
The world`s most iconic chateau has welcomed tourists the world over, yet this handsome slipcased volume offers up the charm of a thousand & one hidden places in the chateau, its gardens, & pavilions. All were designed to surprise & delight the eye & all the senses at every turn, their exquisite decoration forming an integral part of the elite lifestyle of the eighteenth-century. This comprehensive volume captures the exquisite setting & inimitable ambiance of Versailles & its gardens, from its intimate private spaces usually closed to the general public to the charming Petit Trianon & dairy farm created for the pure pleasure of Marie-Antoinette. Concise, informative, & evocative texts describe the practical, social, & aesthetic considerations that informed the creation of the home to three kings, while newly commissioned photography features the chateau`s architecture, gardens, paintings, drawings, & decorative arts that bring to life the beauty & the daily routines of this golden age of French culture. This jewel of a volume is a rich homage to Versailles & the perfect souvenir for visitors & armchair travelers alike who, while turning these pages, will embark on a private tour of the lavish chateau & grounds.