The Palace of Versailles, whose origins date back to the 17th century , has successively been a hunting lodge, a place of power, and since the 19th century , a museum. Comprising the park and gardens as well as the Trianon palaces, it covers 800 hectares.Louis XIII built a hunting lodge at Versailles in 1623. His successor, Louis XIV, expanded the château into a palace that went through several expansions in phases from 1661 to 1715. It was a favourite residence for both kings, and in 1682, Louis XIV moved the seat of his court and government to Versailles, making the palace the de facto capital of France. This state of affairs was continued by Kings Louis XV and Louis XVI, who primarily made interior alterations to the palace, but in 1789 the royal family and French court returned to Paris.