Versailles, FR

Versailles Cathedral

The church was built on the orders of Louis XV who wanted to provide the so-called "Parc aux cerfs" district with a place of worship. A first temporary church was completed in 1727 and then in 1743, the first stone was laid. The construction was carried out under the direction of the architect Jacques Hardouin-Mansart, known as Mansart de Sagonne, grandson of the famous architect of Louis XIV. The building was completed in 1754. Ten years later, the architect J.F. Trouard built a chapel for catechism. It takes the name of the chapel "du Charnier" since it is there that the bodies of the deceased of the castle awaited their funeral. The organs of Clicquot were installed in 1760. 

About this building

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Key Features

  • Architecture
  • Monuments
  • Interior features
  • Atmosphere / quiet space
  • Social heritage
  • Links to national heritage
  • Famous people or stories

Visitors information

  • Bus stop within 100m

Other nearby buildings

Chapels of Versailles

The Royal Chapel of Versailles was built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart between 1698 and 1710. Several chapel projects followed one another and in 1679, it was decided to definitively place the religious building in the north wing, near the King's apartment. Then, in 1684-1685 a new plan was created, the monument was largely inspired by that of the Invalides with a dome and a plan centred to occupy the median space of the north wing, but it was abandoned in 1687. The chapel was blessed by the Cardinal of Noailles on June 5, 1710.

Church of Notre-Dame

It was in 1682 that Louis XIV had Notre-Dame built as a parish church to replace the church of Saint Julien. Baptisms, weddings, and funerals of the royal family will now take place in this church. Under the subsequent reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI, the tradition is maintained in this role of parish of the royal castle. It was from Notre-Dame that the inaugural procession of the Estates General began in 1789.

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