On Saturday we were invited to visit the Palace of Versailles with another American couple and their daughter. I didn’t realize that Versailles was so close to Paris – only about 12 miles outside the city and a 30 minute train ride!
Originally starting out as a small hunting lodge in Versailles, the chateau was expanded over the course of several decades by Louis XIV into one of the biggest palaces in the world. The palace was the official residence of the Kings of France from 1682 until 1790. During the French Revolution, the palace lost many of its furnishings and in 1830 Louis-Philipe declared the chateau a national historical museum and dedicated it to the glory of France (A Toutes Les Gloires Des La France).
Actually, only a small portion of the immense and extravagant palace is available for public viewing. Even still, in no way could you see everything in great detail in just one day. We were able to visit the chapel, the many apartments used by the royal family and the famous Hall of Mirrors (where the Treaty of Versailles was signed ending WWI in 1919). During our trip, the Opera and some of the other wings of the palace were either closed or under renovation, so we may just have to go back for another visit in the coming months!
The massive palace is surrounded by lavish gardens, numerous fountains and statues, expanding over more than 2,000 acres. The palace itself is impressive, but my favorite part by far was the exterior! Even though the day was cloudy with some occasional rain showers, there were no flowers in bloom and the fountains had not yet been turned on for the season, it was beautiful to say the least. We will definitely go back when Spring finally decides to show her pretty face (soon we hope), even if it’s just to walk around the gardens again!
We also saw what we thought at the time to be Marie Antoinette’s “home away from home” on the palace grounds. In doing research after the fact, it turns out that what we visited was Grand Trianon, as opposed to Petit Trianon. (Again…another reason to go back!) Anyway, we were only able to see the exterior of the Grand Trianon because they had already closed tours of the interior by the time we got there. Grand Trianon is made of pink marble (maybe that’s why we thought it to be Marie Antoinette’s home?) and was built by Louis XIV so he could escape his busy life at the palace. What a rough life!
We had a great time with our friends and closed the place down. They almost had to kick us out. I can’t believe we spent over 7 hours there and still didn’t get to see everything! So, stay tuned for part II sometime in the next few months!
Originally starting out as a small hunting lodge in Versailles, the chateau was expanded over the course of several decades by Louis XIV into one of the biggest palaces in the world. The palace was the official residence of the Kings of France from 1682 until 1790. During the French Revolution, the palace lost many of its furnishings and in 1830 Louis-Philipe declared the chateau a national historical museum and dedicated it to the glory of France (A Toutes Les Gloires Des La France).
Actually, only a small portion of the immense and extravagant palace is available for public viewing. Even still, in no way could you see everything in great detail in just one day. We were able to visit the chapel, the many apartments used by the royal family and the famous Hall of Mirrors (where the Treaty of Versailles was signed ending WWI in 1919). During our trip, the Opera and some of the other wings of the palace were either closed or under renovation, so we may just have to go back for another visit in the coming months!
The massive palace is surrounded by lavish gardens, numerous fountains and statues, expanding over more than 2,000 acres. The palace itself is impressive, but my favorite part by far was the exterior! Even though the day was cloudy with some occasional rain showers, there were no flowers in bloom and the fountains had not yet been turned on for the season, it was beautiful to say the least. We will definitely go back when Spring finally decides to show her pretty face (soon we hope), even if it’s just to walk around the gardens again!
We also saw what we thought at the time to be Marie Antoinette’s “home away from home” on the palace grounds. In doing research after the fact, it turns out that what we visited was Grand Trianon, as opposed to Petit Trianon. (Again…another reason to go back!) Anyway, we were only able to see the exterior of the Grand Trianon because they had already closed tours of the interior by the time we got there. Grand Trianon is made of pink marble (maybe that’s why we thought it to be Marie Antoinette’s home?) and was built by Louis XIV so he could escape his busy life at the palace. What a rough life!
We had a great time with our friends and closed the place down. They almost had to kick us out. I can’t believe we spent over 7 hours there and still didn’t get to see everything! So, stay tuned for part II sometime in the next few months!
Palace of Versailles
Chapel Royal in the palace
The Hall of Mirrors
Me and Pehr in one of the many gardens
Our friends Jesika and Alexis with me and Ryne
Some beautiful statues on the palace grounds
The pink marble of Grand Trianon
3 comments:
OMG. I so wish we could arrange for my DH to have training of any sort that would allow me to see the things your seeing!! I went to Paris when I was younger and was so depressed to leave it and now seeing all your pictures makes me re-live my depression! lol. And your a much better photographer than I , My pictures did not turn out nearly as nice as yours :-) Elisha (tehawryluk-maymommies)
I would love to go to this place when I come!!!
the past 2 years has been quite the adventure for you guys. travelling, seeing new places and doing new things.....and you get to do them together !!
your blog is fun and educational. I'm only sorry you won't be there long enough for us to come visit, but your mom can be there for Ryne's 1st B-day and have fun for the rest of us.....
you guys look great. keep up the good work
luv ya
Joe & Georgia
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