What is extravagance? A great deal of definitions and connotations exist to define this word: lavish, impressive, absurd, lavish, or expensive. All of these words can be used to define a very specific building: the Palace of Versailles. There is no specific date that can be marked as the building date of Versailles; it started as the king’s hunting lodge in around 1153, and a final hamlet was finished in 1785. Five kings lived to see this palace grow, though it was Louis XIV that did the most work on the palace. Each one of these kings contributed something new: a foundation, a new building, a lavish hallway, or a garden; all of them also had different specific reasons for creating this building, but their reasons include a common theme: how
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Though its first designers intended the Palace of Versailles to be a home for the kings of France, “[after] 1670, Versailles was less a pleasure palace than a seat of government… this function changed the atmosphere,” (Spawforth 98). The town of Versailles became a city of nobles and officials instead of the small town it used to be. This change of purpose also forced many noble Parisians and other Frenchmen to travel between Paris and Versailles for court meetings, making the road between the two cities very popular, and giving both cities an influx of people from all over France (Spawforth 2). Even though nobles from all over France came to Versailles, there were a select few King Louis XIV wanted most: “the high aristocracy; provincial nobles… ambassadors; other distinguished foreigners; and rich burghers, especially Parisians. These were the influential people whom Louis sought to impress by building Versailles,” (Spawforth 43). No matter their country of origin, King Louis XIV wanted very distinguished nobles to come to Versailles, see his wondrous palace, and recognize the power of France and the French …show more content…
Every king who helped shape Versailles recognized the impact this building would have on the people of France and Europe as a whole, and strove to surpass expectations for this lavish palace. The actions they took to make the Palace of Versailles prominent in French history make it stand out as an impressive architectural and influential building. The Palace of Versailles exemplifies extravagance, no matter the definition, and impresses all of its guests with its magnificent power and
Though its first designers intended the Palace of Versailles to be a home for the kings of France, “[after] 1670, Versailles was less a pleasure palace than a seat of government… this function changed the atmosphere,” (Spawforth 98). The town of Versailles became a city of nobles and officials instead of the small town it used to be. This change of purpose also forced many noble Parisians and other Frenchmen to travel between Paris and Versailles for court meetings, making the road between the two cities very popular, and giving both cities an influx of people from all over France (Spawforth 2). Even though nobles from all over France came to Versailles, there were a select few King Louis XIV wanted most: “the high aristocracy; provincial nobles… ambassadors; other distinguished foreigners; and rich burghers, especially Parisians. These were the influential people whom Louis sought to impress by building Versailles,” (Spawforth 43). No matter their country of origin, King Louis XIV wanted very distinguished nobles to come to Versailles, see his wondrous palace, and recognize the power of France and the French …show more content…
Every king who helped shape Versailles recognized the impact this building would have on the people of France and Europe as a whole, and strove to surpass expectations for this lavish palace. The actions they took to make the Palace of Versailles prominent in French history make it stand out as an impressive architectural and influential building. The Palace of Versailles exemplifies extravagance, no matter the definition, and impresses all of its guests with its magnificent power and