<P> Louis XIII 's successor , Louis XIV , had a great interest in Versailles . He settled on the royal hunting lodge at Versailles , and over the following decades had it expanded into one of the largest palaces in the world . Beginning in 1661 , the architect Louis Le Vau , landscape architect André Le Nôtre , and painter - decorator Charles Lebrun began a detailed renovation and expansion of the château . This was done to fulfill Louis XIV 's desire to establish a new centre for the royal court . Following the Treaties of Nijmegen in 1678 , he began to gradually move the court to Versailles . The court was officially established there on 6 May 1682 . </P>
who expanded the palace of versailles to its present size
Louis XIV