The
center of the
front side of the château
has a three sided square
inset area of great beauty.
This is known as the
"Marble Courtyard" |
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Just
outside the confines of the
Marble Courtyard is the imposing
statue of Louis XIV. He was
called the Sun-King, a descendant
of the Bourons family. Born in
1638, he became king at
5 years old ...
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...
and taking effective reign
in 1661, where he reveals a
taste for absolute power.
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Louis
XIV dies in 1715, from a leg
gangrene. He is 77, his reign has
lasted 54 years. His great-grandson
succeeds him to the throne : Louis XV,
the only surviving son of Louis, Duke
of Burgundy, himself eldest son of the
Dauphin. Louis XV is 5 years old at the
death of Louis XIV.
This
equestrian statue of Louis XIV
settled in Versailles was carried
out by Petitot and Cartellier in
about 1820, on Louis XVIII's order.
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A
boring, nondescript section of
the château.
I am speaking relatively,
of course. This building is amazing. |
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From
the back of the building,
in the open area near the beginning
of the enormous gardens. |
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One
of the numerous clocks on
the side of the château.
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A
side entrance in the square
courtyard on the front side
of the château. |
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The
problem is that the building
is so large, that to get the entire
building into the picture requires
the photographer to be so far
away, as to lose all specific detail. |
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Specific
detail: One of many
statues running along the
top of the walls. |
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For the Full Size Image |
