According to the ancient legend that is significant for these places, the almighty god Zeus fell in love with Io, the daughter of the Argive king and the river god, which did not please Zeus’s wife Hera. Io turned into a white cow and, trying to escape, descended into the waters of the strait, which has since been called the “cow ford”, or the Bosporus.
In fact, it is not known exactly why the ancient Greeks called the strait that way: “bos” - bull, “poros” - ford, that is, “bull ford”. But “cow” stuck.
The science of historical geology does not have an unambiguous version of the origin of the Bosphorus. The most common “Black Sea Flood Theory” is that the Bosphorus was formed approximately 7500-5000 years ago. According to this theory, previously the level of the Black Sea was 120 m below the level of the World Ocean and the seas were not communicated in any way. At the end of the last ice age, as a result of the melting of huge masses of ice and snow, the water level in both reservoirs rose sharply - by 140 m, a powerful water flow made its way from one sea to the other. This is indicated, in particular, by the bottom topography, as well as by changes aquatic plants and sedimentary rocks from freshwater to saltwater around the time indicated above. Another reason for the appearance of the strait could be an earthquake.
The Bosphorus Strait has an important geopolitical position. From the time of Trojan War XIII-XII centuries BC e. it has repeatedly become a cause of international tension, especially during periods of weakening of one of the main great powers.
Under the Byzantine Empire (IV-XV centuries), and after its fall - during Ottoman Empire the Bosphorus Strait remained internal matter these states.
The Ottoman period in the history of the strait left a significant mark on the architecture of buildings on the banks of the Bosphorus. After the conquest, the padishahs built many fortifications here, and not only that. At first, construction was carried out in the central areas of the city, but with the advent of the 19th century. steamships, luxurious summer residences began to be built on sections of the Bosphorus coast more distant from the sea.
At the end of the 17th century. The Russian Empire gained a foothold on the coast of the Azov and Black Seas, and at the same time the problem of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles arose, which in history was called the “Question of the Straits.”
Firstly, the Bosphorus Strait is very narrow, so it is easy to be “blocked”. Secondly, the shores of the Bosphorus belong to one state, Turkey. Thirdly, the strait connects the open Mediterranean Sea with the closed Black Sea. At all times, Turkey took advantage of its exceptional position on the Bosporus and allowed foreign ships through the strait, issuing them “firmans”, a kind of license for the right to trade with the Black Sea countries. The Bosphorus has always been the subject of disputes between Russia and Turkey, causing several Russian-Turkish wars. Russia managed to force Turkey to sign the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty of 1774, according to which Russian ships could navigate the strait without hindrance.
After the end of the First World War, according to the Treaty of Sèvres in 1920, the Bosphorus was declared a demilitarized zone under the control of the League of Nations. Currently, there is an agreement on the regime of the Turkish straits, signed in 1936, according to which the Bosporus is an international shipping zone. Today, from the point of view of modern international law, the Bosporus is the “high sea”: merchant ships of all countries have freedom of passage through the strait in both peace and war. But Turkey retained the right to restrict the movement of ships from non-Black Sea countries through the strait, in particular its long-time enemy, Greece, and introduced a regime of advance notification of the passage of warships.
Only through the Bosphorus can Russia, Ukraine and Transcaucasia from the Black Sea communicate with the Mediterranean and further with the World Ocean.
A significant part of the traffic through the strait is oil from Russia and the Caspian region, delivered to Western Europe and the United States by tankers loading at the terminals of the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
The passage of the Bosphorus Strait is associated with significant difficulties. The fairway that ships navigate is very winding, has an S-shaped configuration, repeating the no less winding line of the coast. Thanks to the exceptionally well-coordinated work of coastal services at lighthouses and control rooms, the modern history of the strait does not know major disasters. Since 1960, only two dozen incidents have occurred here without significant loss of life or damage to the environment.
The flora and fauna of the Bosphorus are no different from the Mediterranean, and the main commercial fish species here is mackerel.
The idea of a bridge across the Bosphorus was born in ancient times. But only in the second half of the 20th century, after long and heated discussions, were two bridges built to connect the banks of the strait.
