Salle du Jeu de Paume

The Salle du Jeu de Paume was built in 1686 and played a pivotal role in the Revolution a century later. It was in Versailles that Louis XVI convened the États-Généraux made up of more than 1000 deputies representing the nobility, clergy and the so-called Third Estate (i.e the middle classes) in May 1789 in a bid to deal with national debt and to moderate dissent by reforming the tax system. But when the Third Estate’s reps were denied entry, they met separately on the tennis court, formed a National Assembly and took the famous Serment du Jeu de Paume (Tennis Court Oath), swearing not to dissolve it until Louis XVI had accepted a new constitution. This act of defiance sparked demonstrations of support and, less than a month later, a mob in Paris stormed the prison at Bastille. It can be visited by guided tour only.