Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles, created by Louis XIV, revels in a splendid site. By using a sketch of the house rather than a memory hungry photograph, the screen downloads instantly. Further options are available spread all over the page, and, if one were being critical, the positioning is a little arbitrary. Having said that, the links do lead to some fascinating areas to explore. There are maps and details of the extensive range of different tours and activities. Sections of the instrument, furniture, pictures and porcelain collections can be sampled, along with high-quality images and illuminating descriptions.

There is plenty here to keep you interested; like the house itself, the site is full of surprises and twists. Examples include potted biographies of figures connected to the palace, from Louis XIV to Charles de Gaulle, as well as a feature taking you through a day in the life of the Sun King. For such a major site, it is surprising to find no online shop or even a catalogue and an email form.