Royal PainsKings & queens, princes & princesses. They're made of blood and bones like the rest of us, but they're told they can do whatever they damn well please. Sometimes, this causes problems.
The Weirdest Royals in History
Controversial Queen Marie Antoinette
The French King of Sweden and Also Norway
Contents of Queen Victoria's Coffin
Super Weird Royal Collections
Insane George III, Who Lost America
Henry VIII's Reign Was Exxxtreme
Hollywood Lies About Henry VIII
Truly Bizarre Obsessions of Real Royalty
The Mad King Henry VI
Theories About Queen Elizabeth I
Eccentric & Tragic King Ludwig II
What Life Was Like for the Poor
Elizabeth I Vs. Mary Queen Of Scots: A Beef
The Most Awful Royal Marriages
The So-Called Virgin Queen
The Libido of Prince Charles
The Other Kind of 'Throne' Room
Scandals from the Court of King Louis XIV
Off With Her Head! -Henry VIII
The Entire Bloody Tudor Family
The Fall of Elizabeth Stuart
The Madness of William IV
History's Most Disastrous Royal Weddings
The Only English King Taken Out By His Very Own
Historical Drinks of Choice
Queen Anne vs. The Duchess of Marlborough
When Ladies Dueled Over Flowers
Louis XIV, King of Versailles
What's the Deal with Hemophilia?
Why King James Wrote a Version of the Bible
Drama & Scandal Followed Mary, Queen of Scots
Savage Quotes by Rulers from History
Charles II's Love Life Was the Stuff of Legends
What Marie Antoinette Was Really Like
Monarchs Who Walked Away from the Crown
Elizabeth I's Suitable Suitors
History's Most Ruthless Queens
Y'all, Versailles Was Insane
Weird History
15 Absolutely Insane Facts About The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is known for its opulent rooms, extravagant gardens, and the integral role it played in the French Revolution. Every year, more than three million visitors tour the Palace that was built for the Sun King, Louis XIV, in 1623 CE. A few of the biggest draws at the Palace are the Hall of Mirrors, the Chappelle Royale, and the Salon de Venus. On the grounds are priceless works of art as well as period furniture and statues. And for outdoor lovers, there are numerous plants, flowers, fountains, and statues to view while perusing the lush gardens on the property. Like other opulent and historically significant structures (like the Taj Majal, for example), Versailles's architectural history is filled with interesting anecdotes, like the time all of its mirror makers were killed for doing their job too well.
There are many stories about the building of Versailles and the amount of money and work it took to create such an elaborate structure, which dates back to the 17th century and is located about 12 miles from Paris. You can imagine how much time and effort it took to create the massive Palace, which would become the envy of many foreign visitors from the 1600s up until today. In fact, the Palace became such a symbol of wealth and excess - though hygiene left something to be desired - that the people of France were disgusted by everything it represented, leading them to revolt. The excesses of Versailles, in part, drove the French Revolution.
Photo:
The Palace Of Versailles Cost Hundreds Of Billions To Build
After accounting for inflation, experts believe the Palace of Versailles cost between $200 and $300 billion to build in contemporary money – an almost unthinkable sum for the construction of a single (even palatial) residence. King Louis XIV spent about one third of the entire building budget just on fountains for the garden. Over 35,000 workers helped build the Palace in the Île-de-France region of France on the outskirts of Paris. The Palace has 700 rooms, 67 staircases, and 1,200 fireplaces, and it's spread out over 2,014 acres.
Marie Antoinette Had A Private Love Shack On The Premises
Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI, built her own estate on the property called "The Petit Trianon," which she used as a personal retreat. It included a theater and a farm area that produced fresh vegetables. She also built a “temple of love” consisting of a dozen columns and a statue of cupid. But more interesting is that she had a private grotto, a secluded cave-like area overgrown with vegetation. It reportedly included a moss bed and two entrances. It’s unclear what she used the grotto for, but you can make your own educated guess.
On the west side of the gardens at Versailles, there's a Grand Canal, which is about one mile long and 203 feet wide. The body of water is so large, it was often used for naval demonstrations, and Louis XIV sailed boats, including gondolas, in it. The Grand Canal is the largest body of water on the grounds of Versailles. It and the two rectangular pools nearby contain more than 15 decorative water features.
The Gardens Were So Smelly They Made Visitors 'Ill'
