How long did it take to build Versailles? (2024)

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How much would it cost to build Versailles today?

If the Palace of Versailles were built today, it would cost roughly two billion US dollars. The sheer scale of the grounds comes with a hefty price tag, with over 700 rooms, 60 staircases and 1200 fireplaces.

(Video) Building Versailles: A King’s Obsession For Magnificence | Rise & Fall Of Versailles | Real Royalty
(Real Royalty)
How long did it take to build Le château de Versailles?

Louis XIII built a simple hunting lodge on the site of the Palace of Versailles in 1623 and replaced it with a small château in 1631–34. Louis XIV expanded the château into a palace in several phases from 1661 to 1715.

(Video) Versailles, from Louis XIII to the French Revolution
(Château de Versailles)
How much did the Versailles cost?

This cost roughly 1.1 million livres between 1684 and 1685, with construction completed in 1686.

(Video) History of the Palace of Versailles
(Thunderworks)
When did Versailles start being built?

The palace. The original residence was primarily a hunting lodge and private retreat for Louis XIII (reigned 1610–43) and his family. In 1624 the king entrusted Jacques Lemercier with the construction of a château on the site. Its walls are preserved today as the exterior facade overlooking the Marble Court.

(Video) What happened to the furniture at Versailles?
(Ask About MOVIES)
What did they drink in Versailles?

While there was a bounty of food and drink on constant offer at Versailles, the drink of choice for King Louis XV was hot chocolate. And so, the king's favorite became everyone's favorite. The cocoa drink was a delicacy back then and was thought of as an exotic choice for the royals.

(Video) What It Was Like To Live At Versailles
(Weird History)
Is there air-conditioning in Versailles?

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE. The heating and air-conditioning system is backed by geothermal energy – water at a constant temperature of 12 degrees is drawn from the water table 40 metres below the building to circulate within the heating system.

(Video) Buckingham Palace Through Time! (2022-1675)
(The Time Travel Artist)
What did Versailles smell like?

Built on swampland, Versailles was described by a visitor in 1764 as an odiferous cesspool of dead cats, urine, excrement, slaughtered pigs, standing water, and mosquitoes. Although this description is doubtless an exaggeration, it is no surprise that the 18th century marked a turning point for perfumery.

(Video) The Spicy Sex Life Of Louis XIV | Rise And Fall Of Versailles | Absolute History
(Absolute History)
Where did they go to the bathroom at Versailles?

In the Palace, there are toilets and changing tables before the ticket checks in the South Ministers' Wing and after the ticket checks in the basem*nt of the Dufour Pavilion (Entrance A). Other toilets are located in the basem*nt of the Gabriel Pavilion (Entrance B) and at the end of the History Gallery.

(Video) France's Secret Versailles: Fontainebleau Palace | Building a Royal Palace | Real Royalty
(Real Royalty)
Why was Versailles not destroyed?

Even though the sovereign and the court were no longer in residence, the Palace was not left to go to ruin. On the contrary, and as always during the royal family's absences, the opportunity was taken to carry out repairs.

(Video) 11 Lavish Details About the Palace of Versailles that Helped Take It to the Next Level of Luxury
(Yesterday Is History)
Is the Queen of Versailles still rich?

Siegel is probably best known for her involvement in the documentary film "The Queen of Versailles." Her husband is David Siegel, a timeshare mogul.
...
Jackie Siegel Net Worth.
Net Worth:$50 Million
Date of BirthJan, 1966 (56 years old)
Place of BirthWindermere
GenderFemale
ProfessionActor, Model, Engineer, Philanthropist, TV Personality
1 more row

(Video) Versailles, France: Ultimate Royal Palace - Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide - Travel Bite
(Rick Steves' Europe)

Did the Versailles house ever sell?

The Siegels listed the home for sale asking $75 million in 2011 and dropped the price to $65 million the next year. It didn't sell.

(Video) I Don't Like Versailles
(Jay Swanson)
Why did they stop making Versailles?

“At the end of the third season, Louis XIV has achieved absolute power, he's 46 or 47 years old, so we reached the end of the narrative arc that we had envisioned for this series.” The final episode was titled “The Legacy” and Louis referred to his own legacy repeatedly throughout the final episode.

How long did it take to build Versailles? (2024)
Did Nobles pay rent to live Versailles?

Many of the wealthiest nobles had an hotel somewhere close ( like in the city of Versailles ) where they retreated after the day at court. There the hotel was theirs (bought or rented ) and when they organized festivities or hold their " own little court " it was up to them to pay of course.

How many rooms are in Versailles?

How much does Versailles make a year?

It is headed up by Catherine Pégard, the President of the Public Establishment. The annual consolidated budget of the Public Establishment is around €100 million. Operating expenses are covered from the Establishment's own resources, notably the revenue it earns from ticket sales and its commercial activities.

What did king Louis 14 eat?

