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Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

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!
of t

 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!

16 comments:

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Donna, wow this part of your trip is also amazing. Love the chapel and the paintings. Looks like it sure was a busy place by the crowds. The gardens are gorgeous as is the fountains. Thank you for sharing your trip. Looking forward to more. That's unreal about the public births!!
Au Revior!
CM

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...


what a stunning place. I am sure glad that I don't have to clean all those crystals. They must have a thousand people just keeping the place sparkling.
Thanks so much for the tour - WOW
Mary

Rose L said...


the painted ceilings always amaze me. tmust have been tough to do!

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Hi Donna,
Public births??? YIKES!!! Loved your photos, chapel, gardens the magnificent paintings. The lines and crowds of people are too overwhelming for John and I, I much preferred your photo essay. Donna are you familiar with the book "Paris from the Heart"? It is a guide for the ultimate walking tours and non tourist spots to soak in a real French experience. I purchased this book on Amazon and have been absorbing it for our visit to Paris soon.
Thank you so much for sharing your photos and I love the one of you. Now more please! You can never see too much of beautiful Paris.
xoxo,
Vera

Musings from Kim K. said...

Well worth the wait. Such gorgeous pictures. I'm in shock about the public birth trivia though. Yikes!!!

Cynthia said...

Thanks for sharing this. Now I can say I saw Versailles. Okay, giving birth in front of the public, YIKES. The grounds were pretty

Cindy

Susie said...

Donna, You and your husband have seen some awesome sights. I can't believe how many huge paintings, the ornate woodwork, frames and chandies. Beyond belief. Thank you for showing all your pictures, I love them. xoxo,Susie

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Donna,
What a spectacular and beautiful place. I would not have been able to handle those crowds but what a lovely place to visit.
I'm so glad you shared this with us. Bet you were happy to get back to Paris.

hugs
Sissie

NanaDiana said...

ONGOSH, Donna. What fantastic sights! Your pictures are just gorgeous and I am so jealous! Love it and love that you were able to get such wonderful pictures to remember the places with and to share here. xo Diana

NanaDiana said...

ONGOSH, Donna. What fantastic sights! Your pictures are just gorgeous and I am so jealous! Love it and love that you were able to get such wonderful pictures to remember the places with and to share here. xo Diana

Rhonda said...

What a gorgeous place. I didn't experience those long lines when I went in 2011. We were grateful that someone told us in advance of the golf carts for rent. We would have walked right past them, they were very discreetly hidden.

Sigh, I miss Versailles. Best part of my trip to France.

Debbie said...

I would NEVER get tired of seeing your photos Donna!! I think it's wonderful that you share them with the rest of us. We get to see things we might never get to see in our lifetime.
Giving birth in public would make me seriously think about adoption.
Have a great weekend, sweet girl.
Debbie
xo

handmade by amalia said...

I've been to Versailles once, years ago. Your photos do it justice. What a place. I can't imagine what it took to run it to princely standards.
Amalia
xo\

Rosemary and Thyme said...

Hello Donna, your photos bring back happy memories of Paris. I was there a few years a go and it was an amazing experience. Versailles was also crowded when I went there but it was worth all the wait and elbow bumping.

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos.

Janet

BeachGypsy said...

Love the photos...especially the CEILINGS! OH MY ARENT THEY BEAUTIFUL???

The Vintage Chateau said...

I was there exactly one year ago. Your pics turned out much better than mine, but somehow we timed it just right, no wait to get in!
Karee