Along the Hall of Mirrors
Looking along the 239.5 ft gallery.
The Hall of Mirrors (Grande Galerie or Galerie des Glaces) lies between the Salon de la Guerre (War Room) and the Salon de la Paix (Room of Peace); it is 239ft long with 17 arcaded windows faced by a wall of 17 arches, each containing 29 mirrors.
The hall was built in the Palace's third phase of construction (1678-84), and work began in 1678.
The Hall was only used for ceremonies on exceptional occasions, when sovereigns wanted to lend splendour to diplomatic receptions or regal weddings.
In 1871, at the end of the Franco-Prussian War, Wilhelm I of Prussia was declared Emperor of Germany in the Hall. In 1919 the French Prime Minister Clemenceau chose this location as the site for Germany to sign the Treaty of Versailles.
The Palace of Versailles was created at the instruction of Louis XIV, and was the centre of French government and power from 1682, when Louis XIV moved from Paris, until Louis XVI and the royal family was forced to return to the capital in 1789.
The chateau is built around a hunting lodge established by by Louis XIII, and was created in four phases: 1664–68, 1669–72, 1678–84 and 1699–1710, by the architects Le Vau, Le Nôtre, and Le Brun.
Along the Hall of Mirrors
Looking along the 239.5 ft gallery.
The Hall of Mirrors (Grande Galerie or Galerie des Glaces) lies between the Salon de la Guerre (War Room) and the Salon de la Paix (Room of Peace); it is 239ft long with 17 arcaded windows faced by a wall of 17 arches, each containing 29 mirrors.
The hall was built in the Palace's third phase of construction (1678-84), and work began in 1678.
The Hall was only used for ceremonies on exceptional occasions, when sovereigns wanted to lend splendour to diplomatic receptions or regal weddings.
In 1871, at the end of the Franco-Prussian War, Wilhelm I of Prussia was declared Emperor of Germany in the Hall. In 1919 the French Prime Minister Clemenceau chose this location as the site for Germany to sign the Treaty of Versailles.
The Palace of Versailles was created at the instruction of Louis XIV, and was the centre of French government and power from 1682, when Louis XIV moved from Paris, until Louis XVI and the royal family was forced to return to the capital in 1789.
The chateau is built around a hunting lodge established by by Louis XIII, and was created in four phases: 1664–68, 1669–72, 1678–84 and 1699–1710, by the architects Le Vau, Le Nôtre, and Le Brun.