Versailles - a palace and park ensemble in France, the former residence of the French kings in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris; tourism center of world importance.

Versailles was built under the leadership of Louis XIV from 1661, and became a kind of monument to the era of the "Sun King", an artistic and architectural expression of the idea of ​​absolutism. The ensemble of Versailles, the largest in Europe, is distinguished by a unique integrity of design and harmony of architectural forms and the transformed landscape.

From 1666 to 1789, until the French Revolution, Versailles was the official royal residence. In 1801 it received the status of a museum and is open to the public; since 1830, the entire architectural complex of Versailles has become a museum; in 1837, the Museum of the History of France was opened in the royal palace. In 1979, the Palace of Versailles and the park were included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.