Final answer:
The Gardens of the Palace at Versailles, designed by Andre Le Notre, symbolized King Louis XIV's power and served as a place for entertainment and displays of grandeur for the French aristocracy. Including manicured lawns, parterres, fountains, and the Grande Canal, the gardens illustrated the opulence of the French monarchy and the Sun King's authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
Purpose of the Gardens of the Palace at Versailles
The purpose of the Gardens of the Palace at Versailles was multifaceted. Created by the renowned landscape designer Andre Le Notre, the gardens covered nearly 2,000 acres and were a testament to the French formal garden style, jardin à la française. This style was symbolized by its carefully manicured lawns, symmetric flowerbeds, known as parterres, and numerous ornamental fountains and sculptures. Versailles' elaborate gardens served not only as a visual expression of the power and control of King Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, but also as a venue for entertainment and social activities for the French aristocracy.
A key feature of the gardens is the Grande Canal, an expansive body of water that added to the grandiosity of the landscape, even housing a mini Venetian fleet. It also had a practical function in the garden's irrigation system. Overall, the gardens were a symbol of the French monarchy's majesty and the King's personal embodiment of absolute power, carefully choreographed in every aspect of life and extended to the very layout and design of the Versailles gardens.