When he returned to Versailles Louis XV moved into his great grandfather’s bedroom. He kept up the tradition of the “lever” and “coucher” – the going to bed and getting up ceremonies – but Louis XV found the room too cold and too public. He later had a second fireplace installed in the official bedchamber.
Louis XV was very shy in comparison to Louis XIV. In keeping with the new emphasis on private spaces, when he was 28 he created a private apartment in the rooms where Louis XIV’s collections had been housed.
His private bedroom was set up in the former billiard room of Louis XIV. From then on this was where he actually slept, It was close to the official bedchamber, on the same floor. The private bedroom also overlooked the courtyard but was facing south.
He maintained the official “lever” and “coucher” public ceremonies in the original King’s bed but retired to his private bedroom each night.
Appropriately, this bed chamber is not open for public visits and can only be seen on the “private apartment” tours. However if you are walking between the Hall of Mirrors and the King’s bedchamber, you will pass through the King’s Council chamber. Normally the door is open and you can see the private bed chamber. The area around the bed has been screened for some time as a new bed is being constructed.
