Captain of the Guards' Apartment

Located on the ground floor of the northern wing of the Palace's central building, between the Marble Court and the Apartments of the King's Daughters, the Captain of the Guards' Apartment occupies a strategic position within the Palace. It is surrounded by the Guards' Room, the King's Staircase, and lies directly beneath the King's private apartments. In the summer of 2026, a new exhibition display will be presented to mark the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. ## Versailles and American Independence On the 4th of July 2026, to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, the Captain of the Guards' Apartment will reopen to the public with a new exhibition dedicated to this major chapter in history. Designed around paintings and sculptures from the [collections of the Palace of Versailles](https://collections.chateauversailles.fr/?lng=gb#/query/aba18454-d2fb-4277-b4a3-028c48ee875f), the new galleries occupy three rooms of the apartment and highlight the decisive role played by France in the American War of Independence.  The first room explores the diplomatic relations between France and America during the 17th and 18th centuries. The second room is devoted to the military engagements in the conflict, as well as the French and American figures who distinguished themselves during the war. Finally, the last room focuses on the return of peace, particularly marked by the signing at Versailles, on the 3rd of September 1783, of one of the treaties that brought the war to an end.  Room 1. France and America © EPV / Thomas Garnier ## the apartment of the captain of the guards At Versailles, [Louis XIII](https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/great-characters/louis-xiii) had already given an important role to his guards. They occupied several rooms within the palace itself, on the ground floor of the north wing: an “arms store” and the “Captain of the Guards’ chamber.” This chamber was ideally positioned to monitor access to the royal residence and to keep watch over the grand staircase leading to the King’s chamber. When [Louis XIV](https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/great-characters/louis-xiv) arrived at Versailles, the Château had to be expanded to accommodate the entire royal family. Moreover, as the official residence of the King and the seat of power, the Château was open to the public and therefore had to be constantly secured and monitored. While the public's access to the King was a long-established tradition, it also posed security risks by making the sovereign more vulnerable. Despite the many renovations that later transformed the [Château](https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/estate/palace), the Captain of the Guards’ apartment remained in the same northern section of the central building. Today, the apartment consists of four rooms: an antechamber, a large drawing room, a bedroom, and an inner sitting room.  Room 2. Military campaigns of the War of Independence and on the leading French and American figures © EPV / Thomas Garnier ## The Captain of the Guards The position of Captain of the Guards was shared among four officers, who served in rotation every three months.The Captain of the Guards on duty therefore lived in this apartment, located near the small guards’ room and the King’s Stairway. Nevertheless, these various guards failed to prevent Damiens’ attack on [Louis XV](https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/great-characters/louis-xv) on the 5th of January 1757. As the King was preparing to return to [Trianon](https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/estate/estate-trianon) at around six o’clock in the evening, despite the presence of the Colonel of the Swiss Guards, the Grand Equerry, the First Equerry, and his Captain of the Guards, he was struck by a fanatical former servant as he left the ground floor, just beyond his small guards’ room.The freezing weather saved the King: he was so heavily wrapped up that the blade caused only a slight scratch. After recovering from the shock, Louis XV could not help saying to his Captain of the Guards, the Duke of Ayen: “You must admit, sir, that I am well guarded!”Measures were introduced as early as 15 January, and security regulations were strengthened. As a result, uniformed servants were granted much more restricted access to the royal apartments. ## The Queen’s Private Apartment Adjacent to the Captain of the Guards’ apartm