The Royal Courtyard

This area is called the Royal Courtyard. It was given that name because it served as the main entrance to the royal residence.

Now, take a look at the side where the ground is decorated with striking black-and-white marble. The first floor of the building on that side was the king's bedchamber. The surrounding rooms were used by members of the royal family and the nobles who enjoyed the king's favor.

On the opposite side stands the golden Royal Gate. That direction is east. And as you know, that's where the sun rises. Every morning, Louis XIV, the Sun King, welcomed the rising sun from his bedchamber, looking out toward the east. This was the view he woke up to every morning, and the gate he passed through each day. It was never meant to be ordinary.

That long fence is covered entirely in gold leaf. It’s difficult to accurately convert 17th-century construction costs into today’s money, but considering that the restoration alone used 100,000 sheets of 24-karat gold leaf, you can imagine just how enormous the cost must have been. From the very entrance, everything was designed to overwhelm nobles and visitors alike, reinforcing the image of Louis XIV as a ruler with almost divine authority.

You can see statues decorating the exterior of the building. They represent figures from classical mythology and personifications of virtues, all carefully placed to celebrate the absolute power and glory of Louis XIV.