The Palace of Versailles is one of the most famous landmarks in France. Located just 20 kilometers southwest of Paris, it draws millions of visitors from around the world every year. Known for its beauty, grand design, and history, Versailles still holds many secrets.
Here are three hidden facts about this royal palace that might surprise you.
1. Secret Doors Behind the Walls
The Palace of Versailles is filled with fancy rooms and gold decorations. But hidden in the walls are secret doors. These doors were used by the royal family to move quietly between rooms. One such door led King Louis XIV to his private library.
Historian Flavie Larue points to a simple panel on the wall. At first, it looks like part of the decor. But with a push, it opens to a narrow passage. The King used this door to read or spend quiet time without being seen.
These secret doors helped the royals stay out of sight when they wanted privacy. Guests and servants didn’t always know where these doors led.
2. A Hidden Toilet System
You might think a grand palace like Versailles had fancy bathrooms. But in the 1700s, modern toilets did not exist. Even kings and queens had to deal with the lack of plumbing.
Mathieu da Vinha, the head of the Versailles Palace Research Center, shows one such old toilet. It looks like a wooden chair with a hole. Under it is a pot that collects waste. This type of toilet was called a “bidet.”
Surprisingly, a working toilet system was built during the time of King Louis XVI. It was made to flush waste water into the ground. The design came from England in the late 1720s. The palace built one based on that style.
The toilet had space for cotton wipes on both sides, and though it didn’t have a modern flush handle, it was a clever system for its time.
Many people say the palace had poor hygiene, but historians say that’s not fully true. The royals had their ways of staying clean, even if they didn’t have bathrooms like we do now.
3. The King’s Secret Chemistry Lab
The third secret is truly unexpected. Besides ruling France, King Louis XVI had a love for science. He enjoyed reading and doing experiments. Hidden deep inside the palace was a small lab where he tested different chemical reactions.
Only a few close family members knew about this room. Mathieu da Vinha takes visitors to this secret lab. It has tiled floors and a high ceiling. There’s a hole in the wall near the window, which helped air out strong smells from the experiments.
There was also a special kind of stove in the fireplace. The king used it for heating chemicals during his tests. The lab’s setup shows how curious the king was about science, even during a time when most rulers focused only on politics and war.
The Palace of Versailles is full of beauty and history. But it also has many secrets. These three—hidden doors, an early toilet system, and a royal lab—are just a few. Many more may still be waiting to be found.
If you ever travel to France, make sure to visit Versailles. You’ll see not just gold and gardens but also a peek into the private world of French royalty.