The Bosphorus Bridge, the first suspension bridge across the strait, with a total length of 1510 m, was opened for travel in 1973. It bears the name of Ataturk, but locals more often call it Bogaziki (in Turkish - “strait”). It connects the European and Asian parts of Istanbul. The height above the water is 64 m. More than half a million people are transported across the bridge every day. Travel on the bridge is paid, it is closed for pedestrians. In the first four years, people walked across it, but later this was prohibited, because those who decided to take their own lives regularly tried to use the bridge. Pedestrians are invited to use ferries that have been running between the banks of the Bosphorus since the time of the Persian king Darius I (V-IV centuries BC).
The Sultan Mehmed Fatih Bridge has the same total length, the same as its older brother, and its construction was completed in 1988. It is also not accessible to pedestrians. The bridges are 5 km apart from each other.
For ease of movement along the strait, several maritime traffic control towers, or simply lighthouses, have been installed here. They are all different from each other. The first lighthouse tower was installed by the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos in 1110. The Maiden Tower, or Leander's Tower, is one of the symbols of Istanbul, restored many times.
On the European coast of the Bosphorus is one of the oldest and most prestigious areas of Istanbul, Besiktas. One of the Istanbul ports is also located here, from where ferries depart to the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. The most impressive square in Istanbul, Barbarossa Square, is also located in the Besiktas district, and here is the Naval Museum and the mausoleum of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who, according to one version, died while crossing the Bosphorus during the Third crusade in 1190
If the day is sunny, the local population swims in the Bosphorus, entering the water from the Kennedy embankment, in the Sultanahmet area, even despite the coastal fortifications in the form of randomly thrown boulders, constantly passing by ships and, to put it mildly, not quite clean water. Such recklessness can probably be explained by the fact that Lately The city's population changed noticeably both in size and composition: there were more people from distant rural provinces.
And the native Istanbulites no longer come here.
The largest number of attractions on the Bosphorus are concentrated in the Sultanahmet area. These are the most famous historical monuments Istanbul: Hagia Sophia (Cathedral of Sophia), Blue Mosque (Ahmediye Mosque, in honor of Sultan Ahmed), Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Istanbul Archaeological Museum and Suleymaniye Mosque. In 1985 this area was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO.
Strait between Europe and Asia Minor.
Connects with Mramorny m, and together with the Dardanelles - with, thus with the entire basin Mediterranean Sea.
Administrative affiliation: Türkiye, Marmara region, Istanbul province.
The largest city: Istanbul.
Language: Turkish.
Currency unit: Turkish lira.
Religion: Islam
Length: 31 km.
Width: 3329 m at the northern entrance, 2826 m at the southern entrance.
Maximum width: 3420 m.
Minimum width: 700 m.
Fairway depth: from 36 to 124 m.
Average depth: 65 m.
Maximum depth: 110 m.
Minimum depth: 18 m in the north, 13 m in the south.
Population: about 17 million people. (2001).
Shipping: 48 thousand ships per year.
Tourism.
Temperate continental, marginal subtropical zone. The influence of cold winds from the north.
Average annual air temperature:+15°С.
Average annual water temperature:+14+18°С.
Average annual precipitation: 850 mm.
Relative humidity: 71,5%.
Water salinity: in the surface current, desalinated (18%o) Black Sea water predominates, and in the counter deep current, the water salinity is 38%o.
Problems: fog, poor visibility, strong wind.
■ Golden Horn Bay;
■ Building: Rumelihisar fortress (mid-15th century), Tophane Castle (mid-19th century), Chiefte Saraylar Palace (mid-19th century), Dolmabahce Palace (mid-19th century);
■ Religious buildings: Kilych Ali Pasha Jami Mosque (late 16th century), Dolmabahce Jami Mosque (mid-19th century), Ortakoy Mosque (mid-19th century);
■ Museums: Museum of Fine Arts, Maritime Museum;
■ Yildiz Park;
■ Sariyer Fish Market;
■ Leander Tower(XII century);
■ Religious buildings: Mihriman Sultan Jami Mosque (mid-16th century), Yeni Valide Jami Mosque ( beginning of XVIII V.);
■ Building: Anadoluhisary fortress (late 14th century), Veylerbeyi palace (mid-19th century), Küçkzsu villa (mid-19th century), Haydar Pasha Tara station (19th-20th centuries);
■ Port Haydar Pasha Limana (late XIX V.);
■ Chamlica Hill;
■ Bridges: Ataturk Bridge (Bogaziki), Sultan Mehmed Fatih Bridge;
■ Adapar(Prince's Islands, Sea of Marmara).
