Le Grand Dauphin, fils de roi, père de roi et jamais roi: the exhibition at the Château de Versailles

It's hard to keep track of all the Louis who have ruled the kingdom of France for centuries. But one of them never did, even though he was the eldest of six children born to King Louis XIV and Queen Maria Theresa of Austria. From October 14, 2025 to February 15, 2026, the new exhibition at the Château de Versailles retraces this unfinished destiny and this ultimately little-known figure in history.

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Prince Louis de France, known as Monseigneur or the Grand Dauphin, died in 1711 at the age of 49, before his father, four years later. Despite his status as Dauphin of France, he never acceded to the throne that belonged to Louis XV, remaining in the shadow of his family. In this exhibition, you'll discover a portrait of the heir to the throne under the Ancien Régime in three stages, summed up by the Duc de Saint-Simon: son of a king, father of a king and never king.

Although he was never king, he played a major role in the Bourbon dynasty, being not only the father of Philip V, the first sovereign of the Bourbon branch of Spain, which still reigns today, but also the grandfather of Louis XV and great-great-grandfather of Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X. Nearly 250 works illustrate the training and education of this worthy heir, including paintings, sculptures, objets d'art, manuscripts and graphic art.

A major exhibition, particularly large, which benefited from numerous loans from Spanish institutions in particular, enabling the recovery of works that had not been in the château for centuries. To get there, you have to climb majestic staircases (but there is PRM access), to discover the life of this man destined and educated to rule, completely forgotten by history and finally brought to the fore for the first time in this fine exhibition.

His father Louis XIV gave him a complete education, which he had not been able to benefit from, and although the Dauphin was hard-working, he encountered certain difficulties, probably linked to his dyslexia. Very close to his father, he also received a military education, in which he did not excel, leaving that to his son, the Duke of Burgundy, whenever he could. Married to Princess Marie-Anne of Bavaria, he founded his own family, with three sons who ensured the continuity of the dynasty.

The Sun King eventually reigned for more than 70 years, an exceptional longevity that did not allow his son to ascend the throne, who developed a passion for fine objects and thus became one of the leading collectors of his time. We discover some of this in the exhibition, from unique pieces of furniture to his cabinet of mirrors, a room reproduced here in miniature, with some truly precious little treasures within.

The end of the exhibition evokes the Château de Meudon, where Monseigneur resided and which he was particularly fond of, furnishing it to his taste, but which he would not enjoy for so long, dying at the age of 49 of smallpox, a sad end for a man who left his mark on history, which did not return it. History buffs will be delighted by this truly comprehensive exhibition, which should be visited slowly to appreciate all its nuances!

There's also a booklet for children to play with and find items in the exhibition, but other than that, don't expect any fun or interactive features in the rooms. It's best to book your ticket in advance, and whenever possible, come during the week, as the Château de Versailles is very popular with tourists!