The Hall of Mirrors is a magnificent room designed to impress visitors to Louis XIV. It was created by the architect Jules Hardouin Mansart and built between 1678 and 1684, replacing a terrace designed by Louis Le Vau that linked the north and south wings of the palace with the west facade.
Baroque in style, the gallery is 73 meters long and 10.50 meters wide. It is illuminated by 17 windows, whose light is reflected by 357 mirrors facing each other. In the 17th century, it was revolutionary because it allowed people to see themselves full-length at a time when mirrors were extremely expensive.
The barrel vault is decorated with paintings by Charles Le Brun, depicting the exploits of Louis XIV in 30 large compositions. Initially, the gallery was adorned with silver furniture and antique statues, which were replaced by gilded wooden furniture after the French Revolution.
The Hall of Mirrors has been the scene of important historical events, such as the wedding of Marie Antoinette to the Dauphin of France in 1770, the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871, and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which ended the First World War.
The first galleries in France, appearing in the mid-15th century, evolved from simple corridors to elaborate spaces for exhibiting art and antiques. In the 17th century, they became more public and luxurious. The transformation of the terrace of Le Vau into the Hall of Mirrors by order of Louis XIV reflected this evolution, placing it at the end of the king's grand appartement and using it for important public events.
The mirrors in the gallery were manufactured at La Glacerie, south of Cherbourg, demonstrating France's ability to produce high-quality mirrors in competition with Venice. The 17 arched windows reflect the light in the mirror-decorated arcades, alternately crowned by heads of Apollo and the Lion of Nemea.
The paintings on the vault, made between 1681 and 1684 by the workshop of Charles Le Brun, depict important events of Louis XIV's reign from his coming of age in 1661 to the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678. Half of the paintings were made by marouflage, a technique that involves gluing painted canvases onto the vault.
The original furniture and statues were dispersed during the French Revolution. The capitals of the Rancé marble pilasters are adorned with fleurs-de-lis and the Gallic cockerel, while the gilded bronze trophies were chiseled by Pierre Ladoyreau.
During the Ancien Régime, the gallery was a place of passage and important audiences. In the 19th century, it became the scene of the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871 and hosted many foreign dignitaries. In the 20th century, it was the place where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 and where events such as the dinner offered by Charles de Gaulle to President Kennedy in 1963 were held.
The Hall of Mirrors has undergone several restorations, the most recent and significant between 2004 and 2007, costing 12 million euros and financed by the Vinci Group. The works included the consolidation and cleaning of the marble, the restoration of frescoes, the renovation of the woodwork and bronzes, the repair of the floor, the recovery of the furniture and statuary, and the installation of adequate lighting to highlight the frescoes.
Today, the Hall of Mirrors remains a testimony to the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles and an important historical and cultural symbol of France.