Explain why Versailles Palace and Gardens were built, and the role they played during the rule of King Louis XIV

The Versailles Château is one of the most impressive achievements of French 18^th century art, and it began quite humbly as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII. The lodge was originally used as a get-away for King Louis and his mistresses. However, in 1664, his son, Louis XIV invited the designers of Vaux-le-Vicomte to expand the château to the state in which it earned recognition. Louis XIV’s Versailles held a very different purpose.

http://theplanetd.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/France-Palace-of-Versailles-Gardens.jpg 

When looking at Louis XIV’s character and ruling methods, it becomes clearer why he built such a grand structure, with an expansive garden surrounded by walls, perhaps to keep intruders out, as well as to keep an eye on those inside. It is important to recognize that Louis XIV was a very powerful king, who believed he was only accountable to God, but also that a childhood trauma stayed with him his entire life, and made him wary of the nobility and upper classes. This fact portrays another motive to creating the infamous Versailles rather than simply gaining recognition.  

Because of King Louis paranoia that the nobility would one day turn on him, he invited all of those involved in the government to stay in the palace, and built expansively so that they could comfortably stay under his watch. The palace and gardens were built to impress, to be a constant reminder not only to the nobility, but also to peasants or any other visitor that Louis invited of just how all-powerful he was. He achieved this image with revolutionary architecture that gave a new meaning to perspective within the garden, sweeping landscapes of grass and manicured ewes, and magnificent fountains.

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The gardens of Versailles not only gave King Louis XIV recognition, power, and control while also making him infamous. The gardens also gave Louis protection, and peace of mind, two things that such a powerful leader would have never admit to needing. The massive fountains showed guests that Louis was the most powerful man in France, with access to more water than was used daily by the rest of the city, and the walls showed Louis that he would perhaps be safe from being dethroned. 

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/gardens/

A deeper look into medieval monastic gardens, structure, use of herbs, and religious influence.

Historically, the gardens that tend to become long-lasting, beautiful landmarks are those that are grand, expansive, and accompanied by an equally impressive villa, castle, or palace. However, what interests me are the gardens in history that may no longer structurally be around, but nevertheless impacted the act of gardening in structure, practice, and utility. This is why I chose to look deeper in the monastic gardens of the medieval times, not quite as ornamental or impressive as the royal gardens, but just as crucial to the history of gardening.

It is said that monasteries created the original herb garden, a practice which is still being used today. The traditional structure of raised, single planted beds of the monastic herb garden is typical of many modern herb gardens today because of the ease of harvesting and moving in between each crop. Unlike many of the grand, royal gardens we have studied so extensively, monastic gardens were to be harvested with purpose, which is why they primarily grew herbs for medicine, as well as spices, fruits and vegetables for cooking. These gardens were not a sign of wealth or status, but one of a simplistic lifestyle which required complete self-sufficiency.

http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/coulommiers_medieval_garden

Just as religion played a significant role in a monasteries lifestyle, it also greatly influenced gardening techniques. One interesting facet of the monk's philosophy is that they believed completely in natural healing, which is why herbs were used as medicine. However, illnesses were also generally seen as a punishment from God, so although herbs were used, they were rarely accredited with healing powers. If it was God’s will to heal, the herbs would only assist, and if the herbs did not work, it was because God made it so. This led to herbalist practices that were rarely reformed because the herbs were never seen as the direct problem to death or disease.

http://www.gardenvisit.com/history_theory/library_online_ebooks/ml_gothein_history_garden_art_design/monastery_garden_plans

Of course, monks did see the intrinsic value of gardening along with the utilitarian. They used flowers and other aromatic plants to decorate the church, and used them in their homes as well. I think monastic gardens are interesting and also important to study because they used practices that are more personally relatable, and are on a scale that is obviously much more realistic. These gardens remind me that I am studying garden art not only because of the overwhelming experience of stepping into a grand, royal garden, but because most of the wonder of gardening that I have encountered has been through harvesting crops that are useful in everyday life. 

http://www.lewespriory.org.uk/the-original-herb-garden

Other sources:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/herbgdn1.html

http://www.herbsociety.org.uk/hg-were-monks-gardeners.htm

http://www.medievalists.net/2013/01/06/herbs-and-drugs-in-monastic-gardens/