Grand Trianon
Well Preserved Renaissance Royal Palace in France

The Grand Trianon was built in the northwestern part of the Domain of Versailles at the request of Louis XIV, as a retreat for the King and his maîtresse en titre of the time, the marquise de Montespan, and as a place where the King and invited guests could take meals away from the strict étiquette of the Court.

Begun in June 1687, the new construction (as we see it today) was finished in January 1688 and inaugurated by Louis XIV and his secret wife, the marquise de Maintenon, during the summer of 1688.

The Grand Trianon is set within its own park, which includes the Petit Trianon (the much smaller château built between 1762 and 1768 during the reign of Louis XV).

Unesco World Heritage Site

Unesco name of World Heritage site: Palace and Park of Versailles (added in 1979)

Justification for Inscription: (listed before it became Unesco practice to state reasons for listing)