■ On the surface of the Bosphorus, the current is usually directed from the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. At a certain depth, the current changes direction and goes in the opposite direction.
■ In the winters of 1621-1669, the strait was covered with ice. This time was characterized by a general decrease in temperature in the region and in climatology was called the “Little Ice Age”.
■ The “Black Sea Flood” could serve as the basis for the legend of the Great Flood, which is present in the folklore of all the peoples who inhabit or have inhabited this region, and could also become the basis for the story of the “Dardanian Flood” from the tales of Troy.
■ Every year in Istanbul in mid-summer an intercontinental swim across the Bosphorus takes place, in which anyone who has time to register can take part.
■ On November 27, 2010, Sevastopol marathon swimmer Oleg Sofyanik swam along the Bosphorus Strait in six hours. The swim was dedicated to conservation natural environment Bosphorus. The athlete was helped to swim by a strong south wind and a favorable current. The water temperature was 14 degrees.
■ On May 15, 2005, American tennis star Venus Williams played an exhibition game with Turkish tennis player Ipek Senoglu on the Bogaziki Bridge. This was the first literal "intercontinental" match.
■ Construction of the Marmaray railway tunnel between the banks of the Bosphorus is already underway, and it is planned to be completed in 2013. In 2010, the Turkish government announced to the public that it was planned to build another road bridge across the Bosphorus - in the northern part of the strait, on the Black Sea coast. The eight-lane bridge, 1,275 meters long, will connect the Northern Marmara Expressway with the Trans-European Highway.
The magnificent city of Istanbul is located on the border of two continents, so the Bosphorus can rightly be called the heart of the city. The amazingly beautiful Bosphorus Strait enchants with its waters and contrasting shores. Next to fishing villages and modern skyscrapers, there are majestic palaces that perfectly reflect the fate of the city - a symbol of the interweaving of luxury and poverty, antiquity and modernity.
The mirror waters of the Bosphorus, betraying the charm of the old city, cannot be compared with anything else. All the greatness and squalor of Constantinople is reflected in the sparkling surface of this strait. Summer residences and graceful palaces, which are scattered haphazardly along the banks, peacefully coexist with ramshackle villages inhabited by fishermen. Only occasionally the impression created by ancient buildings is destroyed by the steely shine of modern skyscrapers.
An ancient Greek myth is associated with the name of this strait: Zeus fell in love with Io, the priestess of Hera, who was the daughter of King Inachus. For this, the wife of the loving Zeus turned Io into a cow and sent a terrible hornet at her, from which Io tried in vain to escape. What helped her out was that she hid in the waters of the Bosphorus, which after that got its name - “ cow ford».
If we turn to real, and not imaginary history, we can find out that the first to build a bridge across the strait was Persian king Darius, who transported an army of seven hundred thousand across the Bosphorus on a temporary bridge, which consisted of rafts thrown from ship to ship. The current residents of Turkey are proud of their bridge across the strait. At the time when it began to be built, many said that the bridge could spoil the silhouette of the city and all the beauty of the Bosphorus. But, despite this, the bridge, built in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, among the great historical monuments, along with its mosques and palaces, was able to harmoniously fit into the convolutions of the surrounding hills.
The current theory is that the Bosporus Strait was formed around 5600 BC. as a result of the melting of large masses of ice and snow at the end of the last ice age, due to a sharp rise in water levels. In just a matter of days, a powerful stream made its way from the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea, which at that time was a freshwater lake. Recent archaeological research has uncovered submerged cities on the underwater slopes of Turkey's Black Sea coast. Most likely, it was the formation of the Bosphorus that became the reason for the emergence of the myth of the Flood and Noah's Ark. By the way, Mount Ararat is located relatively nearby, in Eastern Anatolia.
