It was a cold, blustery day when I headed out of Paris to visit the Chateau de Versailles. Spending eight hours wandering the rooms, halls, gardens and smaller residences, I still didn’t see it all. Am I the slowest tourist/traveller ever?
What can be said about the Chateau de Versailles in words that can’t be summed up better in pictures? Opulent and extravagant, it is the epitome of European palaces and castles. As the centre of power of the French royals from 1682 until the start of the revolution in 1789, just glimpsing the inside gives you a pretty good idea why the revolution happened. The exquisite interior and furnishings were surely a slap in the face of the majority of the population, who had not long before seen France assist the USA with their own war of independence against the British. Associated by most with Marie Antoinette, to enter the palace is to step back in time.
The Chateau de Versailles
The Gardens
The Petit Trianon – Marie Antionettes ‘home away from home’
Versailles is easy to get to as it is on the C line RER, accessible from many metro stations. Get there early and with a pre-purchased ticket. I arrived at 8:30am for the 9am opening and was already about 50th in line. By the time it opened the line was several hundred long with people who had pre-purchased tickets. Those waiting in the ticket line……well, they had a long wait….twice!
