21 May 2015 - Our trip to Versailles from which we return with our heads intact!

My memory from one of my previous trips to Paris of the Palace of Versailles was one of extraordinary grandeur and opulence which highlighted the vast difference between the classes in past centuries.  It was a definite "must do" on my list this time and I said to the kids, if you never see another palace, this one is one fantastic example and worth remembering.

Picnic supplies

With our pre-purchased entrance tickets (18 Euros for adults, free for the kids under 18) and our packed lunch (and mandatory baguettes) we took the Metro to Invalides and then the RER train to Versailles.  The walk from the station is only about 5 minutes and then we joined the looped queue in the forecourt of the Palace.  It was a lovely spring day and we moved along with the queue for about 3/4 hour before we got to the entrance. It was the most crowded tourist site we have been to so far but after the bottleneck at the entrance the crowd dissipated and we could see everything we wanted to.

Good morning Louis!

Crowds assembling

Glittering in the sun

 As Luke said : "The ceiling is like one "gi-massive" picture frame and even that is decorated".  The ceiling frescoes are stunning as are the oil paintings and tapestries adorning the walls.  No expense spared!  Karl kept saying that the Revolution should have happened a lot sooner and that the sheer wealth of the place was criminal and so it was.  The history of the French Revolution is also fascinating and the words: "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity" still grace the entrances of public buildings in France today as a result.

The Royal Chapel - as Karl said, what could the priest preached about without fear of losing his head?!

Marble everywhere!

A sign of how much these Louis's admired themselves and their acquisitions - pantings of themselves and palaces everywhere!

Begun as Louis XIII’s hunting lodge in 1624, the Palace of Versailles was expanded and renovated by each of the three French kings who lived there until the French Revolution in 1789.  Under the reign of Louis XIV the palace became epitome of royal absolutism as well as an amazing collection of classical French art.  The Louis's liked to display their wealth which really got up the noses of the peasants and impoverished French lower classes

Statues and paintings of themselves everywhere!

It would appear that Louis XIV had a strict routine which attracted quite an audience daily.  He sounds like an utter narcissist.  His son and grandson didn't like such attention and the various court helpers complained that they didn't see the other kings as much!

And then there was Marie-Antoinette...

Napolean also gets a guernsey...not sure when he was put up on the wall

In 1789, as the French Revolution stirred up the people, and the women marched upon the Palace of Versailles, it lost its position as the official seat of power.  Louis XVI and his family had to move to Paris (to the Palace of the Tuileries) but when they requested furniture from Versailles it was refused.  Both Louis XVI  and his wife, Marie Antoinette were executed by guillotine in 1793.  

The Battle Hall

     

From the walls of the Battle Room

A painting of the Palace of Versailles hanging oin the Palace of Versailles!

Where do you start looking?  The wallpaper? the ceiling?

A Biblical scene

Look up all the time - it was amazing!

In the 19th century, the Palace of Versailles became the Museum of the History of France and from what I can work out has never been lived in since although various events have taken place within its walls.

The use of marble in all colours grabbed our attention - this bust was of purple and swirly ice-creamy marble - beautifully chosen

A painting by Charles la Fossa - Louis XVI's favourite painter

We had to keep looking up! - The Mars Room

Quite a leap into bed really!

Tapestry in the Apollo Room

Battle relief in the War Room

Then there is the Grande Trianon, built in 1687, a smaller but equally opulent palace in the north  of the huge gardens, where Louis XIV's secret wife lived!  Peter the Great of Russia and other royals have lived there as well and today it is still used to house foreign dignitaries.  The gardens are beautifully kept and maincured.  At some stage in history, it must have gotten rundown because de Gaulle oversaw a renovation and restoration there in 1963.

Impressive columns and exterior of the Grand Trianon

Blue and yellow room in the Grand Trianon

The Mirror room - Grand Trianon

Malachite Room

Bed chamber with ornate tapestry

Chapel in Grand Trianon - where they went to repent of their sins of greed...

I managed to keep my head...this time

Acre after acre of beautiful gardens

After enjoying the interior of the Palace we descended into the courtyard and through to the gardens where we ate our humble cake - "Let them eat cake" - and a few other picnic items.

Map of the gardens

Impeccable gardens

Stunning - even with water turned off!

Tranquility?!

Handstand by the lake

We walked down and down on the left side of the lake which is further than you might think.  We did a whole loop and through some forest as well which we estimate would have been 5 kms or more.  The area is huge!  There were rowboats, bikes and sedgeways and even golf buggies to hire to explore the area but on foot was great.  We saw a hedgehog (dead unfortunately) but we thought that there was probably a lot of wildlife in the woods there including deer for hunting.  

Geese on the lake

Royal swans

The fountains were impressive and would have been more impressive had they been turned on (yes, we went on a cheap day when the music and fountains and other "Garden" actvities are not operational).  We wondered how the fountains were powered originally to get them to pump the water.  

Family statues game!

Tim and Luke being statues

Annika the statue!

Finally, we had seen enough and walked back to the station.  We got off the RER train near to our apartment. We had spotted this possibility on our way to Versailles this morning.  We were all so tired especially after yesterday's marathon effort as well!

We enjoyed sweet and sour chicken for dinner.  Annika has had to do a range of experiments with rocks for her science module and consequently we  have acquired a large bottle of vinegar!  I could only think of my trusty sweet and sour recipe to use up some of the vinegar!

Mascarpone raspberry cake, raspberry macaron with fresh raspberries and raspberry thickened coulis and "divorce" - chocolate and coffee eclair - SO AMAZING!

So beautifully presented

In the tradition of Marie Antoinette....let them eat cake...we bought some fancy desserts as a part of Annika's continued birthday celebration.  She had spied some fancy fresh raspberry and raspberry macarons at our local bakery but on her birthday there were none there.  Today, they were back in stock so voila! - it was dessert night!