The Wonders of Europe S01E02 - Versailles, Louis XIV and His Destiny
S01E02 Versailles, Louis XIV and His Destiny
Episode Overview
During the summer of 1661, Nicolas Fouquet, the Superintendent of Finances, reveals his extravagant Vaux-le-Vicomte chateau to King Louis XIV. The grandeur of the estate captivates the king, igniting his ambitious vision to construct an even more magnificent palace—Versailles. Initially dismissed as a mere hunting lodge amidst marshy lands, Versailles undergoes a remarkable transformation fueled by the king's aspirations and the talents of the era's finest artists. As Louis XIV's romantic escapades and military triumphs unfold, iconic structures such as the Porcelain Trianon, l'Enveloppe, the Hall of Mirrors, the Ambassadors' Staircase, and the Royal Chapel emerge. Within fifty years, Louis XIV establishes Versailles as the epicenter of monarchy, a symbol of European power, and an enduring architectural wonder.