Why Versailles Almost Collapsed—and Who Saved It
In the XXI century, the word "Versailles" evokes unparalleled opulence – gilded gates reflecting morning sun, three hundred fifty-seven mirrors casting infinite reflections down a seventy-three-meter gallery, and meticulously manicured gardens stretching toward the horizon.
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How France Almost Lost The World’s Most Beautiful Opera House: Palais Garnier -- https://youtu.be/17YhI0TrhIY
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Inside Peterhof, "The Russian Versailles" and its Golden Fountains --
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
1:18 Chapter 1: A Royal Welcome
5:20 Chapter 2: From Hunting Lodge to Royal Spectacle
8:56 Chapter 3: The Golden Age of Versailles
12:37 Chapter 4: A Palace in Peril
16:17 Chapter 5: Resurrection of Royal Splendor
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The palace stands as humanity's most magnificent monument to absolute power, drawing millions of visitors who gasp at its perfect proportions and flawless preservation.
However, there was a time when this architectural masterpiece teetered on the brink of oblivion, its roofs pierced by rain, its priceless paintings warping from moisture, and its marble crumbling beneath visitors' feet.
The magnificent palace that dazzles millions today began as a humble hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1623, nestled in the countryside west of Paris.
When Louis XIV ascended to the throne in 1643, he harbored traumatic memories of the Fronde rebellions that had once forced him to flee Paris as a child, envisioning a palace that would physically embody the absolute power of the French monarchy.
In 1661, Louis XIV commissioned architect Louis Le Vau to begin expanding his father's hunting lodge, while André Le Nôtre began reshaping the marshy terrain into formal gardens with geometric precision—a project that involved moving entire hillsides and creating an elaborate hydraulic system to power numerous fountains.
The most ambitious phase came between 1678 and 1686 when Jules Hardouin-Mansart designed the spectacular Hall of Mirrors, creating a dramatic play of light symbolizing both the king's enlightened rule and France's growing industrial prowess.
When the court officially moved to Versailles on May 6, 1682, the palace became the seat of government and center of political power, housing thousands of nobles and servants in a carefully orchestrated social hierarchy.
By the early 1920s, the Palace of Versailles stood on the brink of catastrophe, its once-brilliant splendor dimmed by decades of neglect as the aftermath of World War One left France financially drained.
Rain seeped through deteriorating roofs, parquet floors were literally collapsing in places, once-brilliant gilding had tarnished or flaked away entirely, and crumbling stonework threatened the structural integrity throughout the complex.
This sorry state of affairs caught the attention of American oil magnate John D. Rockefeller Jr. when he visited France in the summer of 1923, accompanying his wife Abby to a fundraising event held at the deteriorating palace.
On May 3, 1924, Rockefeller wrote directly to French President Raymond Poincaré, delicately offering financial assistance not as charity but as recognition that Versailles represented a universal cultural treasure that transcended national boundaries.
The initial donation of one million dollars—approximately twenty million francs—was allocated among three monuments, with Versailles receiving half of the total sum dedicated to saving the crumbling palace.
The restoration began in earnest in 1925 under the direction of head architect Benjamin Chaussemiche, who wisely prioritized functional repairs over aesthetic improvements, first addressing the palace's leaking roofs and reinforcing the massive oak timber frames.
By 1927, just three years after his initial donation, Rockefeller was so impressed by the progress that he offered an additional forty million francs, with twenty-three million earmarked specifically for Versailles.
Today, Versailles stands as a symbol not only of the vision of Louis XIV and his successors but also to the international commitment to preserving cultural heritage, with millions of visitors annually experiencing the magnificence that was nearly lost forever.
Видео Why Versailles Almost Collapsed—and Who Saved It канала Old Money Mansions
--------------------------------------
How France Almost Lost The World’s Most Beautiful Opera House: Palais Garnier -- https://youtu.be/17YhI0TrhIY
--------------------------------------
Inside Peterhof, "The Russian Versailles" and its Golden Fountains --
--------------------------------------
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
1:18 Chapter 1: A Royal Welcome
5:20 Chapter 2: From Hunting Lodge to Royal Spectacle
8:56 Chapter 3: The Golden Age of Versailles
12:37 Chapter 4: A Palace in Peril
16:17 Chapter 5: Resurrection of Royal Splendor
--------------------------------------
The palace stands as humanity's most magnificent monument to absolute power, drawing millions of visitors who gasp at its perfect proportions and flawless preservation.
However, there was a time when this architectural masterpiece teetered on the brink of oblivion, its roofs pierced by rain, its priceless paintings warping from moisture, and its marble crumbling beneath visitors' feet.
The magnificent palace that dazzles millions today began as a humble hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1623, nestled in the countryside west of Paris.
When Louis XIV ascended to the throne in 1643, he harbored traumatic memories of the Fronde rebellions that had once forced him to flee Paris as a child, envisioning a palace that would physically embody the absolute power of the French monarchy.
In 1661, Louis XIV commissioned architect Louis Le Vau to begin expanding his father's hunting lodge, while André Le Nôtre began reshaping the marshy terrain into formal gardens with geometric precision—a project that involved moving entire hillsides and creating an elaborate hydraulic system to power numerous fountains.
The most ambitious phase came between 1678 and 1686 when Jules Hardouin-Mansart designed the spectacular Hall of Mirrors, creating a dramatic play of light symbolizing both the king's enlightened rule and France's growing industrial prowess.
When the court officially moved to Versailles on May 6, 1682, the palace became the seat of government and center of political power, housing thousands of nobles and servants in a carefully orchestrated social hierarchy.
By the early 1920s, the Palace of Versailles stood on the brink of catastrophe, its once-brilliant splendor dimmed by decades of neglect as the aftermath of World War One left France financially drained.
Rain seeped through deteriorating roofs, parquet floors were literally collapsing in places, once-brilliant gilding had tarnished or flaked away entirely, and crumbling stonework threatened the structural integrity throughout the complex.
This sorry state of affairs caught the attention of American oil magnate John D. Rockefeller Jr. when he visited France in the summer of 1923, accompanying his wife Abby to a fundraising event held at the deteriorating palace.
On May 3, 1924, Rockefeller wrote directly to French President Raymond Poincaré, delicately offering financial assistance not as charity but as recognition that Versailles represented a universal cultural treasure that transcended national boundaries.
The initial donation of one million dollars—approximately twenty million francs—was allocated among three monuments, with Versailles receiving half of the total sum dedicated to saving the crumbling palace.
The restoration began in earnest in 1925 under the direction of head architect Benjamin Chaussemiche, who wisely prioritized functional repairs over aesthetic improvements, first addressing the palace's leaking roofs and reinforcing the massive oak timber frames.
By 1927, just three years after his initial donation, Rockefeller was so impressed by the progress that he offered an additional forty million francs, with twenty-three million earmarked specifically for Versailles.
Today, Versailles stands as a symbol not only of the vision of Louis XIV and his successors but also to the international commitment to preserving cultural heritage, with millions of visitors annually experiencing the magnificence that was nearly lost forever.
Видео Why Versailles Almost Collapsed—and Who Saved It канала Old Money Mansions
old money mansions old money mansions versailles history palace of versailles john d rockefeller jr versailles restoration louis xiv palace french history documentary versailles architecture hall of mirrors french baroque royal court france sun king louis xiv marie antoinette versailles gardens versailles documentary versailles saved historic preservation world war 1 france rococo palace château de versailles french monarchy french revolution palace
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