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video 🇫🇷 Paris

The Rise and Fall of Versailles

by BBC documentary series

Three-part drama-documentary on the kings, queens, and intrigues that built Versailles — and the revolution that brought it down.

Part 1 — The Reign of Louis XIV

Part 1 — The Reign of Louis XIV 59 min

Drama-documentary recreating the life and loves of France's most famous king, Louis XIV, who conducted many affairs and dazzled contemporaries with his lavish entertainments.

Part 2 — The Palace of Pleasure

Part 2 — The Palace of Pleasure 59 min

Drama-documentary staged as a costumed romp through the reign of Louis XV, one of history's greatest libertines. A saga of sex, war, torture, gluttony and some truly astonishing wigs.

Part 3 — Countdown to Revolution

Coming soon

Drama-documentary following the life of King Louis XVI and the Court at Versailles. The French people are starving, but the aristocracy is too busy partying inside the gilded palace of Versailles to take much notice.

Symbol of France's glory, Versailles is probably the most splendid royal palace in Europe. From 1643 to 1792 it was the stage on which the most glorious period of the French Monarchy played out, until the darkest days, at the fall of the Bourbon dynasty.

This three-part series offers a sensitive and endearing portrait of the monarchs and recreates their life, loves, and political willpower — through the Sun King's grandeur, his great-grandson's slow decline, and the doomed reign that ended on the guillotine.

Hosted on Jason's own PeerTube instance. Parts 2 and 3 are still being uploaded — check back later.