VERSAILLES, ver'sif'y'. The capital of the Department of Seine-et-Oise, France, situated about 12 miles by rail and by tram south west of Paris (3lap: France. J 3). The flat town, with its quiet avenues, has little of inter est or charm save what is offered by the famous palace and park, whose magnifieence under the Bourbons made this unequaled in fame among all the royal residences of the world. In the town are a library of over 112,000 volumes, a hippodrome, and a shooting school. The population in 1901 numbered 54,982; it was formerly 100.000.
The palace, dating from 1661, and restored and converted into an historical museum under Louis Philippe, is on the western side of the town. with the park beyond. The park is laid out on regular lines running obliquely to the meridian. Three spacious avenues—the middle one the historic Avenue de Paris—pass through Versailles and converge in the great Place des Armes, which separates the palace from the town and through which the former is entered. South of this place is the room of the Jen de Paume. where the famous Third Estate met in .Mme. 1789. The room contains a Musee de In R6volution. The palace is composed of a central square, two wings at the right and left of it. and a third wing backing on the square and extending into the park. The imposing facade is one fourth of a mile long. The Conr d'llonneur is entered froth the Place, large pillars marking the entrance and symbolizing national victories under Louis XIV. Most of the great French paint ers, notably David, Delaeroix. and Horace Ver net, are represented here. and all the history of France. with its great battles and ceremonies, is spread on canvas before the visitor. There are also countless portraits and statues.
The royal ehapel is sumptuously adorned. and has good ceiling pictures by Coypel. At the north end of this wing is the theatre, built by Louis XV. and used by the National Assembly after the Eraneo-Prussian War and later by the Senate. The Moons of the Crusades are resplendent and cov ered with large modern paintings. The impres sive Galerie de Constantine holds sonic of the finest battle pictures of Vernet. The CI re inls Apartments of Louis XIV. overlook the park. and contain noteworthy paintings. Adjoining is the famous Galerie des Glaces—an immense and sumptuous room facing the centre of the gardens. Its paintings are by Charles Lebrun, William 1.
was proclaimed Emperor of Germany in this room in 1871. The bedchamber of Louis XIV. is im posing and contains the magnificent bed on which he breathed his last. His Petits Appartements are contiguous, and include the bedchamber of Louis XV., where he died. The famous antechamber— the CEil de Bceuf, so termed from its oval win dow—was where the gentlemen of the Court awaited the royal 'lever.' The Grands ements of the Queen are beautifully decorated. In the immense and gorgeous Galerie des Batailles over 130 yards long—are many grand battle pictures by modern French artists. The Galerie de ]'Empire contains paintings representing the career of Napoleon.
The park with its decorative ponds and vast fountains was first laid out by the celebrated Le Notre. it is but thoroughly stiff
and artificial, and has served as a famous type of Renaissance garden. Terraces, large orna mental basins, huge vases overflowing with flow ers, countless marble grotips and statues— especially reflecting the appropriate art of Coy zevox—quincunxest bosquets, and geometrically trimmed trees, here mock nature and the natural. An immense pond stretches away in the shape of a cross in front of the palace. The playing of the grand fountains, enlivened by colored lights, is one of the great sights in and about Paris. The water is supplied by the famous machine of Marty. The largest fountain, the Basin de Neptune, is a wonderful piece of hydraulic me chanism. Two immense flights of marble step descend on the opposite side of the palace to the famous orangery, beyond which extends a vast pond which was dug by the Swiss guard of Louis XIV. A school of horticulture is near. The gar dens proper have a salle de Bat or des Rocailles, and contain the Bosquet de In Reine. where the notorious transaction of the diamond neck lace took place. In the northern section of the park are the charming Grand and Petit Trianon. (See TmAxox.) Near by are the carriage houses, with many vehicles of state. including some of the magnificent equipages used by Napoleon.
TheroBv, When Louis XIV. chose Versailles as the site of his new palace and park. it had little to commend it. being a low, swampy area, and distant from an adequate water supply. A chateau (1627) of Louis X111., however, was situated here. The 'grand monarch' lavished vast sums in laying out. completing. and maintaining this magnificent royal seat. The Court came here permanently about 1682, and from this date for over a hundred years Versailles figured prominently in history. Louis XV. dwelt here and Madame de Pompadour and !Madame Du Barry reigned over this vast. pleasure establish ment. Dere. too. Louis XVI. and An toinette resided. In the palace was signed the treaty of 1783 between England. France, and Spain. on the same day (September 3d) on which the definite treaty of peace in wlikb England recognized the helependence of the United States was signed in Paris. On Oelober Oth the palace was ravaged in the presenee of Louis by the market women and fish-wives„ with the result that the King and Queen were forced to go to Paris. The meeting of the States-General, the opening act of the French Revolution, took place here on Nlay 4, 1789. Sine'. then it has has never been a residence. During the siege of Paris in 1870-71 King William I. made his headquarters here, and here he was proclaimed I lerman Emperor, January 18. 1871. \Viten the Germans departed, the French Government es tablished itself at Versailles, whence it carried on war against the l'aris Commune. tt remained here until 1879, when Paris was once more made the political capital.
Consult: Laurent-II:Thin. Ifistoirr m nieipale dc Versailles ( Paris, 1885-S9) ; Basq, Versailles et lcs Trianons (ib., 1887) ; l'ursaincs, sea arts sea tatiSl'eS et ses collections (ib., 1888) ; lioneh6, Versailles (Versailles, 1895) .