In the 17th century, France was ruled by a certain Louis XIV (B 1638; d 1715). Louis XIV was known as the Sun king and was head of Europe’s greatest army. I’m sure more detailed discoveries will be made when I visit the Versailles Palace – Louis XIV is inextricably linked with this palace.
Louis XIV was fully aware of the sacrifice that the soldiers of France had given to guard France that he wanted to build them a hospital and retirement home. The site first opened in 1674 with a hospice, barracks, convent, hospital and factory.
By the time the building works were completed in 1676 the façade fronting the River Seine spanned an impressive 196m (try capturing that on camera!). Entrance is made through the archway in the middle with Louis XIV proudly carved in the brickwork at the top along with the words, ‘Louis the Great, providing for his soldiers by royal bounty’. The original designs are credited to Libéral Bruant and needed not only to be practical but aesthetically pleasing.
Part of the complex of buildings is the Cathedral of Saint Louis des Invalides. An interesting concoction, this is a church (later cathedral) and a royal chapel combination. The dome on top of the chapel is a striking part of the Parisian skyline which appears to draw everyone to investigate the rest of the building on which it sits. The Cathedral was finished after Bruant’s death in 1697 by Hardouin-Mansart. Louis commissioned Mansart to build a separate private royal chapel. The iconic golden gilded dome chapel was finished in 1706.