Paris. That is the center of France. It’s where the Eifel Tower is, where culture stems from, and of course where the French court was situated for hundreds of years. Louis XIV was a new breed of King; he reigned with absolute power in an absolute monarch as the longest ruling of France for over 72 years.
On this day May 6th, in 1682, Louis XIV moves the French court from Paris to Versailles. Despite Versailles being one of the most magnificent palaces in the world, this is not the reason why the Sun King decided to move the French court.
Much like the rest of Europe, the King had power, but he was supported by the families, the Dukes, and the many noble families who held armies of his own. By forcing powerful families to move to Versailles he controlled all of France and nobility like puppets. If you were not in court, you would lose favor with the King. Furthermore, it was the happening place. This massively extravagant palace since the French Revolution has not been habited, it also represents the contrast between the way the nobles lived versus the starving peasants of France.