Why was Versailles criticized as an extravagant royal project?

The Palace of Versailles was criticized as an extravagant royal project even while it was under construction. Critics accused the massive undertaking of having ruined the nation financially.1

Beyond the immense cost, the project faced scrutiny for several reasons:

• Isolation of the Monarchy: By moving the seat of government from Paris to Versailles, Louis XIV broke with the traditional practice of the French monarchy traveling throughout the realm. This shift was seen as isolating the king from his people, causing the monarchy to assume a detached, mythical quality.1
• Excessive Display: The palace became a symbol of royal extravagance, particularly as the building program continued under Louis XV. Later, the pro-monarchy excesses displayed at the palace—such as a lavish banquet for royal guardsmen in 1789—were reported and likely exaggerated by the press, fueling public resentment that contributed to the French Revolution.23

While the palace was intended to glorify the king and enhance French prestige, these criticisms highlight the growing tensions between the absolute state and the public during the 17th and 18th centuries.341