Aile du Nord, Royal palace wing in Versailles, France

The North Wing is the northern side of the central block of the Palace of Versailles, built in the classical style by Jules Hardouin-Mansart between 1685 and 1689. Its long cream-stone facade rises several storeys behind a low stone wall and paved court, with rows of tall arched windows between pilasters below smaller rectangular windows, and a flat roofline topped by a balustrade carrying regularly spaced stone figures and urns. At the far right the wing meets a taller block with a projecting roofline. It contains the Royal Chapel, inaugurated in 1710, and the Royal Opera, introduced in 1770.

Jules Hardouin-Mansart built the North Wing between 1685 and 1689, on the north side of the central block of the Palace of Versailles. The Royal Chapel, at its southern end, was inaugurated in 1710; the Royal Opera, at the northern end, was introduced in 1770. Louis-Philippe later created the Crusades Rooms there by demolishing former courtiers' apartments.

The Royal Chapel in this wing displays ornate altars and religious artwork that reflect the spiritual life of the court. Visitors can still see the gilded decorations and paintings that expressed both faith and royal power.

Visitors reach the North Wing through the main palace entrance and follow marked pathways through multiple rooms and galleries. Comfortable shoes are recommended since exploring several floors with many rooms takes considerable time.

This building section contains the Crusades Rooms, originally used as apartments for court ladies but later transformed into galleries displaying historical paintings of medieval French military campaigns. This renovation under King Louis-Philippe shows how the palace adapted over time to new interests and purposes.