Curiosités historiques sur Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV, Mme de Maintenon, Mme de Pompadour, Mme du Barry, etc.

This volume opens a fresh window onto the world of the Sun‑King and his successors, focusing on the hidden corners of Versailles and the lives of its most famous residents. Rather than a grand narrative, it strings together a dozen vivid curiosities—where Louis XIII first raised his hunting lodge, the true designer of the Marly machine, or the obscure “Parc aux cerfs” that once entertained the court. The author, a conservator of the Versailles library, sifts through original documents to separate rumor from fact, bringing forgotten details to light.

Each chapter is built around a specific puzzle, from the location of Madame de Maintenon’s private apartments to the exact sums spent by Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry. The questions are answered with clear, concise language, supported by archival records that reveal the personalities, ambitions, and everyday concerns behind royal mythology. Listeners will come away with a richer sense of how power, love, and intrigue shaped one of history’s most celebrated palaces, all without needing prior expertise.