A Visit to Versailles

Bonjour Mes Amis,

How is your week going so far?

Today I wanted to share with you our trip to Versailles.  Hard to believe we were there a week ago today!

This was our third trip there, and let me tell you, the place is amazing!

Versailles is just a short 30 minute train ride from Paris, making it super easy to reach.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit, go!

But be prepared for lines, very long, long lines!

 We thought we were being oh so smart and bought our tickets on line.  We figured that would cut our wait time to get in.  Well, weren't we in for a surprise when we got there and found this?  Yikes!  Yes, that is the line for people who already have their tickets!

We later heard that Tuesday is not the day to go!  It wasn't nearly that busy on our previous visits.  If we hadn't already paid for our tickets, we seriously would have hopped right back on the train for Paris!

 Thank goodness it wasn't raining or anything, as we stood outside waiting to enter for nearly 2 hours!

 And once inside, it was elbow to elbow.  Geez, you would think a place this huge couldn't possibly become crowded, but it does!

Can you believe that it's more than 721,000 square feet, and 700 rooms???

 I snapped so many pics, I'll let the photos do most of the talking.

 To say the palace is sumptuous is putting it mildly.  No surface was left bare and unadorned.  The ceilings were amazing!

Below is the chapel.

 It was so crowded that I had a hard time getting some good shots.

Below is a painting of the young Louis XVI.

Just look at that amazing wallpaper, which actually is fabric!

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 I was drooling over the chandeliers!

 One of the most fabulous rooms in the palace is the Hall of Mirrors.
Note the crowds?

 How would you like to clean all of those chandeliers??

 At the time it was built, most people didn't even own a mirror. They were a rare luxury item.

So to have a huge room lined with floor to ceiling mirrors was unheard of.

 Imagine waking up in this bed, below.

 Marie Antoinette's bedroom, below.

Did you know that the queen had to give birth in front of the public?

Yes, that's right!  As was the custom of French royalty back in the day, public births were a way to prove the new baby was actually of royal blood.  Can you imagine????

 Below is the Hall of Battles.  Huge paintings depicting French wars lined the enormous room.

   

A goofy picture of me, below.

 The grounds were equally amazing, and provided a welcome relief from the crowds inside!

Lots of fountains.

 The Orangerie, below, was one of my favorite gardens.

Amazing topiaries, huge potted lemon and orange trees, and perfectly groomed grass.

 I can only imagine the work involved maintaining it all!

 Thanks for joining me on my little tour.  Hope you aren't getting tired of my trip pics, I have more to share in future posts!

Au revior!