Palace of Versailles

Before we made our way home from Paris, we detoured to the town of Versailles. Today it is a wealthy suburb of Paris, but back when the Palace of Versailles was built, the area was just a rural village. I think I expected that the Palace would be set way back off the road, kind of like the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and it probably was back in its beginnings. Today though the parking lot and front of the palace are literally right in town, which I think takes away a little bit from the grandeur of it. Once inside or on the back part of the gardens and estate, it does feel like you're in a grand place away from everything. 

The Palace itself is gigantic! It was much smaller when it was first built by Louis XIII as a hunting lodge in 1623. Louis XIV expanded it into a royal palace over several years time, turning Versailles into his primary residence as well as the location of France's government by 1682. It eventually became home to Louis XVI and his famous wife, Marie Antoinette.

All the rooms were beautiful and very lavishly decorated (Louis XIV had extravagant taste for sure), but the chapel was one of my favorite rooms.

Every room in the palace seemed to have an amazing chandelier in it which made me extremely happy. Louis XIV made some great choices when it came to lighting!!

Given my love for these lovely glass creations, one of my other favorite rooms in the house was the Hall of Mirrors. There are chandeliers hanging from one end of this magnificent room to the other. Floor to ceiling windows line one side of the wall, and mirrors line the other. It was breathtaking!

If only we could have kicked all of these people out and had the place all to ourselves!! Can't you just imagine wearing a beautiful dress and dancing with Prince Charming in this room?

We may not have had that privilege, but I bet Marie Antoinette did! (Well, I bet she wore a beautiful dress and danced there. I'm not so sure that Louis XVI fit the Prince Charming part though.) Not only did she have the beautiful Hall of Mirrors to stroll through, her bedroom was not shabby either. It's covered, ceiling to floor, in beautiful flowered tapestries.

I think Versailles is definitely a must-do day trip from Paris. It's obviously very beautiful, but it's also full of history. Cindy and I definitely approved!