ÿþ<fiche> <titre lg="fr"><![CDATA[Le château de Versailles]]></titre> <texte lg="fr"><![CDATA[Lever 8h.30 " Sire, voilà l'heure", le Premier valet de chambre éveille le Roi. Le Petit Lever commence. Médecins, familiers et quelques favoris qui jouissent des Grandes Entrées pénètrent successivement dans la chambre du Roi. Il est lavé, peigné, rasé (un jour sur deux). Les officiers de la Chambre et de la Garde-robe entrent à leur tour pour le Grand Lever durant lequel le Roi est habillé et déjeune d'un bouillon. Les personnages les plus importants du royaume sont admis. On estime à une centaine le nombre habituel des assistants, tous masculins. Dîner au petit couvert 13h. Dans sa chambre, le Roi mange seul assis à une table dressée face aux fenêtres. L'assistance à ce repas, en principe privé, mais auquel Louis XIV admet tous les hommes de la Cour, y est comparable à celle du Lever. Promenade ou chasse 14h. Le matin, le Roi a donné ses ordres, annonçant son intention. S'il s'agit de la promenade, elle se fera dans les jardins soit à pied, soit en calèche avec les dames. Si son choix s'est porté sur la chasse, sport favori de tous les Bourbons, elle le mènera dans le parc lorsque le Roi chasse au tir, dans les forêts alentour lorsqu'il chasse à courre.]]></texte> <titre lg="en"><![CDATA[Versailles castle]]></titre> <texte lg="en"><![CDATA[Referring to Louis XIV, the Duc de Saint-Simon wrote, 'with an almanac and a watch, even at a distance of three hundred leagues, you could say precisely what he was doing'. A king's day had to be perfectly timed so that the officers serving the monarch knew exactly what they should do, when, and how. The court was regulated like clockwork. Levee 8.30 am: 'It is time, Sire', declares the First Valet de Chambre, waking the king. The levee, or ceremonial rising, thus begins. Doctors, family and a few favoured friends successively enter the King's Bedchamber where he is washed, combed, andÑevery other dayÑshaven. The Officers of the Chamber and the Wardrobe then enter in turn for full levee, during which the king is dressed and has a breakfast of broth. The most important officials of the kingdom are admitted; it is estimated that the usual number of people attending numbered one hundred, all male. Mass 10 am: On leaving the king's apartment, a procession forms in the Hall of Mirrors. The king leads the procession of courtiers through the Grand Apartment. The public can now see the king and even petition him with a written request. In the Chapel Royal, the king occupies the tribune. Mass lasts roughly thirty minutes. The choir known as the Chapel Music, famous throughout Europe, always sings new music composed by Lully, Lalande, and others. Council 11 am: Returning to his apartments, the king holds council in his cabinet. Sundays and Wednesdays are devoted to Councils of State; on Tuesdays and Saturdays, finances are dealt with; Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, another Council of State might replace a Dispatch Council (domestic affairs) or Religious Council, or perhaps the king will decide to focus on his building programme. Five or six ministers usually advise the monarch who speaks little, listens a great deal, and always decides. Dinner 1 pm: The king dines alone in his bedchamber, at a table facing the windows. This meal is theoretically private, but Louis XIV admits the men at court, making attendance similar to the levee. Promenade or Hunting 2 pm: The king always announces the afternoon programme in the morning. If he has decided on a promenade, it might be taken on foot in the gardens or in a carriage with ladies. On the other hand, hunting activities the Bourbons' favourite pastime will take place on the grounds (if the king goes shooting) or in the surrounding forests (riding to hounds). Social Gathering or Work 6 pm: Louis XIV often leaves his son to preside over the private social gatherings known as soirées d'appartement. The king himself might sign the many letters prepared by his secretary, then go to Madame de Maintenon's quarters where he might study an important file with one of his four secretaries of state. Supper 10 pm: A crowd fills the antechamber of the King's Suite to witness this public supper. The king is joined at table by the princes and princesses of the royal family. Once the meal is over, the king returns to his bedchamber to say 'goodnight ladies' then retires to his cabinet where he can indulge in conversation with his close acquaintances. Couchee 11.30 pm: The couchee, or public ritual of retiring, is a reverse, shortened version of the levee. The Sun King's daily timetable was incumbent on Louis XV and Louis XVI, but neither of them could bear court ceremonial. They tended to flee to their private apartments or smaller chateaus nearby. Levees and couchees became increasingly rare, as did public suppers. Courtiers complained that the king was nowhere to be seen.]]></texte> <!-- adresse, lien, et photo(n) son facultatifs, il n'est pas utile de les ecrire s'ils ne contiennent pas d'informations --> <adresse><![CDATA[Château de Versailles 78000 Versailles >Infos : 01 30 83 77 88]]></adresse> <lien web="http://www.chateauversailles.fr" /> <photo nbre="1" /> </fiche>