To fully experience the Bosphorus Strait, you need to take a fascinating cruise along the strait on board any tourist boat in the Karakoy quarter. A walk along the Bosphorus Strait is an indescribable pleasure. The whole of Istanbul with its inherent grandeur and pathos will appear before your eyes. Finding yourself on board a pleasure boat in the evening, you can try to look into the very soul of the “miracle of miracles” - the ancient Greek name for Constantinople.
The city at sunset seems to put on its most beautiful mask. In the cramped conditions of departing ferries, crowded ships, the roar of trumpets during the setting sun, you can watch the city light up its wonderful lights on the hills. The voices of the muezzins are heard. They say that in the old days blind heralds were often hired for evening prayers so that they would not be embarrassed by the beauty of the coming night. Hagia Sophia, like the mast of a ship, rises above the city and gives it an unearthly enchanting view from the Bosphorus.
There is nothing more spectacular than the Bosphorus in the evening. Painted with the scarlet color of the setting sun, the Bosphorus Strait and the city put on a special mask, mysterious and enchanting.
During the walk you can learn a lot about the inner, hidden life of the Bosphorus. The Turks call the rapid current of the strait “Sheytan akantysy”, which translates as “devil’s current.” “Sheitan” especially begins to rage with the onset of spring and the melting of snow in the Danube basin. At this time, the current of the strait reaches its maximum speed. Blue streams of water begin to rush along the banks like an arrow, which leads to the boiling of water like in a cauldron in its narrowest sections. The Bosphorus also has a “double bottom” - this is the so-called “lower current”, which goes from the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea in the opposite direction. It turns out that the Bosporus is a contradictory “creature”, flowing simultaneously in two opposite directions. The port quarter is amazing place, where life seems to never stop for a minute. Near the passenger pier there is a small market where you can buy freshly caught fish. Among all this movement and bustle, it is quite difficult not to get confused and lost.
The monstrous ruins of the battlements of the dilapidated tower of Rumeli Hisar look sadly from Europe to Asia and to the other side, where the Anadolu Hisar fortress is located. This is the narrowest point of the Bosphorus - only about 650 meters. This is where Europe comes closest to Asia. Istanbul is located on two continents that define its face. The center of the city has always been in Europe, and the coast of Asia for a long time remained just the outskirts. Now everything has changed exactly the opposite - the European coast is covered with antiquity and desolation, while the Asian coast can be proud of its clean, modern quarters. Nowhere else do two continents come so close, as if looking into each other’s eyes. It should be noted that this strait is considered perhaps the narrowest in the world. The Bosphorus is a full six hundred meters narrower than the Dardanelles.
Ships sometimes have to literally squeeze through, barely warming up when passing along the Bosphorus. Traffic in the strait is very heavy. The fact that the Bosphorus Strait has an international status means that ships from all over the world travel in both forward and reverse directions. Even a small mistake when navigating the fairway can be catastrophic. The remains of sunken tankers decorate this treacherous strait from time to time.
The main task at the pier is not to get confused in the numerous intricate berths, separately allocated for all specific directions.
The Bosphorus Strait leads from the Black Sea to Marmara. The length of the strait is about 15 miles, and with approaches about 25 miles; its greatest width is 4 miles; smallest 4 kbt.; depths 20-106 m. The Bosphorus Strait resembles a winding river with high and steep banks formed steep slopes coastal mountains The Bosphorus Strait is deep and mostly free of danger. Due to the tortuosity of the shores of the strait, its small width, the difficulty of identifying the entrance to the strait from the Black Sea and strong currents, navigation conditions in the Bosphorus Strait are difficult. There are many convenient, well-protected anchorages in the strait.
The steep shores of the Bosphorus Strait, as well as many protruding capes and deeply jutting bays, provide characteristic images on the radar screen.
When sailing through the Bosphorus Strait, due to the strong currents in it, it is necessary to constantly monitor the position of the vessel.
