Latona Fountain in the Gardens of Versailles for the 100th anniversary of the Paris Peace Conference

© Arnaud Chicurel/SuperStoc

Marking a centennial in Versailles. An opulent backdrop for a historic event

We’re at the Palace of Versailles for the 100th anniversary of the Paris Peace Conference, which convened here in January 1919, marking the end of World War I. Diplomats from 32 countries and nationalities attended to negotiate terms of peace. They ultimately signed five treaties, including the Treaty of Versailles, which ordered Germany to take responsibility for losses and damages in the war and to pay reparations. The conference also established the League of Nations, the first intergovernmental organization dedicated to preserving world peace. The organization was later succeeded by the United Nations.