Here’s an overview of the toilet situation at the Palace of Versailles. In the 17th and 18th centuries, European aristocrats enjoyed lavish balls, with the ones at the Palace of Versailles, built by Louis XIV of France, being particularly extravagant. However, the hygiene practices of the French nobility at that time were appalling, and the toilet situation was the worst.
The Palace of Versailles did have some toilets, but these were reserved for the royal family and high-ranking nobles. Other nobles and servants had to use chamber pots. Even the aristocrats attending the balls had to bring their own portable toilets. These portable toilets were about 25 cm in size and had a sealed mouth to reduce the smell. The nobles would use them by placing them between their legs.
Shockingly, the contents of these portable toilets were simply discarded on the palace grounds. While the vast gardens of the Palace of Versailles are famous for their beautiful fountains, they also served as dumping grounds for human waste.
