The article discusses the common features of the palace and park complexes of the 18th century as a property of the European civilization that has reached its peak. In Europe, the traditions of the Italian garden, the French garden and the English garden in the era of classicism stand out especially. Versailles is becoming a role model for the rulers of Europe, but we understand that this is not the beginning of the search for the concept, but, on the contrary, its pinnacle. The purpose of our study is to compare three objects: the Palace of Versailles, Peterhof and Sanssouci. The Palace of Versailles has become an ideal historical location for filming films embodying the symbols of grandeur and elegance of absolutism and, at the same time, the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment. What is especially important is that this cultural and artistic legacy is shared. The Versailles model became universal.