One of the many crystal chandeliers in the Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors, the most famous room in Versailles Palace, was built to replace a large terrace which opened onto the garden. The terrace originally stood between the King’s Apartments to the north and the Queen’s to the south, but was awkward and above all exposed to bad weather, and it was not long before the decision was made to demolish it.
Jules Hardouin-Mansart, produced a more suitable design that replaced the terrace with a large gallery. Work started in 1678 and ended in 1684.
The whole length of the Hall of Mirrors (73m) pays tribute to the political, economic and artistic success of France. Political successes are illustrated through the 30 painted compositions on the vaulted ceiling by Le Brun, which depict the glorious history of Louis XIV during the first 18 years of his reign, from 1661 to the peace treaties of Nijmegen.
Economic prosperity is revealed in the number and size of the 357 mirrors bedecking the 17 arches opposite the windows, demonstrating that the new French manufacture could rival the Venetian monopoly on mirror manufacturing. At the time such items were a great luxury.
During the latter events, the throne was placed on a platform at the end of the hall. Rarely has the show of power reached such a level of ostentation. The Doge of Genoa and the ambassadors of Siam, Persia, and the Ottoman Empire crossed the full length of the gallery, under the scutiny of the French Court seated to either side on tiered seating, before they reached the king.
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