Along the Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is the most original creation of André Le Nôtre who transformed the east-west perspective into a long light-filled sheet of water. The works took eleven years, from 1668 to 1679. The Grand Canal, 1,670 metres long, was the setting for numerous nautical spectacles and many types of craft were sailed on it. In 1669, Louis XIV ordered rowing boats and reduced models of ships. In 1674, the Republic of Venice sent the King two gondolas and four gondoliers who lodged in a suite of buildings at the head of the Canal, since then known as Little Venice. In the summer the King’s fleet sailed along it, while skates and sleighs whizzed over the frozen water of the Grand Canal in winter.
[Versailles website]
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 Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is the most original creation of André Le Nôtre who transformed the east-west perspective into a long light-filled sheet of water. The works took eleven years, from 1668 to 1679. The Grand Canal, 1,670 metres long, was the setting for numerous nautical spectacles and many types of craft were sailed on it. In 1669, Louis XIV ordered rowing boats and reduced models of ships. In 1674, the Republic of Venice sent the King two gondolas and four gondoliers who lodged in a suite of buildings at the head of the Canal, since then known as Little Venice. In the summer the King’s fleet sailed along it, while skates and sleighs whizzed over the frozen water of the Grand Canal in winter.
[Versailles website]
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.