Versailles: From Sun King's Crib to Climate Change Fighter 🏰🌞🌍

This is your Palace of Versailles monument podcast.

What's up, history buffs? This is your boy Higgs coming at you live with another epic monument deep dive. Today we're jetting off to France to explore the absolute unit that is the Palace of Versailles. Buckle up, 'cause we're about to go on a wild ride through time!

So picture this: It's 1624, and King Louis XIII is out hunting in the countryside near Paris. He's vibing with the forest scenery and decides, "Yo, I need a crib out here." Fast forward a few years, and bam! A modest little hunting lodge pops up. But hold onto your baguettes, folks, 'cause this is just the beginning.

Enter Louis XIV, aka the Sun King. This dude takes one look at his dad's humble digs and goes, "Nah, fam. We're gonna need to supersize this." And supersize he did. From 1661 to 1715, my man Louis XIV turned this tiny lodge into the most epic palace Europe had ever seen. We're talking 700 rooms, 67 staircases, and enough gold leaf to make Midas jealous.

But why go so big? Well, Louis XIV was all about that absolute monarchy life. He wanted a crib that screamed, "I'm the boss, applesauce!" And let me tell you, Versailles did just that. The palace became the center of political power in France, with thousands of nobles living there, all trying to catch the king's eye.

Now, let's talk about the glow-up. Louis brought in the hottest architects and artists of the time. You had Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin-Mansart on the architecture, Charles Le Brun painting up a storm inside, and André Le Nôtre turning the gardens into a work of art. These guys were like the Avengers of 17th-century design.

One of the most lit parts of the palace has got to be the Hall of Mirrors. Picture this: 357 mirrors lining a massive gallery, reflecting light from 17 windows overlooking the gardens. It's like the world's fanciest selfie spot, 17th-century style. This room wasn't just for show, though. It's where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, ending World War I. Talk about historic flex!

But life at Versailles wasn't all glitz and glamour. The place was basically a small city, with up to 10,000 people living there at its peak. And let me tell you, the hygiene situation was not cute. With no proper plumbing, the palace could get pretty stanky. People would just do their business wherever, even behind curtains or in corners. Yikes!

Now, you might be thinking, "Higgs, how did they feed all these people?" Great question, fam! The kitchens at Versailles were massive, churning out feast after feast. But here's a wild fact: the king's dining room was so far from the kitchen that his food was often cold by the time it reached him. First world problems, am I right?

Let's fast forward a bit to the French Revolution. In 1789, the people of France were like, "We're not about this monarchy life anymore." They stormed the palace, and King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette had to bounce. This marked the end of Versailles as a royal residence.

But don't worry, folks. Versailles wasn't about to become just another abandoned building. In the 19th century, it got a new lease on life as a museum. King Louis-Philippe was like, "Let's turn this place into a museum of French history." And that's exactly what happened.

Since then, Versailles has been through a lot. It survived two world wars, underwent massive restorations, and has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. We're talking millions of visitors each year, all coming to soak in the history and opulence.

Now, let's zoom ahead to March 31, 2025. Versailles is still standing strong, continuing to wow visitors from all over the globe. The palace has embraced modern tech, offering virtual reality tours that let you see the palace as it was in its heyday. Imagine strutting through the Hall of Mirrors like you're Louis XIV...