I am giving Versailles its own special posting because, well, I can. If you haven’t been to the palace and gardens at Versailles but plan to go there is one thing you really should know. Be prepared to wait. Crazy long disney-esque lines. If you can figure out a way to buy a ticket before arriving I would highly recommend it. So there is your little travel tid-bit for the day. Of course, to avoid the lines you could always skip Versailles, but I would NOT recommend you do that.
Not really Versailles but significant because I thought it was.
Versailles is this crazy opulent fabulous world all the vision of King Louis XVI. (Of course, Versailles is also a bigger town where real French people live now but for the purpose of this post when I say Versailles I mean the palace and gardens.) Louis moved the French court here in order to keep a close eye on everyone and to head off ideas of revolt. So really Versailles had to become its own little world and that is exactly what you feel when you are there.
We toured the house first which was something that you really shouldn’t miss.
I love any museum tour with a headset. Perhaps it is my history major roots showing but I think knowing the history and great stories associated with a place help it to come alive and make me at least appreciate it more.
Perhaps the most famous room is the Hall of Mirrors. It is a super long and high ceiling-ed ballroom that looks like it is wall papered in mirrors in one side and the other has rows of tall windows. Add to that chandeliers and guilded trimmings it makes for a pretty impressive spectacle.
Oh how I would have loved to go to a ball in this room back in the day. Not that I am really the ball type, but I think I could be talked into it here.
Everywhere you looked in the palace was guilded or painted or carved. Not a single corner was left out.
One day I am going to get one of these made of me knitting:
Once you are done touring the palace you might think you are done with the main event. Lucky for us, Louis and the French monarchs that followed, knew the beauty of your surroundings extended to the outdoors.
I have never in my life seen gardens like this. I know you have heard it said that the French are a romantic people and I believe the design of this garden reflects that stereotype. It is made for strolling and getting lost. The gardens are vast and beautifully kept. There is a maze, and roads that lead to mini-cottages. It is crazy beautiful.
In my opinion, Versailles is a not-to-miss attraction. It made me want to rent every movie about the French monarchy in the 17th and 18th centuries. I haven’t yet but I still plan on it.
One thing to note though, this attraction does take a bit out of you with the line waiting and the crowd wrangling inside. Lucky for us though, we were able to make good use of the gardens:
Up next: Food, Art, and Death
Those are totally crazy lines! I’ve been there twice and didn’t have to wait either time. I’ve never seen the hall of mirrors so crowded! It’s such a beautiful place – you and Kara look so cute and happy there.
Oh, you’re a ball person! Versailles is a lovely, crazy place. I am so sculpting you knitting-but only if you promise to put on a really triumphant face. I love that Cherry was invited to be worn at the palace! What a beauty she is.
Hello, I don’t think I have yet commented on your blog, but I have enjoyed reading about this trip and your knitting and such. I must also say that I did not wait in any lines when I went either. Although half of the hall of mirrors was being worked on I went as well. But I do agree that it made me also want to rent all the french time period movies as well. We actually went and saw Marie Antoinette in the theater the day after we went to Versailles.
I adore Versailles. So beautiful and evocative, and the gardens were amazing too, you’re right. We went on a crisp winters day and there was mist over the ponds and dew on the grass, it was wonderful, and hardly anyone else had ventured out into the grounds. I especially loved the opera house inside the palace – I really gotta get me one of those one day! Cherry is looking perfectly at home there too. So pretty!
I see that Cherry made an appearance!
How beautiful. I love all the chandeliers. I would want a headset too.
The first time I went to Versailles, a newly married couple were having their pictures taken at the Grand Trianon. The black and white marble tiles and the beautiful archways with her long train, it was so romantic. I’ll never forget how beautiful it looked.
I love that
a.) you used the word opulent
b.) your pictures look like postcards
c.) while I post vacation DAYS, you post vacation COUNTRIES.
something is seriously wrong with my life…(grin)
thanks for letting us all go on vacation with you!
It has been so much fun reading about your European travels. You can in fact buy your tickets in advance at the train station and get a combo train ticket + all day pass to Versailles. Highly recommended.
PS: your first picture is of the Paris city hall, not Versailles..although city hall is fit for a king as well
oh cherry! you both look so cute. and your sister, too.
i am loving reading about your travels.
Wow, those ceilings are so, so amazing. I would love to see them in real life!
When we went to Versailles I remember people being everywhere. Also it looks like they have cleaned the Hall of Mirrors since we were there. It was quite dingy and not as shiny when we went. I remember my mom being a little dissapointed about that one. I love all of your fun meanderings.
It looks fantastic! I love your tours that always includes pics of you two.
I love Versailles as well, but I haven’t been in a very long time. On our trip we decided to go to Vaux-le-Vicomte instead–less opulent but less crowded!
I just can’t get over how crowded the hallway was! Don’t they film movies there? Where do the find the time? God, it is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing.