No visit to Paris is complete without a side trip to the grandest palace in all of Europe. Versailles is the palace other palaces were modeled after, the one many tried to outdo—but none succeeded.

The ultimate royal palace is all about this man: the ultimate divine monarch, Louis XIV. He spent about half of France’s entire annual GNP to turn his dad’s hunting lodge into a palace suitable for Europe’s king of kings…and for his strategy of domesticating his political opposition by turning them into party animals.

The Palace of Versailles is a long series of lavish rooms, each with its own theme, and with every inch sumptuously decorated. In the late 1600s, Louis XIV—shown here with his capable hand literally on the rudder of state—was creating the first modern, centralized government. And, in order to personally control as much as possible, he gathered everybody and the levers of power right here.

Pleasure ruled at Versailles. The main suppers, balls, and receptions were held in this room. The ceiling is like a sunroof opening up to the sky, filled with heavenly action parallel to what was taking place right here in Louis’ court. The style is pure Baroque, which lends itself to propaganda art—a riot of exuberant figures celebrating the status quo, the unbridled power of the divine monarch.

The Venus Room is a reminder that love ruled at Versailles. Here, couples would cavort, blessed from above by the goddess of love. As if to encourage the fun, Venus sends down enticing garlands to ensnare mortals in delicious amour.

The famous Hall of Mirrors was the highlight of the palace. No one had ever seen anything like it. Mirrors were a great luxury at the time, and this long hall was astounding.

Imagine this place lit by the flickering flames of thousands of candles, filled with elegant people decked out in fine silks, powdered wigs, fake moles, dancing to the orchestra.

Under gilded candelabra and amid busts of Roman emperors, servants would glide by with silver trays of hors d’oeuvres.

And from the palace, guests would gaze awestruck at Louis’ amazing gardens. One more way that Louis proved he was a divine-right ruler was by controlling nature…like a god. The grounds were huge, and when you turn around they just keep on going. Louis’ lavish domain,—elaborately planned, pruned, and ornamented—showed everyone that their king was in total command.

This was heaven on Earth for Europe’s leading royals…until the people just couldn’t take any more of their greed and corruption. And with the great French Revolution…they cut off their heads.