The greatness of Castle of Versailles didn’t happen by itself! franceinfo explains that 53 years of work were necessary and up to 36,000 workers were employed, of whom thousands died. The Palace of Versailles is also 2,300 rooms, 1,944 windows, 352 fireplaces, 357 mirrors in the Hall of Mirrors, as well as a garden containing the equivalent of 43 km of paths, lined with 155 statues!
Under Louis XIV, almost 10,000 people flocked to the court every day, and today the estate welcomes more than 8 million visitors (2018 figures). But this increased attendance comes at a cost! In 2013, out of a budget of 123 million euros, 49 million came from ticketing. The 40 million in public subsidies, which are normally paid each year, have been halved, thus reducing this contribution to 20 million euros.
The castle is therefore looking for other ways to meet its expenses, such as giving the possibility of adopting a tree at 1,000 euros or a bench at 2,900 euros. Or, exploit the decor of Versailles, which is also a significant source of income! Film scenes and other events take place there, such as when Kanye West and Kim Kardashian rented the 1h30 location for their wedding. This dream cost them the tidy sum of 20,000 euros.
But the Palace of Versailles was not all grandeur and excess! The other side of the coin? Its smelly past and the very questionable hygiene of its court… and its kings! We tell you everything in this gallery inspired by the incredible episode on Versailles from “It’s a story“.
