Versailles

Robert’s step mom, Barbara, had a wonderful suggestion for a Paris side trip - a journey to Versailles.  We took an RER train, which was only about a 40 minute ride.  I didn’t really know what to expect from this place - I knew there were several King Louie’s who had resided there, but I thought “Versailles” was several different locations spread throughout the countryside.  I was very wrong.

Upon exiting the train station, you walk a few blocks and turn the corner to approach one of the most magnificent looking palaces I have ever seen.  The front is protected by golden gates, and upon entering the courtyard, you are presented with another set of gates - this is where you pay your admission.  You are given a headset and begin walking through the various rooms along the two main floors of the palace.  Most of the emphasis was on the paintings and artwork that was placed throughout the palace, and the headset guided you through the pieces before you.  It also explained the ways in which the various rooms were used - the king’s bedroom, his boardroom, the room for his thrown, etc.  We also spent quite some time in an extraordinary hall called The Hall of Mirrors.  It was literally a hall that was covered in mirrors on one side, and wall to ceiling windows on the other.  Apparently at night time, there was a glorious lighting effect with the chandeliers, glass and mirrors - how regal it just have felt to walk down the hall!

Barbara had also cleverly decided that we should get a private tour which would take us through several sections that were unavailable to the general public.  We had an excellent guide who showed us many original pieces of furniture, Marie Antoine’s bedroom, and a grand theater.  The royal family would dine on the stage in the evenings, and the royal court would have to sit or stand around and watch them eat (very strange.)  They also used the theater for grand performance from entertainers like Mozart, although they could only last 4 hours because that was the lifespan of their candles.  It must have been an uncomfortable 4 hours through because the theater seating was just felt covered benches with no backs.  This was considered “proper” seating because it emulated the benches that the ladies in waiting sat upon while the queen dressed (they were forced to watch this 3-hour process.)

After the tour we wandered out into the gardens, which is an impressive display of well manicured lawns, fountains and a large pool.  This was the perfect definition of a “French Garden” where everything is manicured into specific shapes and meticulously well placed.  We had a lovely lunch by the pool, and then continued towards the back right corner of the property which represented a controversial plot of land.  King Louis XIV had given his bride, Marie Antoinette, a corner of the gardens to make her own, including her own cottage.  She decided to turn this area into a lovely “free-form” English Garden with wildflowers, which was reminiscent of the home she had left in Austria.  Apparently this upset the French citizens because they felt the palace should be reserved for only the needs of the King.  The best way I can describe this area is to liken it to a Disney cartoon land - like the cottage where Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) lived to avoid the wicked queen.  There was even a petting zoo on the property with pigs, geese and goats, and I half expected them to break out into song at any given moment!

Overall, I would say that this palace is the most blatant display of excess and wealth that I had ever seen.  I can’t say I’m surprised that there was a French Revolution after hearing the conditions in which most people were living, and then walking around these grounds.  However, it is still a magnificent structure and beautiful grounds (especially Marie Antoinette’s area) and I’m glad that today it can be enjoyed by all.  You can actually just go out onto the grounds without paying admission and just have a lovely picnic - something we would like to do another time.

Upon our return home, we decided to have a family dinner together at a restaurant around the corner from the May’s hotel, Flottes, where we took over a quiet corner.  The food was amazing, but after such a long day we all quickly slipped into a post-dinner food coma.  We left for Montmartre, destined to dream about what it would be live to live in a grand palace!