Peer Review

Chateau Versailles

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Overview:: This is the official web site for Chateau Versailles, A French National Museum. The site offers information about the history of Versailles, important historical figures associated with the palace, major works of art and furnishings in the palace, tours of the grounds, educational materials (in French), and information on tours of the palace and grounds. Links are provided to other great royal palaces in Europe.
Type of Material:: Case Study. The site includes text, illustrations, and pictures of some of the masterpieces housed at Versailles. There are detailed views of the chateau while under construction. The teaching aids are in French.
Recommended Uses:: To supplement a Western Civilization course while studying the Era of Absolute Monarchs of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Technical Requirements:: None.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: To inform students about the history of Versailles palace and the major historical figures associated with it.
To inform students about major works of art contained within the palace and other palaces on the grounds.
To inform students about 17th century court life at Versailles, specifically the roles of kings and courtiers who lived there.
Target Student Population:: High School and college.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Some knowledge about 17th and 18th century French history would be helpful.

Rating:
Strengths:: The site provides more information than usually found in a western civilization survey textbook about Versailles and its importance in French and European history. The site is categorized into four parts: Places, People, Life, and Masterpieces. Places include the Chateau, the Trianon, the Park, and the village and number 15 short articles. Nine historical figures are given brief biographies, which tie their lives to Versailles. The Life section offers eight short articles about activities as Versailles, particularly during the reign of Louis XIV. The section on Masterpieces offers select works of art and furnishings displaying the artistic talent associated with Versailles. Links enable the user to connect to exhibitions held at Versailles and to other European sites that focus on royal palaces in those countries. There is interesting insider information about the chateau's construction and the lives of the kings and courtiers who resided there.
Concerns:: Links to Bibliographies would be helpful. There should be more information on the other buildings on the Versailles estate. The information about visiting the museum is a little distracting. Teacher education materials are only in French.

Rating:
Strengths:: The site offers a variety of opportunities for use as a teaching tool for history and foreign language classes. The site is available in English, French, Spanish, and Japanese. Educational and Teacher materials are available in French and it appears that the same will be available later in other languages. For now, the site's use is determined by the instructor. The site could be used both in-class or as a web based assignment.
Concerns:: Access to teaching and educational materials in the site's other languages would expand the site's use as a teaching tool. More contemporary photographs of the palace's interiors would be helpful.

Rating:
Strengths:: The site is easy to navigate. Each of the four major parts mentioned above is subdivided into small, readable sections. The pictures can be enlarged enabling the user to focus on specific details. The site map of the Versailles estate is easy to use. There is no difficulty in going back and forth in accessing material from any of the parts or its subsections.
Concerns:: If you do not look carefully at the site, you miss the little numbers at the bottom of the page, which link you to more information.

Other Issues and Comments:: The site is regularly maintained and updated. Expansion of some sections is in progress. Because the site is offered in four languages, its use can reach a wider audience. This site provides a nice feel for the ambience of the royal court in the 17th century, which is almost austere.
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