Versailles

Versailles is a commune in the department of Yvelines in the Île-de-France region, in the western suburbs of the French capital and 17.1 km from the centre of Paris. It is known for the Château de Versailles and the Gardens of Versailles, the latter a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A new town founded by order of King Louis XIV, it was the de facto capital of the Kingdom of France from 1682 to 1789, then became the préfecture of Seine-et-Oise in 1790 and of Yvelines in 1968. In 2023 its population was 84,095, down from a peak of 94,145 in 1975. The city sits on a plateau 130 to 140 metres above sea level, covers 26.18 square kilometres, has an oceanic climate, and is the seat of a Roman Catholic diocese, a court of appeal since 1975 and the académie de Versailles.