and furnishings; collections; gardens (plans, botany, hydraulics); meanings of ceremonies, festivities and entertainments. The study of these themes is allowed a flexible time frame because they often require tracing origins that strictly speaking, predate the modern period, as well as exploring more recent times. While focusing on Europe and its royal and princely courts, the geographical scope encourages comparative studies, expanding when necessary to other parts of the world. Faced with the dispersion of works and the paucity of comparative studies, the Palace of Versailles Research Centre is both a meeting place and an incentive for further research. Mission of the Centre The Versailles Research Centre aspires to be multidisciplinary and international. It gives unity to the various works that it leads or initiates, supports new research and assures its dissemination. The missions of the centre are: Provide access to places and collection funds, to archives and documentation on the Palace site and promote access to nearby institutions (the departmental archives of Yvelines, Versailles Municipal Library, the Baroque Music Centre of Versailles, the Versailles National School of the landscape and the Academy of Equestrian Arts); Make information resources available to researchers; Encourage, support and guide research programs; Participate in learning and training by organising meetings, seminars or study visits; Welcome young researchers as well as experienced ones, both French and foreign; Ensure the widest dissemination of research through production (editing, multimedia, databases) or by the organisation and / or participation in scientific events and / or cultural activities (seminars, exhibitions); Promote and participate innovative or experimental projects, particularly in new technologies; Develop cooperative activities at European level and internationally, including with members of the Network of European royal residences. The Research Centre publishes the Bulletin du Centre de recherche du château de Versailles. References External links Palace of Versailles Research Centre Network of European royal residences Bulletin du Centre de recherche du château de Versailles Palace of Versailles French culture Research institutes in France