Gardens of Versailles
Grand Canal
With a length of 1,500 metres and a width of 62 metres, the "Grand Canal", which was built between 1668 and 1671, physically and visually prolongs the east-west axis to the walls of the "Grand Parc". During the "Ancien Régime", the "Grand Canal" served as a venue for boating parties. In 1674, as a result of a series of diplomatic arrangements that benefited Louis XIV, the king ordered the construction of "Petite Venise" – Little Venice. Located at the junction of the "Grand Canal" and the junction of the northern transversal branch, Little Venice housed the caravels and yachts that were received from The Netherlands and the gondolas and gondoliers received as gifts from the Doge of Venice, hence the name (Marie 1968; Nolhac 1901, 1925; Thompson 2006; Verlet 1985).
Grand Canal (Venice) architecture
During the centuries of the Venetian republic led by Doges, the western outlet occurred at about where the seat of government stood surrounding the Piazza San Marco. At about midway, the span of the Rialto was the main business district. Along the waterway are some of the main palaces of the Senatorial families of Venice. The following table highlights the architectural structures present as one moves from west to east along the canal. The first column represents the south bank, the second column is the north bank of the canal.