Versailles: A Private Invitation

Exquisite photography of one of Frances most significant historical landmarks.

The largest château in the world holds a thousand and one secrets, even from those who know it intimately. Versailles has been described in minute detail since the reign of Louis XIV, but numerous rooms in the palace and its outbuildings are inaccessible to the public due to their fragility or state of preservation.

From the most renowned salons to the gardens, passing through the Trianon or the Queens hamlet, Versailles contains extraordinary details, transformed by light and shadow. From dusk on a summers evening to the veil of mist on a winters morning, these photographs reveal the many facets of Versailles and offer readers unprecedented access to this historical treasure.

For this book, the Château de Versailles gave photographer Francis Hammond carte blanche access to the palace and its grounds; the resulting photographs uniquely capture the exceptional ambience and light of both famous and lesser known places.

From Marie-Antoinette's boudoir, the wings of the Queens theater, or even the Orangerie on a beautiful wintery day, Versailles: A Private Invitation is richly illustrated and brings to life this extraordinary theater of unrivaled splendor, this place of hidden secrets, mysteries, and everlasting beauty, which continues to capture the hearts of visitors and aficionados of France from around the world.

About the Author:

Francis Hammond’s photographs have been published in Mariage Frères French Tea (2003) and Elegant Entertaining (2009) and in lifestyle magazines such as Elle Décor and Martha Stewart Living. Béatrix Saule is chief curator and director of the research center at the Château de Versailles.