The urban settlement in the French Revolution deemed synonymous with excess and tyranny was the Palace of Versailles. Initially developed as a royal residence, it became a symbol of the monarchy's opulence before the revolution. The lavish lifestyle of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, which starkly contrasted with the struggles of the common people, fueled public discontent. In 1789, revolutionary fervor led to the storming of the Bastille and eventually the royal family's flight to Paris. This ultimately underscored the revolution's themes of equality, rights, and the rejection of absolute monarchy, marking a significant political and social transformation in France.