Oysters, salmon, and sardines were staples, as was potage—meat boiled with vegetables. According to his sister-in-law, the Princess Palatine, the king had an insatiable appetite.

Where did Marie Antoinette go to the bathroom?

Marie Antoinette had a very early version of the flush toilet installed in her suite of rooms! You had to send someone upstairs to open a valve for the flush, though…

Where did servants sleep in Versailles?

But where did they stay? Most apartments consisted of a bedchamber, a cabinet and perhaps a wardrobe. The lucky ones could add a few antechambers or had rather large rooms. In this context, the servants' quarters were in the wardrobe.

How much does it cost to sleep at Versailles?

You Can Now Spend the Night Inside the Palace Versailles For a Kingly $2,000 a Night. The historic site is now a hotel.

Was Netflix Versailles filmed at Versailles?

While not a huge amount of the series is filmed at Versailles in comparison to what viewers might think, it's worth noting that plenty of the series was still shot there. After all, bedrooms, staterooms, and of course, the extensive gardens, were all used as a backdrop for many of the scenes from the Versailles series.

Can you sleep at Versailles Palace?

You can even stay at the Palace of Versailles when you book a room or suite in the magnificent 5-star Airelles Château de Versailles Le Grand Contrôle luxury resort located in a fully renovated historic building on the Estate's grounds.

Which French King did not bathe?

King Louis XIV (1638-1715) was terrified of bathing; he's said to have taken only three baths in his life. That fear was shared by the noblility in the 17th Century – it ws thought that was thought that water spread disease (so the less you bathed, the less vulnerable you were).

When did Versailles get toilets?

The legendary Palace of Versailles began as a hunting lodge in 1624. After more than a century and a half of building, which included some of the most impressive construction campaigns in the world's history, toilets were added in the 18th Century.

What did they eat at Versailles?

Pears, apples, figs and grapes were served alongside oranges, as were nuts, pistachios, almonds and chestnuts. Fruit was cooked into compotes, marmalades, candied fruit sweets and pies.

How often did French royalty bathe?

Louis XIV, a 17th-century king of France, is said to have only taken three baths in his entire life. Both rich and poor might wash their faces and hands on a daily or weekly basis, but almost no one in western Europe washed their whole body with any regularity, says Ward.

How did they pump water at Versailles?

Fourteen hydraulic wheels—each 33 feet in diameter—worked with 251 suction and treading pumps to push water uphill along a set of pipes and two other pumping stations to the Tour de Levant, the first of two towers anchoring the Louveciennes Aqueduct on each end.

Did the actors wear wigs in Versailles?

So far, the TV series isn't doing “wig” wigs — most of the male actors are wearing wigs meant to look like their natural hair. Series costume designer Madeline Fontaine told WWD, “Louis XIV had thick hair. When he started losing it, he wore wigs scattered with his real hair.

Is there any French royalty left?

France is a Republic, and there's no current royal family recognized by the French state. Still, there are thousands of French citizens who have titles and can trace their lineage back to the French Royal Family and nobility.

Are there still French nobles?

Since the French Third Republic on September 4, 1870 the French nobility is no longer recognized and has no legal existence and status. The former regularly transmitted authentic titles can however be recognized as part of a name, after a request to the Department of Justice.

Is Versailles fully restored?

An unmissable cultural monument in France and former home to its kings, the Château de Versailles is under constant renovation. While its construction was completed in 1682 under the reign of Louis XIV, restoration projects have been necessary for historic rooms in the château. Today, it's open to the public again.

Who is the richest royal ever?

The Richest Royals in the World
  • Queen Margrethe II. ...
  • King Carl XVI Gustaf. ...
  • Princess Beatrix. ...
  • King Charles III. Net worth: $600 million. ...
  • King Abdullah II. Net worth: $750 million. ...
  • Prince Albert II. Net worth: $1 billion. ...
  • King Mohammed VI. Net worth: $2.1 billion. ...
  • King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Net worth: $20 billion.
3 Oct 2022

Who is richer than the queen?

Rishi Sunak will become the wealthiest ever prime minister of the U.K., with his family's personal fortune surpassing even that of the royals.

Who owns the Versailles house?

JACKIE Siegel, otherwise known as the "Queen of Versailles", has finally revealed when she will be moving into her infamous $100 million mega-mansion almost 20 years after the build first began.

Does Versailles have a basem*nt?

The Petit Trianon

The building has a basem*nt, main floor and attic storey, but the basem*nt is properly visible only on the side facing the botanical garden , leaving the salons themselves at courtyard level.

How accurate is the Netflix series Versailles?

In the case of Versailles, it's a series grounded in broader historical truths, but one in which chronology has been manipulated and key characters invented so as to produce a stronger narrative. When events are debated by historians, it understandably dramatises the raciest interpretation of those contested events.

What kind of bug crawled into the Queen's ear in Versailles?

It is called Triatoma infestans and very ugly. I never have heard of such a thing before, but @hoechlirn did and hopped into my Twitter messages to tell me. Merci for that. Triatoma infestans are commonly called kissing bug or barber bug in English and little blood-suckers.