Dardanelles Strait leads from the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean. The length of the strait is about 65 miles; its greatest width is 10 miles, its smallest 7 kbt.; depths 29-106 m.
The European shore of the strait is rocky; its height reaches 275 m. The Asian coast is low and bordered by shallows. The view of the banks is monotonous.
There are two relatively large ports in the Dardanelles Strait - Gelibolu and Canakkale.
When following the Dardanelles Strait, a fairly clear image of both banks appears on the radar screen, especially in its narrowest places. Therefore, using a unit for combining a radar image with a map, navigation in the strait does not present any difficulties.
Aegean Sea.
Shores:
Eastern Bank Aegean Sea mountaineer; mountain ranges are directed
perpendicular to the coastline. The northern, wooded shore of the Aegean Sea is formed by spurs of mountains.
The western coast of the Aegean Sea is heavily dissected by mountain ranges. The mountain spurs form several peninsulas protruding far into the sea, elongated in a southeast direction and ending in characteristic capes.
The shores of the Aegean Sea, except for its northern and northeastern parts, are very indented. They are deep, there are few dangers near them.
Depths, bottom topography and soil:
The bottom of the Aegean Sea is very uneven.
In the northern part of the Aegean Sea near the shores, the soil is sand and silt. and stone, in the Gulf of Strymonikos - silt, in the Gulf of Thermaikos - silt, sand and stone, near the island of Lemnos - silt and sand, between the Chalkidiki peninsula and the islands of Lemnos and Imroz - clay and silt.
Terrestrial magnetism:
Magnetic exploration of the described area is satisfactory. The magnetic declination within the region is eastern and varies from 2.2° in the northeast to 0.7° in the southwest (epoch 2006). The average annual change in magnetic declination is +0.03°. The maximum value of magnetic declination in summer is observed at about 8 o'clock local time. The minimum value of magnetic declination occurs in the summer at about 13:00.
Magnetic inclination varies within the region from 57° N in the north to 50° N in the south.
Horizontal component of magnetic field strength varies from 246 mOe in the north to 280 mOe in the south.
Navigation aids:
Navigation equipment provides navigation in the Aegean Sea and approaches to ports and important bays. On most capes that protrude far into the sea and on the islands, there are luminous signs and beacons with a visibility range of 10-20 and even 27 miles. In ports and most harbors, lights are lit on piers and breakwaters. However, the mariner must remember that the position of stakes and buoys, as well as the characteristics of lights, may vary and should not be relied upon entirely.
Ports and anchorages:
In the Aegean Sea, the largest and most important ports are: Izmir, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Chalkis, Nafplion and Kusadasi and the harbors: Salamis, Volos, Siroe, Heraklion, Kavala and Alexandroupolis. Vessels can find shelter from winds and waves in numerous bays and anchorages, both off the coast of the mainland and off the islands. These places include Aydıncik Bay (Gökceada Island), Agios Nikolaos Bay (Kythira Island), Milos Bay (Milos Island), Agios Nikolaos Bay (Keos Island), Naousa Bay (Paros Island), Agios Prokopios Bay (Naxos Island) ), Turk Bay (Gulluk Bay), Kaloni Bay (Lesbos Island), anchorage in the Gulf of Saros (40°36" N. 26°44" E). There are also good anchorages in numerous bays and straits between the islands.
Pilotage service:
Türkiye. Pilotage of vessels is mandatory only when entering the inner part of the port of Izmir and the port of Kusadasi.
Greece. When entering Greek ports and harbors, pilotage is mandatory for all ships and foreign warships, except small ones.
Vessels must call a pilot in accordance with the International Code of Signals. There is a pilot station in every port. But, even if the ship does not use the services of a pilot, it is required to pay a pilotage fee, which is collected through the pilot office at the maritime agency.
Navigation information:
On the shores of the Aegean Sea there are radio stations that regularly transmit hydrometeorological information (METEO) and navigational notices to seafarers (NAVIM). In addition, some ports have a port information service, whose radio stations transmit, at the request of seafarers, navigation information about the port area and approaches to it (fencing, depths, ship traffic, etc.).
