7Versailles, France
No exploration of Europe’s royal residences could begin without homage to the Palace of Versailles. Situated a short journey from Paris, Versailles is the epitome of royal extravagance. Built by Louis XIV, the “Sun King”, it served as the heart of French monarchy from 1682 until the Revolution. The palace’s Hall of Mirrors, Grand Apartments, and the sprawling Gardens of Versailles, designed by André Le Nôtre, remain unmatched symbols of the zenith of French royal power and architectural innovation.