Who were the last king and queen to live in Versailles?

Louis XVI died at the guillotine on 21 January 1793. He was the last king to live at the Palace of Versailles, and the revolutionaries duly gave him the nickname “Louis the Last”.

What made nobles rich?

Most nobles' wealth derived from one or more estates, large or small, that might include fields, pasture, orchards, timberland, hunting grounds, streams, etc. It also included infrastructure such as castle, well and mill to which local peasants were allowed some access, although often at a price.

What was daily life like in Versailles?

Life in Versailles Palace seems luxurious; the royal family had the best doctors at their disposal, swapped clothes several times a day and ate the most exclusive dishes. The king kept several mistresses on after, had a lot of children and lived in a beautiful palace with proverbial spacious gardens.

How many people could live in Versailles?

Versailles, which is capable of holding up to 20,000 people, has 700 rooms, more than 2,000 windows, 1,250 chimneys, and 67 staircases. Not only did the immediate royal family reside there, but the palace also housed many members of the French nobility, as well as all official government offices.

How much did it cost to live at Versailles?

The median after-tax salary is $3501, which is enough to cover living expenses for 2.5 months.
...
Cost of Living in Versailles.
Cost of livingOne personFamily of 4
💰 Total with rent$1406$3672
🛋️ Without rent$653$2034
🏨 Rent & Utilities$752$1638
🍽️ Food$477$1245
4 more rows

How long does it take to walk through Versailles Palace?

To tour the inside of the palace thoroughly, it takes around 2-3 hours. Allow longer if you want to explore the gardens.

Is Buckingham Palace bigger than Versailles?

Buckingham Palace is bigger, boasting 77,000m². Versailles has just over 63,000m², however the domain of Versailles extends far beyond the palace walls.

How much Versailles is worth?

Palace of Versailles, France is valued at $50.7 billion. Land is $5,000 per square meter in Versailles, so the land alone is $40.7 billion. The building itself and contents are likely to worth another $10 billion, so the Palace of Versailles could in all likelihood be valued at $50.7 billion.

How many apartments were in Versailles?

Dividing walls were built, mezzanines created and from 103 apartments in 1684, the building contained 220 by 1722. Thus, when Louis XV returned to Versailles, nearly 1,500 people lived in the building, not counting the non-resident staff who came to work there every day.

How much would it cost to build a castle today?

For 2022, new castle construction costs range from $325/sq ft to $600/sq ft for a complete finished castle.

Who currently owns Versailles?

Versailles is an 90,000-square-foot (8,400 m2) house belonging to Westgate Resorts founder David Siegel and his wife Jackie.

Is Versailles done being built?

There is still a lot of work to be done, but Siegel is hopeful that the project will be finished next year. “My goal right now is to have it finished for my husband's birthday. His birthday is May 3, 2023. So that's my goal to really have the house finished [by then].”

Is the Queen of Versailles a billionaire?

About The Film

The Queen of Versailles is a character-driven documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis.

Why are castles so cheap in France?

It's no secret that one of the reasons why there are so many 'bargain' châteaux are the exorbitant renovation costs and the relentless maintenance required. Structurally renovating a château could set you back an average of €1,000 per square metre.

Why are castles not built anymore?

After the 16th century, castles declined as a mode of defense, mostly because of the invention and improvement of heavy cannons and mortars. This artillery could throw heavy cannonballs with so much force that even strong curtain walls could not hold up.

Is Italy still giving away castles?

The Italian federal government no longer has to deal with crumbling historic castles, the properties will be cleaned up and made available to tourists, and lucky entrepreneurs and local governments can reap the profits.

How much is the Versailles family worth?

Celebrity Net Worth estimates Jackie's net worth to be of $50 million. But according to the same site, Jackie's husband, businessman David Siegel, is estimated to have an impressive fortune of $500 million.

How much money is The Queen of Versailles worth?

Celebrity Net Worth estimates Jackie's net worth to be of $50 million. But according to the same site, Jackie's husband, businessman David Siegel, is estimated to have an impressive fortune of $500 million.

What happened to the biggest house in America Versailles?

Jackie tells TMZ ... the hurricane destroyed her 90,000-square-foot Versailles mansion, which has infamously been under construction in the Orlando area since 2004. She's expecting even more setbacks now, as Jackie says the storm did north of $10 million worth of damage.

Who is the richest of the royal family?

Queen Elizabeth II's Net Worth

This encompasses $10 billion worth of real estate, Buckingham Palace, and the Royal Art collection. The Queen also receives an annual government stipend and because this wealth is tied to her position, she could never sell the royal assets.

What did The Queen of Versailles do to her face?

Jackie Siegel's face turned into an even bigger disaster than her nightmare of a mansion -- featured in the famous "Queen of Versailles" documentary -- when she suffered a major allergic reaction to a laser treatment.

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