17th-Century Castles — Classical Style and the Age of Versailles

The 17th century was dominated by the Classical style and the reign of Louis XIV. French formal gardens, designed by André Le Nôtre, became inseparable from residential architecture. Versailles set the model for European courts, inspiring innumerable châteaux across France. The century also saw the creation of Vaux-le-Vicomte — which sparked the construction of Versailles — and the refinement of the hôtel particulier as a residence for the nobility.