Palace and Park of Versailles

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NHK World Heritage 100 Series

Narration Text

Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles 20 kilometers outside Paris on what was a dense stretch of forest. 300 years on, the monument is preserved as a World Heritage site and is one of the glories of France.

King’s Suite included the King’s bedchamber. His life was a ritual in itself. The only time he had to himself was when he was asleep. When he woke at seven in the morning, the "morning ritual" began. More than a hundred people looked on from behind this gilded wall. This was the clock used to mark out the royal routine.

One of the great attractions for visitors is the Hall of Mirrors. At the time, mirrors were precious. The Hall was used for ceremonies and grand balls. The King’s favorite place on the estate though was the garden which has a symmetrical design and also 1400 fountains. The water came from the Seine River and was stored in reservoirs located on the tops of buildings. There are more than 30 kilometers of water pipes underground. The fountains have an abundant water supply using water pressure caused by water flowing from a higher level. The original water supply system is still in use.

Back inside the palace, there is a special clock. It was made especially for Louis XIV. The King’s symbol, the Sun, appears. Visitors can hear time ticking away exactly as the Sun King did 3 centuries ago.