History of the Palace of Versailles Cotte and his team of decorative designers. There were also some modifications in the "appartement du roi", namely the construction of the "Salon de l’Œil de Bœuf" and the King's Bedchamber. With the completion of the chapel in 1710, virtually all construction at Versailles ceased; building would not be resumed at Versailles until some twenty one years later during the reign of Louis XV. After the death of the Louis XIV in 1715, the five-year-old king Louis XV, the court, and the "Régence" government of Philippe d’Orléans returned to Paris. In May 1717, during his visit to France, the Russian
History of the Palace of Versailles floor of the "corps de logis" were transformed into portrait galleries. To accommodate the displays, some of the "boiseries" were removed and either put into storage or sold. During the Prussian occupation of the palace in 1871, the "boiseries" in storage were burned as firewood. During the Second Empire, the museum remained essentially intact. The palace did serve as the backdrop for a number of state events including the visit by Queen Victoria. Pierre de Nolhac arrived at the Palace of Versailles in 1887 and was appointed curator of the museum 18 November 1892. Upon his arrival, he planned to