The Paris Traveler

More than three centuries after being torn down by revolutionaries, wanting their king’s head, the gates at Versailles have been recreated in all their original splendor.

 This past Monday, officials unveiled these beautiful golden gates that have been painstakingly replicated over the past two years, bringing back to life the Barouque artistry originally created by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, architect to Louis XIV.  It was Hardouin-Mansart who was responsible for creating many of the significant buildings of this period that were meant to convey the king’s wealth and power.

 At a cost of eight million dollars, generated by private donors which is rare in France, these gates stand guard to the entrance of the “cour d’honneur” and should not be missed. If you can’t get there anytime soon, take a look at this video to see what all the fuss is about.

 France 24-Versailles’ golden gates recreated after 200 years

Photo credit:   ana feliciano@flickr

1 Comment