The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles: 357 Mirrors That Nearly Caused a War
The Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles isn't just opulent—it's a 73-meter-long declaration of French supremacy that nearly sparked international conflict. Completed between 1678-1684 by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, this glittering gallery features 357 mirrors arranged in 17 arches opposite windows overlooking the gardens—a staggering display of wealth when mirrors were luxury items rivalling gold.
The mirrors themselves represent an act of industrial espionage and defiance. Venice held a monopoly on mirror-making, and the Venetian government ordered the assassination of artisans who defected to France to share their secrets. French manufacturing learned anyway, breaking the monopoly and creating mirrors that demonstrated France could rival Venice, which is why the Hall is sometimes called "The Bloody Mirrors". During grand receptions, over 20,000 candles illuminated the space, their light multiplied infinitely in the mirrors, creating an otherworldly atmosphere of power.
The 30 painted ceiling compositions by Charles Le Brun glorify the first 18 years of Louis XIV's reign (1661-1679), depicting military victories and political reforms through allegorical scenes from Antiquity. This wasn't just decoration—it was propaganda. The Hall served as a passage where courtiers hoped to catch the king's attention, but it was occasionally transformed for ceremonies showcasing French power. The Doge of Genoa (1685), ambassadors from Siam (1686), Persia (1715), and the Ottoman Empire (1742) walked its length under the scrutiny of the French Court seated on tiers.
Most famously, the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I was signed here on June 28, 1919— chosen deliberately because Kaiser Wilhelm I had been proclaimed German Emperor in this same hall in 1871 after defeating France in the Franco-Prussian War.
