Les divertissements de Versailles

*Les divertissements de Versailles* were elaborate entertainment events hosted at the Palace of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV. These festivities included grand parades, theatrical performances, ballet, artificial fireworks, and water shows designed to showcase royal majesty and reinforce the king’s prestige. They combined art, technology, and spectacle to impress visitors and symbolize French cultural and political power. These entertainment events were carefully orchestrated to reflect the divine authority of the monarchy and to entertain aristocratic guests, reinforcing social hierarchy and royal grandeur in a spectacular, memorable way.