Myth VII: He Built Versailles for Himself!

Of course, he has! I have never doubted this astonishing historical discovery, made many centuries after. In fact, this ugly, short king with blue eyes, who had no teeth and had problem to drink vine as it poured back straight from his nose, had so many ambitions! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Hmmm….Saint-Simon & his gang! Oh, gosh!

So, Versailles! At last! The post about that L’ile des Plaisirs Enchantées, a piece of Paradise on Earth that His Majesty adored so much. Why did he need such a great palace when he had the Louvre, the Fontainbleau & others at his disposal? I guess that was the Divine Will. And Louis XIV, being a great builder & amateur of virtu, has done it! Uhuhu! He has put all his Faith, vision & passion in this masterpiece, that will remain a reflection of his own being for ever.

But was it the Versailles complex indeed that cost the French Crown so much money? No, it was not. It was Paris, as its upclassing was the priority for His Majesty. Yet at times of his childhood, the French capital was a disgusting, stinky place that could hardly be called the main city of France. And it was Louis XIV & Colbert who began the great building of the town that we all know. Paris was lit with street lamps, the sewerage system was finally arranged, dens were eliminated. It is strange to think, but the one who was defamed by the revolution, created the city that would get its fame for all next centuries. And this fame would be promoted by the new power.

At the same time, building of the Versailles complex was very restricted. Unfortunately, Louis XIV sacrificed so many brilliant ideas and never saw his adorable chateau & park completed. It is another example of his reason & talent to choose between the needs of the Crown and of his own.

Vive le Roy!

Maria KethuProfumo