The palace of Versailles and its gardens have attracted travelers ever since it was transformed under the Sun King, Louis XIV, from a simple hunting lodge into one of the most magnificent and public courts of Europe. French and foreign travelers, including royalty, ambassadors, artists, musicians, writers, scientists, grand tourists, and day trippers, all flocked to the royal palace surrounded by its extensive formal gardens. Bringing together works from The Met, the Chateau de Versailles, and over 50 lenders, this exhibition will highlight the experiences of travelers from 1682, when Louis XIV moved his court ti Versailles, to 1789, when the royal family was forced to leave the palace and return to Paris.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art             1000 Fifth Avenue       www.metmuseum.org