Versailles is a palace and park complex (Parc et château de Versailles), which is located in the suburb of Paris of the same name. Versailles is included in the list of 100 wonders of the world, and since 1979 has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Address: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France.
From Paris to Versailles you can get there in half an hour by express train. RER trains, line C. In Versailles the stop is called Versailles Rive Gauche, from there it is a 10-minute walk to the palace gates.
Another way to get there: bus number 171, which departs from the Pont de Sevres metro station in Paris. Buses run every 15-20 minutes.
The complex is open every day except Mondays, as well as official holidays: December 25, January 1 and May 1.
| Services list | Price |
|---|---|
| Full ticket (main palace, Grand and Petit Trianons, farm, gardens) | 20 €/on days the fountains are open 27 € |
| Full ticket for two days | 25 €/on days the fountains are open 30 € |
| Only Chateau (main palace) | 18 € |
| Grand and Petit Trianons, farm | 12 € |
| Park only (fountains turned off) | for free |
| Park only (fountains included) | 9 € |
| Night fountain show | 24 € |
| Ball | 17 € |
| Night fountain show + ball | 39 € |
Prices are current for 2018.
Children under 5 years old have free admission; older children, students, and people with disabilities have discounts.
Initially, these lands were the hunting estate of Louis XIII. His son and successor - the "Sun King" Louis XIV was crowned in 1654. After the Fronton uprising, life in the Louvre seemed alarming and unsafe to the “Sun King,” so he gave instructions to build a palace on the Versailles lands, on the site of his father’s hunting grounds.
Construction of the palace and park complex began in 1661 under Louis XIV and continued under the reign of his son, Louis XV. Architects Louis Leveau, Francois D'Orbe and painter Charles Lebrun created a grandiose palace in the classicist style, which to this day has no equal.
Until 1789 Versailles was main residence kings of France. At the beginning of October 1789, people gathered in the palace square, outraged by the high prices of bread. The answer to the protest was the phrase of Marie Antoinette: “If they don’t have bread, let them eat cakes!” But it is not known for certain whether she said this phrase or whether the townspeople themselves came up with it. After this riot, Versailles ceased to be the center social life France, and the king and his family and the deputies of the bourgeoisie (National Assembly) moved to Paris.
Maintaining the Palace of Versailles was not easy. When Napoleon I came to power in 1799, he took Versailles under his wing. In 1806, by order of the Emperor, work began on a plan to restore the Palace of Versailles. Restoration work started two years later - mirrors and gold panels were restored here, furniture was brought in, including from.
After the revolution of 1814-1815. the empire collapsed and the Bourbons came to power again. Under Louis Philippe, many halls were completely restored. The palace became national museum, an exhibition of portraits, busts, and paintings of historical value was exhibited here.
Versailles also played a role in French-German relations. After France lost Franco-Prussian War, the residence of the German army headquarters was located in the Palace of Versailles (1870-1871). At the beginning of 1871, in the Mirror Gallery, the Germans proclaimed German Empire. This place was chosen specifically for the purpose of humiliating the French. But a month later, a preliminary peace treaty was signed with France and the capital was moved from Bordeaux to Versailles. And only 8 years later, in 1879, French capital Paris became again.
After the First World War, in which Germany was already defeated, the Treaty of Versailles was signed in the palace. This time the French chose the place to restore historical justice and humiliate the Germans.
In 1952, the government allocated 5 billion francs for the restoration of Versailles. Also, from the 50s to the mid-90s of the last century, all heads of state who came to visit France had to meet with the French president in the palace.
In 1995, Versailles received the status legal entity and became government agency. Since 2010, the institution has received the name "Public Institution of the National Estate and Museum of Versailles."
Each hall, salon and bedroom is a masterpiece that shows how much talent and work was invested here.
The Gallery of Mirrors is considered the heart of the Palace of Versailles. Its area is 803 sq. m. The gallery has 357 mirrors installed parallel to 17 windows. The hall is decorated with crystal chandeliers, silver candelabra, floor lamps, vases, and Rouge de Rance pilasters topped with gilded bronze capitals based on a new design that was called the “French style” and was created by Le Brun.
