The Palace of Versailles is a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy during the reign of Louis XIV. He had elevated France to supreme power and made France the richest country in Europe. The palace and gardens of Versailles were inscribed as a World Heritage Site by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) in 1979 and have become the ideal royal residence and government in Europe for over a century. The palace is significantly influenced by classical Greek and Roman architecture and mythologies, particularly the surrounding gardens and decorative elements including sculptures and fountains. This essay aims to explore the designs and decorative elements of the gardens under the influence of Louis XIV and how they are used to glorify the king and demonstrate the wealth and power of Versailles. First, this article will talk about the history of Louis XIV and how he became an absolute monarch. Secondly, the essay will analyze how the layout of the Versailles site and the gardens are formed in relation to Louis as the Sun King. Finally, in the historical context, some important characteristics of the gardens will be discussed, mainly regarding their purposes and how in which they are influenced by mythology, politics and cultures. Louis XIV (Figure 1), absolute monarch of France from 1643 to 1715, was a model for other European monarchs. Louis was born on 5 September 1638 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, outside Paris, in north-central France, and died in 1715 at the age of seventy-seven. After the death of his father Louis XIII in 1963, his mother Anne of Austria and prime minister Cardinal Jules Mazarin were appointed regents while Louis XIV was young. For the throne, Louis was authorized to attend the councils of st...... middle of paper ...... architectural symmetry with the grand manner (Figure 6). The final plan of the garden was decided by Le Nôtre in 1668. The major axis of the gardens was traced following the path of the sun from east to west (Figure 7). This is also associated with Louis, expressing how his power as the Sun King is over nature. The axis created a great perspective that started from the Parterre delle Acque and ended at the Grand Canal. Likewise, a secondary perspective that goes from north to south orientation, from the Neptune Fountain and ends with the Swiss Pool (Figure 7). Fourteen groves bordered by palisades of pruned bushes are planted along these two axes. Both the layout of the Versailles site and the gardens are associated in some respects with the sun. Consistently, both have the same implication of the king's power over nature and Louis' absolute monarchy.