Versailles (French pronunciation: [vsj] or [vsaj]) is a city in the Yvelines dpartement in le-deFrance region, renowned worldwide for its

chteau, the Chteau de Versailles and the gardens of

Versailles, designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. According to the 2008 census, the population
of the city is 88,641[1] inhabitants, down from a peak of 94,145 in 1975.
A new town, founded by the will of King Louis XIV, it was the de facto capital of the Kingdom of
France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789, before becoming the cradle of the French Revolution.
After having lost its status of royal city, it became the prfecture (regional capital) of Seine-et-Oise
dpartement in 1790, then of Yvelines in 1968, and a Roman Catholic diocese. Versailles is
historically known for numerous treaties such as the Treaty of Paris (1783), which ended the
American Revolutionary War and the Treaty of Versailles, after World War I.
Located in the western suburbs of the French capital, 17.1 km (10.6 mi) from the centre of Paris,
Versailles is in the 21st century a wealthy suburb of Paris with a service-based economy and a
major touristic destination as well. In addition, the Congress of France the name given to the body
created when both houses of the French Parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate, meet
gathers in the Chteau de Versailles to vote on revisions to the Constitution.