemis. A wide alley with lawns stretches from it to the Apollo Fountain. In the center there is a statue of the Sun god driving a chariot, surrounded by tritons and dolphins. The author of these sculptures is Jean-Baptiste Turby.

The harmonious combination of strict geometric shapes of greenery and water surface is also characteristic of the far part of the garden, where Le Nôtre built two canals intersecting at right angles. The largest of them, called the Grand Canal, ended in an oval pond.

Since 1664, canals, numerous small fountains, waterfalls and artificial grottoes have been an important part of the scenery for all kinds of performances and palace celebrations. Along the Grand Canal, in addition to traditional sailing boats, gondolas floated, which Louis XIV received as a gift from the Venetian doges. It is noteworthy that during the time of this ruler, the costs associated with the creation and maintenance of the water system amounted to one third of the cost of building the entire Versailles.

The garden complex, maintained in strict geometric proportions, with clearly marked observation platforms, decorated with many statues and flowerpots on pedestals, became the quintessence of the features of the “French garden”, which was laid out in many residences in Europe and America in the 17th and 18th centuries. The garden occupies an impressive area of ​​93 hectares, but in Versailles itself it is called the Petit Pare, since beyond its boundaries there is an incomparably large territory - more than 700 hectares - of the Grand Parc, where the garden surrounding the Grand Trianon Palace is located. It is arranged according to a similar geometric principle and is decorated with parterres reminiscent of oriental carpets.