Just southwest of Paris, France, lies the Château de Versailles—one of the world’s most famous palaces. Versailles is known not just for its lavish decor and architecture, but also as a historic symbol for the country. The court of Versailles was the center of political power in France starting when Louis XIV moved there from Paris in 1682. In October 1789, the royal family was forced to leave Versailles when a mob of mostly female revolutionaries stormed the palace and essentially evicted Louis XVI and his queen, Marie-Antoinette.
The Château now serves as a museum and one of France’s biggest tourist attractions, with more than three million people visiting the grounds each year. Today, Versailles had a special visit from the Tour de France (@letourdefrance), which began its final day at the palace en route to the finish line tonight along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. To see more photos of the palace, be sure to tap the blue location text above. Photo by @heathermitchell7