Versailles was a palace for king Louis xiv built by the best architects, painters, and gardeners to make it a magnificent royal residence for the king. It took thirty two years to complete the building of Versailles and the cost to build it was about one hundred million dollars. No one knows the exact cost of it because many people believe that Louis had the records of it destroyed for various unknown reasons. It took about thirty five thousand men to build the great palace in that thirty two years that it was worked on.

Versailles could house ten thousand persons if used to its full capabilities. It had hundreds of spectacular rooms with marble columns, polished inlaid floors, brilliant rugs and tapestries, and painted ceilings it was a very beautiful site. All of the countryside surrounding it was formed into formal gardens and parks with classical Greek statues and fountains for the kings leasure time. Aven

ues were on all sides of the palace and they were spread out like rays of sun, louis was supposed to represent the sun in that time.

The French example is what Europe tried very hard to imitate and follow. European courts imitated the French in manners and dress. The French language became the language of polite society and the official language of many royal courts. Following the example of louis xiv, many rulers encouraged writers and artists. Many of them tried to imitate the splendor or the French court. Louis' interest in the fine arts and architecture made the French call his reign the Grand Century and Louis the Grand Monarch.

He always took great pains to find out what was going on in public places, in society, in private houses, even family secrets, and maintained an immense number of spies and tale-bearers. These were of all sorts. some did not know that their reports were carried to him. there were others who used to write to him directly through channels which he prescribed. there were some who were admitted by the backstairs and saw him in his private room. Many a man in all ranks of life was ruined by these methods

Some topics in this essay:
Louis XIV, Grand Monarch, Louis French, Life Versailles, Sometimes Louis, VERSAILLES Write, louis xiv, sun louis, paid nobles,