Beneath the Glitter of the Palace of Versailles

I remember first seeing a picture of Versailles and learning about Louis XIV, (also known as the 'Sun King') in my seventh grade French class. Now that I have meandered through the adorned corridors and stared towards the painted ceilings in awe - I surely cannot imagine a palace more beautiful or elegant. As I grew older however, and began to focus my studies throughout high school and also through college on European history, I gained a different perspective on the Sun King and his humble abode. The Palace of Versailles serves as the utmost reflection of French
nationalism and glory. However, beneath its glitter and grandeur lies a history of political complexity that sheds a different light upon the great palace and his majesty.
A certain amount of background concerning the reign of Louis XIV and the expansion of the palace of Versailles is important for anyone to truly appreciate and gain a deeper understanding of what they see after paying 25 euro and wandering around the tremendous palace and expansive grounds. Versailles served as the capital of the kingdom of France from 1682-1789 but now is a wealthier suburb of Paris. In 1682 with the Treaty of Nijmegen, Louis XIV decided that his government as well as his court would permanently convene in Versailles. Versailles is located over ten miles away from the city center. Knowing myself, I was certain that I would not spend my entire weekend in France exploring solely the city of Paris. My friends and I climbed to the top of the Eiffel tower, sipped authentic French wine and nibbled on French bread and rich crepes. We also strolled along the Champs-Elysées, of course shopped and toured the Louvre. Despite all of the rich history that is embodied in the city center of Paris, a rich and complex piece of the nation's history lies outside of Paris itself. That being said, Versailles seemed to be the perfect day trip and given the fact that I have yet to enroll in one French language or European history class that did not discuss the impact of Louis XIV and the Palace of Versailles - I decided to see for myself what all the buzz was about. By metro it took my friends and I over an hour to reach Versailles. Geographical placement typically is not circumstantial. Louis XIV intentionally developed the grand palace away from the city center as he desired to acquire a greater consolidation of power separate from the main population.
Looking like stereotypical tourists, my three travel companions and myself acquired audio guides that were permanently attached to our ears throughout the tour of the palace. Walking through each room of the palace, we discovered the purpose intended for each space. Almost of all of these revolved around the etiquette surrounding the King himself in the form of painstakingly traditional and drawn out ceremonies that celebrated his every day. I suggest that before visiting the palace you research Louis XIV and life at the palace. An online interactive source for research is http://en.chateauversailles.fr/history-. Louis XIV feared that his court would revolt against him and thus he kept them close, living in or around the palace and all these tensions and fears become immediately evident after exploring the grounds and the various traditions attached to each room and corridor of the palace.
Geography almost always tells a story. In the case of the Sun King and his palace, the actual physical landscape of the palace reflects the cultural system and the absolute monarchy that was in place during the reign of Louis XIV. Ultimately, the expansive palace caused greater damage than good and the excessive spending and flaunting of French national glory along with other French political issues largely culminated into the French Revolution. So, if you choose to remove yourself from the night lights of Paris and escape to Versailles for a day, I suggest that you take a moment to reflect upon the true meaning and consequences of the Versailles Palace and grounds. Allow yourself time to take in the outstanding beauty and extravagance like you may never see again. However, it makes the experience all the more interesting if you envision yourself as a peasant living within an hour of such a place, or even as a member of Louis XIV's court, restricted everyday by the intense paranoia of the Sun King. Attached to a geographical location is typically an explanation and beneath that explanation is typically a light into the culture of the time period and its people and also a story that unravels the truth beneath the glitter and glory.