Online dictionary of France travel and tourism: Versailles palace

French words: Versailles , Château de Versailles , Palais de Versailles
alternative words: Chateau of Versailles, Versailles castle, Versailles
keywords: castle , human heritage , paris suburb , tourist resort
related topics: Vaux-le-Vicomte castle , Grand Trianon palace , Petit Trianon palace
related web sites: http://www.chateauversailles.fr , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Versailles , http://www.mairie-versailles.fr , http://www.versailles-tourisme.com
explanation: There was a hunting lodge for French king, Louis XIII at 20km west of Paris. In order to avoid a turbulent Paris and also to outdo Vaux-le-Vicomte castle, Louis XIV decided in 1664 to build his residence at the same place by enlarging it and moved there in 1682. After his death in 1715, his successors, Louis XV and Louis XVI added small buildings such as Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon. A proclamation of German empire in 1871 as well as Versailles treaty to end WWI in 1919 took place at Versailles palace.