All 8 parts, explained
1. The king
King Louis XVI sits at the head of the table. He listened to his ministers before making a decision.
Fun fact Louis XVI loved geography and helped plan a voyage of exploration around the world in 1785.
2. The king's desk
The king kept his papers in a roll-top desk. Its curved lid slides down to hide and lock away the papers.
Fun fact A desk with a curved sliding lid like this one is called a cylinder desk.
3. Minister
A minister is a person who helps the king run one part of the country, such as money, the army or the navy.
Fun fact Each minister brought papers and reports to explain problems to the king.
4. Council table
The ministers sat around a big table covered with a long cloth, with the king at its head.
Fun fact What was said in the king's councils was kept secret.
5. Papers and books
Letters, reports and books lie on the table. Everything was written by hand with a quill pen and ink.
Fun fact Messengers on horseback carried letters between Versailles and the rest of France.
6. Armchairs
The armchairs are made of carved wood covered with gold, with seats of blue and gold silk.
Fun fact Gilding means covering wood with a very thin layer of real gold, called gold leaf.
7. King's Bedchamber
A door from the Council Room leads straight into the King's Bedchamber next door.
Fun fact The king could go from his bedroom to his council in just a few steps.
8. Hall of Mirrors
Another door opens onto the Hall of Mirrors, so the king could walk straight out into the long gallery.
Fun fact The Council Room is also called the Cabinet, an old word for a small private room.
