Day 5 was an all day excursion to Château de Versailles. To get to Versailles, we had to take a train. It was an overcast day. It was also during the offseason, so we didn’t have to worry about big groups or crowds. We had a local guide give us a tour within the Château, and part of the grounds. Versailles was built by King Louis XIV (the Sun King). His successors, King Louis XV and XVI also lived in the Château de Versailles until the Revolution of 1789. The Château may be the main attraction, and where the kings lived, but there is also beautiful Gardens, Grand Trianon Palaces, and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette.
In the Château, the Mercury Room, is the bedroom that King Louis XIV greeted his subjects in the morning. It was not his “official” bedroom however. To get to the King’s actual sleeping quarters, you had to go through the beautiful Hall of Mirrors. Nowadays, mirrors are a necessity, but back then, mirrors were a luxury. There are wall-to-wall mirrors, and beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors, which ended WWI. Midway down the hall, is the entrance to the King’s sleeping quarters.
The Queen’s Wing has the Queen’s bedchamber and the Coronation room. The Queen’s bedchamber is where the Queen slept, spent nights with the king, where princes were conceived, and 19 were born here. The Coronation room has a large painting of Napoleon’s coronation. After King Louis XVI was overthrown, France gained the Emperor Napoleon.
In the Château, the Mercury Room, is the bedroom that King Louis XIV greeted his subjects in the morning. It was not his “official” bedroom however. To get to the King’s actual sleeping quarters, you had to go through the beautiful Hall of Mirrors. Nowadays, mirrors are a necessity, but back then, mirrors were a luxury. There are wall-to-wall mirrors, and beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors, which ended WWI. Midway down the hall, is the entrance to the King’s sleeping quarters.
The Queen’s Wing has the Queen’s bedchamber and the Coronation room. The Queen’s bedchamber is where the Queen slept, spent nights with the king, where princes were conceived, and 19 were born here. The Coronation room has a large painting of Napoleon’s coronation. After King Louis XVI was overthrown, France gained the Emperor Napoleon.
We walked through the Gardens, but unfortunately since we were there in late fall, nothing was in bloom. Several statues were covered and none of the fountains were running. I could only imagine how beautiful the Gardens are in spring or summer, and I would bet that my imagination does not do it justice.
We then decided to walk to the Grand Trianon. I kind of wish that we had rented one of the golf carts and drove to the Grand Trianon and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette because the map made it look like they were a lot closer than they actually were (O well, more distance on my pedometer). The Grand Trianon was the King’s “home away from home” so to say. He would often retreat here several nights a week. The exterior of the Grand Trianon was originally blue and white ceramic tile, and was eventually renovated with pink marble.
After the many miles walked, we headed back to the train station and boarded a train back to Paris.
We then decided to walk to the Grand Trianon. I kind of wish that we had rented one of the golf carts and drove to the Grand Trianon and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette because the map made it look like they were a lot closer than they actually were (O well, more distance on my pedometer). The Grand Trianon was the King’s “home away from home” so to say. He would often retreat here several nights a week. The exterior of the Grand Trianon was originally blue and white ceramic tile, and was eventually renovated with pink marble.
After the many miles walked, we headed back to the train station and boarded a train back to Paris.
Do you remember what you did Thanksgiving Day 2014? Did you go to someone’s house for a nice turkey feast? Maybe watch some football, or head out Christmas shopping? This year I did not have turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. Instead I ate a cheeseburger and fries, and watched the guy next to me eat a plate of raw ground beef. I didn’t watch any football last Thanksgiving either. Instead, my sister and I went to the Moulin Rouge. The costumes were pretty interesting and the Can-Can did not disappoint.