Palace of Versailles in 1680 — Beauty, Gold and…

Palace of Versailles in 1680 — Beauty, Gold and…

Froggy is on holiday. Versailles! What a beauty. But not enough toilets.
Stinks so much. Over 2,300 rooms… built on swamps… in just 38 years.
Well done, Froggies.

Versailles, 1680. Grandeur, gold… and questionable priorities.

Under Louis XIV, the Palace of Versailles wasn’t just a residence — it was a weapon. A theatrical display of power wrapped in marble, mirrors, and absolute control. But behind the façade? A kingdom of silent codes, sharp perfumes, and astonishing contradictions.

— With over 2,300 rooms, Versailles had no bathrooms. Nobles relieved themselves in corners, behind curtains, or inside fireplaces. Chamber pots were everywhere. The smell? Legendary. The remedy? Liters of perfume, worn in layers.

— Etiquette was law. The king’s Lever — his morning wake-up — was a public ritual attended by dozens. Every detail of dressing was ranked. Holding the king’s sleeve? A privilege. Breathing near him? Regulated.

— Versailles was a court of whispers. Gossip wasn’t just social — it was strategic. One misplaced bow or a fashion misstep could lead to disgrace. Nobles lived in terror of falling from favor — under chandeliers and powdered smiles.

— The Hall of Mirrors wasn’t just decoration. It was a mirror of power — designed to blind foreign dignitaries with reflected sunlight and grandeur. Louis XIV didn’t just rule — he staged his rule like theatre.

— Music followed the king like a shadow. A private orchestra played as he walked the gardens. His meals had their own soundtrack. Even his bedtime had musicians. Life at court had a rhythm — and it was his.

— The gardens bloomed year-round — by trickery. Out-of-season flowers were replanted nightly to match the royal gaze. Order, symmetry, and illusion were more important than nature.

— Versailles was cold in winter, sweltering in summer, and built on a swamp. But beauty came first. Even the fountains were choreographed to spray higher when the king passed by.

— Nobles went bankrupt for proximity. Dressing richly, gifting extravagantly, flattering constantly — all in the hope of being noticed. Versailles didn’t just bankrupt the treasury. It drained souls.

— Louis XIV called himself the Sun King. And everyone else? Satellites. The palace was his universe — meticulously designed to revolve around one man’s presence.

Versailles remains a masterpiece of architecture — and manipulation. Beauty and absurdity in perfect harmony.

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