The Wonders of Europe: 1x2

Versailles, Louis XIV and His Destiny

In the summer of 1661, Nicolas Fouquet, Superintendent of Finances, unveils his dramatic Vaux-le-Vicomte castle to Louis XIV. The place makes a lasting impression on the monarch and strengthens his crazy idea – build an even more outstanding palace – Versailles. Nobody bets on this tiny hunting lodge surrounded by marshes. Fuelled by the ambitions of his master, Versailles is expanded and gradually transformed, thanks to the most gifted artists of its time. As Louis XIV’s love affairs and military victories go by, the Porcelain Trianon, l’Enveloppe, the Hall of Mirrors, the Ambassadors’ Staircase and the Royal Chapel rose from the ground. In 50 years, Louis XIV succeeds in making Versailles the seat of monarchy, the centre of Europe and an architectural masterpiece still admired today.