Places of interest in Versailles
Parner Sites
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The Sun King and Versailles
The city of Versailles is one of the premier tourist destinations because of the picturesque landscapes and historical places. You can practically feel how it’s like to live in the 17th century because the important structures are virtually preserved. The museums that you can access tell how it’s like and the Palace is still worthy of anyone’s time who are in France for a short vacation. But this structure was not at all possible without Louis XIV. This king single handedly created Versailles from the rubbles of progress. What used to be an agricultural city with people selling their wares around the region is now the seat of power of France. Versailles was also one of the favorite hunting grounds of the King and the deer hunting was kept in Versailles. But now, the sleepy hunting Lodge became a beautiful palace and the land was remarkably landscaped as well. It was also during the reign of King that the structure that will be the House of Justice was placed.
Why is he called the “Sun King” in the first place? The Sun King and Versailles developed together because of the reception of the city to the ideas of the king. He has so many ideas in creating a beautiful city that he was regarded as the “illuminating light” of the country, hence the name “Sun King”. There’s also the question on why did he transferred the seat of power. When he was a kid, or around five years of age, his father died and growing up without a father proved difficult for the young prince. He was often ridiculed by most people in authority for no apparent reason. Added to that is the experience of a revolt that happened after his father died. To protect himself and somehow to “avenge” to the people that ridiculed him, he proved them wrong by creating a very beautiful city.
The king was also instrumental in attracting the people in to the city. When the king arrived, the total population of the city was less than 10,000. The people are contented to the fact that they can just go to Paris which is less than 30 minutes from Versailles. But the king devised a brilliant incentive to populate the city: give the land for free. People started flocking in and the population even grew near 30,000. To keep the city beautiful, one of the requirements from the people who wanted to live in the city is that they don’t have a free hand in designing their own homes. Not that the king wanted the people to be miserable, he wanted the houses to be properly plot out and their structure will complement the Palace and the House of Justice. When the people started coming in, he also ensured that the people will have something to work for. He declared that Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays should be market day. That practice is still observed until today. Everything that Versailles now is because of the Sun King and the people really appreciate with what he’s done. |
