Stephenson:Neal:The System of the World:338:Live out my days at Versailles or in the Escorial

From the Quicksilver Metaweb.

El Escorial was the last residence of Philip II of Spain, but it was not the courtplace for his successors, just one of the Royal Palaces, suitable for summer since it's higher than Madrid. La Granja was more in the Versailles style.

The novel action takes place in June 18 (Gregorian) / 7 June (Julian) 1714. In February 14 (Gregorian), María Luisa Gabriela of Savoy died in Madrid. She was the first wife of Philip V of Spain and the first Bourbon to be interred in El Escorial.