What is the meaning of the word Versaille?
/ (vɛəˈsaɪ, -ˈseɪlz, French vɛrsɑj) / noun. a city in N central France, near Paris: site of an elaborate royal residence built for Louis XIV; seat of the French kings (1682–1789).
What is the origin of the word Versailles?
Etymology 1 Borrowed from French Versailles, of uncertain Latin origin (see French entry below), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wértti (“to be turning around”).
What is the meaning of Versailles Palace?
( (ver-seye, vuhr-seye) ) A large royal residence built in the seventeenth century by King Louis XIV of France in Versailles, near Paris. The palace, with its lavish gardens and fountains, is a spectacular example of French classical architecture. The Hall of Mirrors is particularly well known.
What is Versailles a symbol of?
absolutism Coming to the throne at a tender age, tutored by Cardinal Mazarin, the Sun King embodied the principles of absolutism. In 1682 he moved the royal Court to the Palace of Versailles, the defining symbol of his power and influence in Europe.
Why is Versailles famous?
The Palace of Versailles is an opulent complex and former royal residence outside of Paris. It has held sway in the public imagination for years because of its architectural grandeur and political history.
What is Versailles in French Revolution?
The Palace of Versailles found itself at the very heart of the revolution. Built to act as the official residence of the French monarchy during the reign of Louis XIV, the Palace still held this status under Louis XVI. The collections of the Palace of Versailles bear witness to this defining period in French history.
Is Versailles a real place?
Palace of Versailles, former French royal residence and centre of government, now a national landmark. It is located in the city of Versailles, Yvelines département, Île-de-France région, northern France, 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Paris.
How do you pronounce Versailles in France?
0:051:03How To Say Versailles – YouTubeYouTube
What was Versailles originally used for?
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.
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. Inside the palace, things smelled different. Many royals in Louis XIV's day eschewed hot water baths, believing them bad for the health.
Where did they poop in Versailles?
Anthony Spaworth's Versailles: A Biography of a Palace informs us, “In the eighteenth century there were public latrines placed in the corridors and stairwells of the palace (of Versailles), the Grand Commons, and the other annexes: these latrines consisted of a room with a wooden seat, or lunette, closed by a cover in …
Why were babies not allowed in Versailles?
It was feared – and with good reason considering the times – that a girl might be exchanged for a boy or even a boy might be exchanged if he was born severely disabled. It was all about securing the legacy, in royal cases even the throne.
What does Versailles mean in old French?
Name. The argument over the etymology of Versailles tends to privilege the Latin word versare, meaning "to keep turning, turn over and over", an expression used in medieval times for plowed lands, cleared lands (lands that had been repeatedly "turned over").
How do Americans pronounce Versailles?
This article from Crain's Chicago Business reports that U.S. Midwesterners typically pronounce the name of the town Versailles, Indiana, "ver-SALES." I think the standard British pronunciation is much the same as the American, but without the "r". Oxford shows it as /vɛːˈsʌɪ/.
Did Marie Antoinette live at Versailles?
Marie Antoinette in private Upon her arrival in Versailles, Marie Antoinette lived in the Queen's State Apartment and was bound by the official rituals of her royal position: the waking-up ceremony, the elaborate preparations, royal audiences, public meals, etc.
Do the Siegels still own Versailles?
With Westgate Resorts' improved finances as of 2013, Siegel now owns the property outright and construction has resumed. Completion was scheduled for 2016. Then as of March 2017 the completion date had been pushed back to at least 2019.
How did Royalty poop?
In the 1500s, the King of England's toilet was luxurious: a velvet-cushioned, portable seat called a close-stool, below which sat a pewter chamber pot enclosed in a wooden box. Even the king had one duty that needed attending to every day, of course, but you can bet he wasn't going to do it on his own.
Why are there no toilets in Versailles?
During the many parties held at Versailles it was not uncommon for the guests to bribe the servants of the courtiers to let them use their masters' chamberpots and if this was not possible there were "commodes" where the toilets are currently located.
How smelly was Versailles?
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. Inside the palace, things smelled different. Many royals in Louis XIV's day eschewed hot water baths, believing them bad for the health.
Which king did not bathe?
Louis XIV Marie-Antoinette bathed once a month. The 17th century British King James I was said to never bathe, causing the rooms he frequented to be filled with lice. It was the Sun King himself, Louis XIV, whose choice to no longer travel from court to court would lead to a particularly putrid living situation.
Which French queen had a black child?
Sister Louise Marie-Thérèse, the Black Nun of Moret, was a French Benedictine nun who history remembers for a very scandalous reason: many believe she was the illegitimate daughter of Queen Maria Theresa of France and her African servant, a dwarf named Nabo.
How is Versailles pronounced in Kentucky?
Versailles, KY (ver-SAYLES)
How do you say Versailles in Spanish?
vɛrˈsaɪ, vər-Ver·sailles.
What was Marie Antoinette’s last words?
Found guilty, she was condemned to death and was guillotined on 16 October 1793. Her last words, after accidentally stepping on the foot of her executioner, were "Pardon, monsieur. I did not do it on purpose" (Fraser, 440). The legacy of Marie Antoinette is of a tragic figure, a victim of her time and circumstance.
What happened to Marie Antoinette’s head?
Lamballe refused to take an oath against the monarchy, and on September 3, 1792, she was delivered to the hands of a Parisian mob; they cut off her head and paraded it on a pike outside Marie-Antoinette's windows.
Who lives in Versailles now?
21st century The Palace of Versailles is currently owned by the French state.
Is Versailles the biggest house in America?
But despite Versaille being crowned the biggest home in America, Jackie said she wishes it was even bigger and pledged to continue building on the property even after she's moved in.
Did people poop in halls of Versailles?
Louis XV's toilette at the Palace of Versailles. But without a doubt, the most pressing health concern was caused by the dearth of waste disposal options in an era before reliable plumbing. “Feces and urine were everywhere,” Eleanor Herman, author of The Royal Art of Poison, says of royal palaces.
Who was the smelliest king?
Louis XIV Louis XIV was the Smelliest King of All Time.
Why is the baby black in Versailles?
Montpensier says that Philippe, Louis' younger brother, told her that the baby was born with a very dark, almost violet complexion. If true, the cause of the baby's coloration was probably a lack of oxygen.