The vaulted ceiling features 30 illustrations that depict the glorious history of Louis XIV during the first 18 years of his reign. Weddings in Versailles took place in the Mirror Gallery.
The chapel is located near the entrance on the right side of the building. The royal altar is surrounded by figures of ancient Greek gods. The royal coat of arms on the floor is paved with colored marble. A spiral staircase leads to the second tier of the chapel.
This hall was intended for holding audiences of foreign delegations or patronal feasts. In the evenings, dances, theatrical or musical performances were held here.
The interior of Diana's salon at the Palace of Versailles is decorated with antique busts and sculptures, painted walls, and golden vaults.
The War Salon was created to glorify the legendary military achievements of the French. On the walls there are monumental paintings telling about victories.
The salon window overlooks the inner oval courtyard. Persons close to the monarch or titled nobles could be here to observe the royal apartments through an opening shaped like a bull's eye.
The main attraction of the hall is the statue of the “Sun King” Louis XIV.
Louis XIV was an extravagant man, he loved pomp in absolutely everything. That's why his bedroom looks like a theater set. When the king woke up and went to bed, there were selected persons in the bedroom who had the pleasure of enjoying this action. As soon as the “sun king” woke up, four servants presented him with a glass of wine, and two with a lace shirt.
The queen's bedroom features a huge bed. The walls are decorated with stucco, portraits and various picturesque panels.
This is just a small part of the interiors that can be seen here. It is simply impossible to describe all the halls and salons.
The gardens and park of Versailles are unique; about 36,000 people worked on their construction. More than 6 million tourists visit this attraction every year.
The location of all park facilities is carefully calculated and thought out. The scale is so grandiose that it is simply unrealistic to walk around the entire garden and park complex in a day. Fountains, pools, cascades, grottoes, statues - the park was created to show the majesty of the “Sun King”.
There are approximately 350,000 trees in the area. Trees, shrubs and lawns are trimmed as intended by the creator of the complex in the 17th century.
Versailles constantly hosts various events and shows. There is especially something to see here at the height of the tourist season.
From May to September, a light and music fountain show is organized for guests on Saturdays. Besides the fact that the spectacle itself is indescribably beautiful, it ends with fireworks.
Before the night show, a real ball takes place in the Hall of Mirrors. Dancers demonstrate dances traditional for royal balls, and musicians perform classical music.
Exhibitions are periodically held in the galleries and other rooms of Versailles. Here they are exhibited as contemporary artists, as well as paintings by artists of past centuries.
Versailles is a palace and park complex (Parc et château de Versailles), which is located in the suburb of Paris of the same name. Versailles is included in the list of 100 wonders of the world, and since 1979 has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The entire complex is divided into the following main zones:
The Palace of Versailles was the political capital of France for over a century and home to the royal court from 1682 to 1789. Today the palace complex is one of the most popular tourist attractions.
Shrouded in many legends, Versailles became a symbol of the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV. According to legend, the young king decided to build a new palace outside the city, since the Louvre in Paris was unsafe at that time. And since 1661, in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris, Louis began the transformation of a modest hunting lodge to a sparkling palace. To do this, it was necessary to drain more than 800 hectares of swamps (the entire territory occupied by the complex), where entire forests were moved to create 100 hectares of gardens, alleys, flower beds, lakes and fountains.
The Palace of Versailles served as the political center of France. It became home to 6,000 courtiers! Louis XIV lulled his subjects by providing lavish entertainment and rewarding them with royal favors. So Louis tried to distance himself from the political intrigues of Paris, so he created a place where the aristocracy could live under his watchful eye. The grand size of the palace and the wealth on display demonstrated the absolute power of the monarch.
The construction of the palace required about 30,000 workers and 25 million livres, which in total amounted to 10,500 tons of silver (according to experts, in modern money, this amount is equal to 259.56 billion euros). This is despite the fact that construction was carried out with extreme economy and according to the most low prices, because of which many fireplaces subsequently did not work, the windows did not close, and living in the palace in winter was extremely uncomfortable. But the nobles were forced to live under the supervision of Louis, since those who left the Palace of Versailles lost their ranks and privileges.
