Discover the Secrets: Top 10 Fun Facts About the Palace of Versailles You Never Knew!

1. Marie Antoinette's Farm Life

Before Marie Antoinette could say, "Let them drink Frappuccinos," she created her own picturesque countryside getaway, complete with a non-Starbucks certified farm: Marie Antoinette's Queen's Hamlet within the Palace of Versailles featured a functioning farm that was primarily utilized for educational purposes for her royal offspring and hosted small gatherings nestled in bucolic bliss.
Source => en.chateauversailles.fr

2. Pre-Plumbing Versailles

In a world where "to-go" meant something entirely different: the Palace of Versailles initially lacked indoor plumbing, causing its noble residents to use portable commodes or simply head to the great outdoors, making evening strolls on the lawn a bit less romantic until proper toilets were installed some 144 years after construction.
Source => lohmeyerplumbing.com

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3. Sun King's Aqua Empire

When Louis XIV wasn’t dancing the night away as the Sun King, he was making it rain - in his gardens, that is: The gardens of Versailles are home to 55 pools and fountains, with a gravity-based water network and hydraulic system created in the 17th century that remains in operation today, even powering the magnificent Grandes Eaux Fountain Display.
Source => en.chateauversailles.fr

4. Mirror Monopoly Breaker

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the craftiest of them all? The Palace of Versailles had a knack for shattering the Venetian mirror monopoly way back during Louis XIV's rule: Inside the dazzling Hall of Mirrors, 357 mirrors adorn 17 arches, reflecting a 73-meter long gallery that boasts 30 artistic masterpieces on its vaulted ceiling – a tasteful blend of opulence and power moves, perfect for hosting the grandest of royal soirees and diplomatic tête-à-têtes. Louis XIV sure knew how to make an entrance!
Source => en.chateauversailles.fr

5. Versailles' Dragon Warmth

Who needs central heating when you can channel the mighty fire-breathing dragons of Westeros within your residence: The Palace of Versailles boasts a whopping 1,250 fireplaces, which helped maintain warmth in the royal chambers, including the King's and Queen's apartments, during those frosty French nights.
Source => friendschoices.com

6. Louis XIV's Gatsby-esque Soiree

Throwing parties so grand even Gatsby would be green with envy: In 1668, Louis XIV hosted the Great Royal Entertainment in Versailles, featuring lavish tea parties, Molière plays, sumptuous feasts, a ball, and awe-inspiring fireworks, all to celebrate his victory over Spain and display his budding love affair with the soon-to-be famous palace.
Source => en.chateauversailles.fr

7. Sun King's Citrus Baths

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade; but when you're the Sun King, you bathe in a citrus-scented paradise of deluxe proportions: Behold Louis XIV, who indulged in baths with a special eau de parfum made from blossoms of his own Versailles orange trees, replacing his bath water entirely in a luxurious marble basin known as "la vasque royale", now displayed in the Great Orangery at Versailles.
Source => messynessychic.com

8. Grand Getting-Up Ceremony

Move over, morning talk shows and breakfast in bed: the Palace of Versailles' Grand Getting-Up ceremony was the original royal morning routine! The King's wake-up party involved 100 male spectators—including friends and key court members—carefully observing the monarch getting washed, combed, shaved, dressed, and enjoying his morning soup.
Source => en.chateauversailles.fr

9. Versailles' Loyalty Rewards

You know those loyalty rewards programs where you rack up credit card points faster than a cheetah chasing an antelope at lunch? The Palace of Versailles was basically the same thing, but for French nobility and with a lot more mirrors: Originally built as a modest hunting lodge for King Louis XIII, it was transformed into a 700-room, mirror-slathered palace by King Louis XIV. The Sun King kept his nobles loyal by giving them swanky positions and keeping them constantly entertained with activities like gambling and theater performances, all within 230 acres of perfectly landscaped gardens.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. The Ever-Expanding Palace

If walls could talk, the ones at the Palace of Versailles would probably say "Honey, I think we need more rooms!" : Boasting over 2,300 rooms that include the awe-inspiring Hall of Mirrors and the regal King's Grand Apartment, Louis XIV transformed the palace into a hub of government, culture, and art, adorned with magnificent paintings, sculptures, and furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries – all just begging to be discovered on fun and family-friendly Context Travel tours led by experienced guides and including engaging activities like scavenger hunts and hands-on projects.
Source => afar.com