The Ghosts of Versailles Quiz | European

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This 'ghost of Versailles' was a President of the French Republic who was emotionally attached to Versailles; the palace is mentioned over 40 times in his memoires. He stated, 'Let's not sell grandeur short,' and began utilizing the palace to entertain foreign dignataries. His love of the 'good life' at Versailles was in direct contrast to his career as a stern brigadier general. The last person he entertained at Versailles was Richard Nixon. Who was he?

Answer: Charles de Gaulle

de Gaulle felt that the Elysee Palace, the residence of French presidents, and the former residence of Mme. de Pompadour (Louis XV's mistress), did not meet his needs, so he had a wing of the Grand Trianon at Versailles renovated for his use. 'After all, he stated, the home of a Queen seems more appropriate than that of a favorite.'

2. This monarch was described as having natural qualities of 'piety, loyalty, sense of duty, curiosity and interest in technology.' He had a deep love for his people, and this was reciprocated. He lacked deciseveness and presence and it is said his ghost still can be seen roaming the corridors of Versailles. His name?

Answer: Louis XVI

Louis XVI is usually portrayed as a bumbling fool...awkward, weak and dull. While there is some truth to these characteristics, they were mostly evident in his youth, prior to his coronation. In fact, Louis, as king, was a pious man who grew to love his wife, Marie Antoinette, very deeply.

He was the only French monarch NEVER to take a mistress. He even tried to see the benefits of a 'constitutional monarchy' during the revolution. One of the main reasons he met the fate he did was his refusal to ...'shed any of my people's blood'...at any time, even when he was being attacked.

It's true, nice guys finish last or, in this case, dead.

3. This ghost can be heard screaming in Versailles when the wind is cold. Born outside France, this new arrival to Versailles was made to stand naked in a small building for hours in order to perform an ancient ceremony in which they were stripped naked of all of their former clothes, and made to don French garments. This symbolized 'becoming fully French'. Name the ghost.

Answer: Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI

Quite an experience for a 15 year old virgin who had never been away from her mother before. Marie Antionette is one of the most misunderstood women in history. Far from being the 'flighty, dissipated, 'let them eat cake' quipping hedonist, she was a woman of great courage, dignity, ethics and loyalty.

Some of her quotes: to the Revolutionary Tribunal during her trial--'I was a queen, and you took away my {crown;} I was a wife, and you killed my {husband;} I am a mother, and you took away my children. All that is left is my blood..take it, for you have made me suffer so long.' on the way to the guillotine: 'Courage? I have shown it for years. Do you think I can lose it now when all my sufferings are about to be ended?'

4. This beautiful ghost was called 'the Flower of the Bourgeoisie' and was born Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson. From a family of grand Parisian bankers, she received a refined education and became mistress of the monarch. Who was she?

Answer: Madame de Pompadour

Mme. de Pompadour bloomed in the elegant and luxurious environment of Louis XV's Court. Presented at Court at age 24, she was promptly noticed by Louis who agreed that she was the 'most beautiful and witty woman in France'. Although she kindled the King's passion for only five years, they remained friends until her death in 1764.

5. This ghost takes a discerning view of Versailles as it tours the endless corridors. For 40 years, this ghost was responsible for all interior renovations and outside construction projects. As chief architect to Louis XV he maintained the 'monumentality and sobriety' of the palace. His name?

Answer: Jacques-Ange Gabriel

A good friend of Mme. de Pompadour's, Jacques-Ange Gabriel trained at Versailles under the great Hardoin-Mansart, and developed his 'mature' style that maintained an air of consistency in all future additions and renovations.

6. This phantom, at age 17, was already at Versailles. He had everything necessary to advance at Court: an immense fortune and a wife from a powerful family friendly with the monarch. However, his sense of independence led him to reject a brilliant position at Court and, despite the wishes of his King, he left France. His name?

Answer: Gilbert de Motier, Marquis de la Fayette

Gilbert de Motier, Marquis de la Fayette, chose a military career over that of the traditional courtier. As a young officer, he enthusiastically backed the cause of the American rebels. He became a major-general in the American army at age 20, and was held in high regard by George Washington, who treated him like a son.

He became a true hero, contributing to military victories, particularly Yorktown, in 1781, that finally forced England into negotiations to recognize independence. Upon his return to France, he danced with Marie Antoinette at Versailles and was treated with courtesy and respect by Louis XVI.

7. This elderly ghost slowly tours Versailles shaking his head in amazement and wonder. On his first visit to France, Louis XVI (perhaps with a premonition of what was to come) told him, 'Every part of the world has played its role in turn. Soon it will be America's turn.' When Louis XVI received him in the royal bedchamber in 1778, this American came away, thanks to the intervention of the Marquis de la Fayette, with Louis' commitment of French forces to assist America's struggle for indpendence. Who was he?

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

Marie Antoinette adored Franklin and found enormously amusing the American's habit of shaking hands upon meeting. This started a new trend at Court as did Franklin's attire. The 'style American' was born. Speaking of being born, Franklin was appalled when he saw an enormous crowd pushing to enter Marie Antoinette's bedchamber and was told that the French royal protocol required all royal births to be witnessed by the Court to ensure legitimacy.

8. This ghost is joined by his large family as it patrols Versailles. Had this leader of France been born one year earlier, he would not have been French. Coming from poor nobility, he entered a military academy and became an officer at age 16. By the age of 24, he was a general and conquered Italy and Egypt. By age 30, he was named 'consul of France. What was his name?

Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

Had Napoleon been born just one year earlier, he would have been Corsican, not French (the island of Corsica was annexed by France in 1768). Deemed 'gifted' by the military academy, he rapidly advanced both politicaly and personally. By 1810, his empire reached from Brittany to Poland, and from Spain to Holland.

The title of 'Consul' didn't do it for Napoleon, so he crowned himself 'Emperor of the French' and was very generous to his family. The thrones of Holland, Spain and Westphalia were offered to his brothers and arranged marriages to German Princes for his sisters. Napoleon finally hit the skids and was exiled TWICE from France, dying on St.

Helena in 1821.

9. This stern and austere phantom checks the palace carefully to ensure everything is in order. She was the un-named and un-crowned queen of France, since the monarch married her in secret after his wife died. She was ?

Answer: Madame de Maintenon

Madame de Maintenon married Louis XIV after the death of Queen Maria Teresa in secret (she was a commoner, the former governess to the royal children, therefore no throne for her). The once vibrant and young court disappeared as Louis aged (he reigned for 72 years); Mme. de Maintenon required strict, Christian, constant devotion.

10. This ghost roams Versailles looking for his dead sibling; he feels responsible (with good reason) for their untimely death. Despite his ability to make a difference, he chose not only to ignore the situation, but did so in a particularly inappropriate manner. Who was he?

Answer: Leopold, Holy Roman Emperor

Leopold was the brother of Marie Antoinette. Despite full knowledge of his sister's and brother-in-law's plight, and direct pleas from them, he chose to do nothing during the four years of their victimization by the revolution. He stated, 'I have a sister in France, but France is not my sister,' and, 'Antoinette stopped being my sister when she became Queen of France.'

Source: Author vendome

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The Ghosts of Versailles Trivia Quiz

These ghosts of historical importance to Versailles are said to be still visible. Who were they?

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