Versailles, the palace of the Sun King.

The Palace of Versailles is a castle and, since 1792, a national museum located in the French city of Versailles, about twenty kilometers from Paris.

It is one of the largest castles in the world and one of the most visited attractions in France (more than five million visitors annually, three-quarters of whom are foreigners).

In Dutch, as in many other languages, the term "Palace of Versailles" is often used. In France and sometimes other countries, however, the term "palais" is used only for a building in the city; a similar building in the countryside is called a château. The Palace of Versailles was originally located in the countryside (the city of Versailles was later built next to it at the behest of Louis XIV), and moreover, it was originally a true castle that, through renovations, acquired the allure of a "palace."

In 1624, a hunting lodge of red brick and sandstone was built for King Louis XIII near the village of Versailles. His son Louis XIV expanded it into a colossal building on an 800-hectare estate. The first architect was Louis Le Vau. In 1680, under the direction of the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the château was greatly enlarged. The interior was painted by Charles Le Brun.

The Château de Versailles was known for its lavish court festivities and strict protocol; it is therefore the ultimate symbol of the Ancien Régime. The palace contained 226 residences and twice as many single apartments. It is estimated that at the end of Louis XIV's reign, between 3,000 and 10,000 courtiers stayed at Versailles daily, some out of curiosity, others for romantic reasons, but most to earn a living.

The château, the principal residence of the French king, was also the center of government and France's military headquarters.