VERSAILLES
The visit of Versailles can become to be as one of the most unforgettable events in your life. Many tourists are coming there for half a day. I recommend you to devote to Versailles at least one day. The wonderful palace, amazing fountains (in Sundays), grandiose green facilities of the park, the village of Marie-Antoinette (Hameau), Trianons and else. Too much for half a day.
To reach Versailles, catch a RER train to Versailles Rive Gauche - the closest station to the palace. Keep your tickets till the end of trip (you need them to pass through Versailles' station gates!).
Avenue de Sceaux will lead you to the entrance of the palace.
Try to arrive before 9.00 (open hour) to avoid the crowds. Carte Musee et Monuments Card will let you a free entrance - you don't have to stay in the line. The only pay you have to do having a card is for gardens when there are fountains' shows (25 FF, Saturdays and Sundays from April to October, 11.15-12.00, 15.30-17.30; most Sat - night festivals). If you don't have a card, you shuold pay 45 FF. For more detailed info click here.
Versailles was built at the end of the XVII century by Louis XIV, the Sun King. A lot of money was spent to supply the appetite of the king. The place had to symbolize the strength and the greatness of France. 30,000 of workers were involved into the project. The designers of the palace with its gardens are Charles Le Brun; the painter, Louis Le Vau, the architect; and Andre Le Notre, the landscape artist. They also had built the palace at Vaux Le Vicomte. The idea of Louis was to make Versailles even more grandiose than Vaux Le Vicomte. So, I'd recommend the visit of
Vaux Le Vicomte before the visit of Versailles.
Louis XIV had converted Versailles into a new political capital of France. He wanted to be as far from Paris and from its people as possible. A few thousands of court people were serving him. Possibly, Versailles is the most symbolic explanation of the French revolution. The leaders of France were too far from their nation. The suggestion by Marie-Antoinette to eat cakes instead of bread is a very good example.
Start your trip with visiting the palace. The best way is with a guide. A usual trip includes the visit of Grands Appartments and Hall Mirror. There is a special guided tour to the Appartments de Louis XIV, du Dauphin et de la Dauphin, Opera, Chapel and else. Don't miss it.
As you moving room by room, you are surprised more and more. The most amazing place in the palace is, of course, the Hall Mirror. 75 m long ballroom with 17 huge mirrors on each side. Here was signed the peace agreement at the end of WWI. Here was seating the anti-revolutionary government in 1871. Also, don't miss a visit of Parliament chamber. At the end of tour pass near the sculptures of prominent French men.
After leaving the palace walk into the gardens. If you still have a time before the beginning of the show (at the morning it's a very short show) than go to visit Grand and Petite Trianons and Hameau.
Grand Trianon (30 FF - combined ticket with Petit Trianon; April-Oct 10.00-18.30 (closed 12.30-14.00 for the rest of a year), except Monday) was a place of relaxation for Louis XIV and the royal family, anxious to escape from the stiff etiquette of the court. It was erected in 1687-1688 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart. The building with its Italianate architecture has merely a ground floor, covered with a flat roof hidden by a balustrade. The palace consists of two wings joined together by a perystyle adorned with columns. After the place was destroyed by revolutionary mobs, Napoleon I had restored it. Another restorations were held by Charles de Gaule. Today it has been refurnished as it was during Napoleon I period. Some 20 elegant rooms are welcoming you with all theirs greatness.
Petit Trianon with its English-style garden was built for Louis XV and madam de Pompadour. The Impress Eugene, the wife of Napoleon III, had redecorated it according to its taste.
Now, follow to the Hameau. That's a XVIII century French village which was built for Marie-Antoinette. She was liking to play a dairywoman with a pail made of thin porcelain (you see, why her comparison between bread and cakes is non-surprising). The nice landscape of wood paneled flourished houses and green lawns crossed by streams can invite you to make a short break.
If you still have enough time, you can choose between touring around in the cab or carriage or walking to the canals to make boating ship. As you see, Versailles suggests you a lot of activities. I don't even remind the wonderful quiet corners of the gardens. Visit of some city's attractions is worth too.
But, again, at 15.30 you have an unforgettable sound water show. Don't miss it. Two hours is merely enough to see more than 20 fountains. Each fountain is not similar to another. So, I recommend you to see all of them. Seeing some of them at the morning can help you. Of the most impressive for me are La Pyramide and Le Bain des Nymphes de Diane, Le Bassin d'Appolon, Le Bassin de Latone, Le Bassin de Miroir (Mirror Bath). At the end of the show, at 17.20, they open for 10 minutes a huge water reservoir of Le Bassin de Neptune, the most impressive of the most impressive.
At the end of the show you can still stay in the gardens. Another solution is making a walk around the city and visiting Eglise Notre Dame and Cathedrale St Louis, all built by Hardouin-Mansart , the builder of Petit Trianon. On de Jeu de Paume you can find Jeu de Paume where the members of the General States said they'll not leave the room until the King will give the Constitution. It was the beginning of the Revolution.
That's the end of the trip. Coming back to Paris is easy from Rive Gauche.
Books
The Palace of Versailles (Building...
The Palace of Versailles provides the reader with a fairly detailed discussion of the Palace and its gardens punctuated with insights into the nobility and peasants who lived there.
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