The Real Versailles
As BBC Two premieres its lavish play set at the sumptuous surroundings of Versailles, Helen Castor and also Lucy Worsley tell the real-life stories of earth's grandest buildings. They disclose that the colourful universe of intrigue, drama and sex that his courtiers and Louis XIV inhabited. Lucy untangles Louis realm of fashion court etiquette and feasting, while Helen delves into the archives and unpicks the Machiavellian world of court politics that Louis created. We meet with the people behind the on-screen characters and discover what drove Louis to glorify his reign to the scale unmatched by any prior monarch, examine the tension between Louis and his brother Philippe, a battle protagonist and overt gay, and they meet with the coterie of women who competed for Louis's interest. We note that Louis was callous in his search for glory in beating his enemies and succeeded. In his 72-year reign that was record breaking, France became renowned.
Released: 2016-05-30
Duration: 54
min
Country:
United Kingdom
Production:
British Broadcasting Corporation