The architectural complex embodied the ideas of absolutism - perfectly calculated, laid out along a line. The main building houses the Great Halls and Bedrooms, decorated with ostentatious luxury by Charles Lebrun. Every corner, ceiling and wall of the palace is covered in detailed marble, frescoes, paintings, sculptures, velvet draperies, silk carpets, gilded bronze and tinted glass. These salons are dedicated to Greek deities such as Hercules and Mercury. Louis chose the room of Apollo, the sun god, as his throne room The Sun King (as Louis XIV was called in France).
The most spectacular of all is the Hall of Mirrors. On the 70-meter-long wall there are 17 huge mirrors with gilded sculptures-lamps between them. In those days, highly polished brass or metal was still used as mirrors in France. Especially for the construction of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the French Minister of Finance, brought Venetian workers to begin production of mirrors in France.
It was here, in the Hall of Mirrors, that the famous Treaty of Versailles was signed between Germany and the Allied powers in 1919, which decided the fate of the post-war era. Weddings took place in the white and golden baroque chapel Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in 1770. The Palace of Versailles is also famous for its opera and theater with a huge oval hall lit by 10,000 candles.
The surroundings of the palace are no less interesting. It took legions of workers and genius to create the gardens at Versailles. landscape designer Andre Le Nôtre, who embodied the standard French classicism. Even during construction, the monarchs tried to copy the palace park, (),. But no one managed to surpass the scope and beauty of the Versailles Park.
The central axis of the garden is the Grand Canal, 1.6 km long, with a western orientation so that the setting sun is reflected in the water surface. Around it, geometrically trimmed trees and flower beds are planted, paths, ponds and lakes are laid out. By the time construction was completed, the park had 1,400 fountains. The most impressive of them is the chariot - another monument to the glory of the Sun King.
On the sides of the alleys there are groves where the courtiers danced in summer time against the backdrop of garden stones, shells and decorative lamps. Marble and bronze statues line the paths. In winter, more than 3,000 trees and shrubs were transferred to the Versailles greenhouse.
Two smaller palaces stand on the opposite side of the garden. Louis XIV built the pink marble Grand Trianon as a break from the etiquette of court life ("Trianon" means a place for solitude, quiet time). In the main palace, for example, the king usually dined alone in the presence of hundreds of spectators. Gala dinners were held strictly according to the protocol of the appropriate rank. To prepare food for the constant banquets, the palace employed 2,000 workers in the kitchen.
The Petit Trianon was a love nest built by Louis XV for Madame du Barry. Later, this neoclassical mini-palace attracted the attention of Marie Antoinette, who also wanted to escape the rigid formality of the main palace. Nearby, for the entertainment of Marie Antoinette, a tiny village with a dairy farm was built. Small houses With thatched roofs, the watermill and lakes corresponded to the royal fantasy of peasant life.
Ironically, this queen's lavish gifts and frivolity after such an expensive construction of the palace complex virtually liquidated the French treasury and led to the fall of the royal monarchy in 1789.
If you expect to spend the whole day here, it is better to purchase a combined ticket costing 21.75 euros, which includes travel and entry to all parks of the complex. You will find similar combined offers in the castles of Fontainebleau, d'Auvers and the Louvre. Don't forget to visit, whose popularity can only be rivaled.
The Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) is open from April to October: from 9.00 to 18.30 every day except Monday (ticket office closes at 17.50). The garden is open daily from 8.00 to 20.30. IN winter time: from 9.00 to 17.30. Garden – until 18.00.
Cost: 15 euros (including use of an audio guide in one of 10 languages). School-age children and EU students - 13 euros. Every first Sunday in winter, admission to the museum is free.
A comprehensive ticket costs 18 euros (visiting the palace, Petit and Grand Trianons). During Musical and Fountain Festivals, the cost of a combined ticket is 25 euros.
How to get there: by metro to Versailles-Rive Gauche station, located 15 minutes. walking.
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