In French architecture, the term enfilade refers to a visually stunning sequence of rooms, perfectly aligned so that open doors create a grand, unbroken view from one end to the other. It’s like threading a needle through an opulent row of salons.

This clever spatial design became a hallmark of 17th and 18th century Baroque architecture and was especially favored in the layout of royal residences. Palaces like Versailles and Vaux-le-Vicomte feature multiple enfiladed suites — one axis for public reception rooms, another for private chambers — each door intentionally framing the next.

But the enfilade wasn’t just about spectacle. It was a powerful tool of court etiquette and hierarchy, signaling rank based on how far a visitor was allowed to penetrate the sequence of rooms. Only the most honored guests were received deep within the suite.

Today, this regal design is still used in museums and galleries, like the Louvre, where it subtly guides visitors through a procession of masterpieces, much like it once led noble guests past gilded boiserie and silk damask walls.