Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - LOIR ET CHER (41) - CASTLE OF CHAMBORD : MOLIERE THEATER. PORTRAIT OF MOLIERE AFTER HOUDON. THE PARTIES OF LOUIS XIV IN CHAMBORD ALTERNATE BETWEEN COMEDY AND APARTMENT ENTERTAINMENT. A THEATER IS THUS CREATED IN THIS ROOM, FROM THE FIRST STAYS OF THE KING. THE STAGE OCCUPIES HALF OF THE SPACE, WHILE TIERS FOR COURTIERS AND ROYAL FAMILY SEATS SHARE THE OTHER PART. IN OCTOBER 1669, MOLIERE AND LULLY PRESENT A COMEDY-BALLET, "MONSIEUR DE POURCEAUGNAC". THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THEY PLAY FOR LOUIS XIV THE NEW COMEDY "LE BOURGEOIS GENTILHOMME", WHICH PARODIES THE RECENT OFFICIAL VISIT TO FRANCE OF A TURKISH DELEGATION. THE KING DECLARES: "MOLIERE, YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING YET THAT HAS ENTERTAINED ME MORE AND YOUR PIECE IS EXCELLENT". THE THEATER IS DISASSEMBLED AROUND 1745. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - LOIR ET CHER (41) - CASTLE OF CHAMBORD - PARADE APARTMENT : PARADE ROOM. CREATED AT THE REQUEST OF LOUIS XIV IN 1680, THIS APARTMENT THAT CONNECTS TWO LOGIS PROFOUNDLY CHANGES THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE KEEP. THE PARADE APARTMENT OPERATES ACCORDING TO THE LABEL OF THE COURT OF FRANCE: COURTIERS ONLY ACCESS THE KING'S ROOM AFTER PASSING THROUGH SEVERAL ANTECHAMBERS AND PROVIDED THAT THEIR RANK ALLOWS IT. THE ROOM IS USED AS A SETTING FOR THE KING'S CEREMONIES OF RISING AND SETTING, ATTENDED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AND HIGH DIGNITARIES OF THE COURT. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - LOIR ET CHER (41) - CASTLE OF CHAMBORD - PARADE APARTMENT : PARADE ROOM. CREATED AT THE REQUEST OF LOUIS XIV IN 1680, THIS APARTMENT THAT CONNECTS TWO LOGIS PROFOUNDLY CHANGES THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE KEEP. THE PARADE APARTMENT OPERATES ACCORDING TO THE LABEL OF THE COURT OF FRANCE: COURTIERS ONLY ACCESS THE KING'S ROOM AFTER PASSING THROUGH SEVERAL ANTECHAMBERS AND PROVIDED THAT THEIR RANK ALLOWS IT. THE ROOM IS USED AS A SETTING FOR THE KING'S CEREMONIES OF RISING AND SETTING, ATTENDED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AND HIGH DIGNITARIES OF THE COURT. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

People clad as ancient courtiers play football game

People clad as ancient courtiers play football game

KYOTO, Japan - People dressed in ancient Japanese court attire play a "kemari" football game at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, western Japan, on Jan. 4, 2015, before a large crowd of tourists gathered to watch the traditional New Year event.

FANFAN LA TULIPE

FANFAN LA TULIPE

FANFAN LA TULIPE [FR 2003] HELENE DE FOUGEROLLES as Mme de Pompadour Date: 2003

ANONYMOUS

ANONYMOUS

ANONYMOUS [BR / GER / US 2011] VANESSA REDGRAVE as Queen Elizabeth I Date: 2011