The Peristyle: A View Framed by Columns

The Peristyle — meaning "a passage enclosed by columns" — was an idea devised by Louis XIV himself. The original design called for ordinary rooms here, but the king wanted an unobstructed view of the gardens beyond the courtyard, so the walls were removed in favor of an open structure built entirely of columns.

The pink marble columns that adorn the space were transported from southern France, more than 800 kilometers away. What's more, the columns were built far larger than necessary to bear the actual weight of the roof — a choice driven less by structural need than by a desire to display the wealth and elegance of absolute monarchy. That Louis XIV pressed ahead with such construction even in his financially troubled later years speaks to his taste for extravagance.