Exploring Versailles: The Impact of Hunting on Nature and Peasants
- In the late 17th century, the Versailles estate covered 11,000 hectares, including fields, woods, and pastures.
- The region was an ecological laboratory where humans managed conflicts between domestic and wild animals.
- The transformation of the landscape for royal hunting practices significantly impacted local peasants and their way of life.
The area surrounding the Palace of Versailles, particularly in the late 17th century, was a vast ecological landscape, encompassing 11,000 hectares, which included fields, woods, and pastures. This environment was home to both domestic and wild animals, creating a dynamic ecosystem. Historian Grégory Quenet emphasizes that the region was an ecological laboratory where humans had to find ways to coexist with nature and manage conflicts arising from hunting and land use. The Grand Parc was enclosed by a 40-kilometer wall, which included eight villages and thousands of peasants, indicating the significant impact of royal hunting practices on local communities. The transformation of this landscape into a symbol of nature's control by the monarchy has led to a complex relationship between the environment and the people living in its shadow. Quenet's exploration reveals that the perception of Versailles as merely a palace overlooks the intricate interplay between culture and nature that defined the area during its peak.