A Photo Essay: A visit to Versailles #Travel

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Versailles Palace Gardens and Queens Hamlet @DownshiftingPRO

UPDATE: (May 2019) I wanted to update this post about our visit to Versaille in the spring of 2015. I realized that it was far to short with too few pictures of this amazing place. When I lived in Paris between 1981-82, we would often visit Versailles. Not one person would ever come without wanting to see this the most famous royal estate in France.

When I was here on my honeymoon in 1993, I also looked forward to bringing my husband. It was an very memorable day. It had changed little over the years but when I returned with my daughter, it was a different place. For the first part, there were so many more visitors. There were new fountains and the Grand and Petit Trianon have been restored. I also don’t remember ever visiting the Queen’s Hamlet.

Versailles Palace Gardens and Queen's Hamlet @DownshiftingPRO

I hope to return with my other two children as well as my mother one day. Until then, I often review this photo essay of the palace and the gardens of King Louis XIV and King Louis XVI.

(May 2015) -Our last excursion on our whirlwind trip to Spain and France we decided to spend the day in Versailles.  This has to be one of the most beautiful and extravagant Chateaus in the world.  Built by the Sun King – Louis XIV it is a massive estate with opulent gardens.  Here are a few of our favourite pictures from our visit to Versailles.

Versailles Palace Garden Queens Hamlet

A visit to Versailles means you must have a lot of patience.  We got to Versailles from Paris via the RER train.  It is fast and easy to access but the best time to go is early in the morning.  Many, many people want to visit Versaille and there is always a very long line up to get in.  

The Palace

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Fun fact: This is the Coronation of Napoleon.  Although his mother is in the painting, she was not in fact present at his coronation.  

Hall of Mirrors in Versailles @DownshiftingPRO

This is the famous Hall of Mirrors.  I have NEVER been here with so many other people.  I have to admit, it was a bit disappointing to have to be shuffled along.  There was no dawdling allowed. Do take the time to look out the windows towards the gardens because they are amazing. If you want to see the inside of the palace here is a video. I regret not taking enough pictures but it was so very full of people.

Versailles Palace France @DownshiftingPRO

We are looking back to Versailles from the gardens.  This is just one of many, many fountains that you will find on the grounds.  There are water shows on different days but you may want to take in one of the evening water and fireworks shows.

The Gardens

Apollo's Fountain Versailles, France @DownshiftingPRO
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This is Apollo and the four-horse chariot Fountain in Versailles. Designed by Charles Le Brun an influential artist in the court of Louis XIV

Gardens of Versailles - A visit to Versailles with @DownshiftingPRO

One of the tree-lined walkways in the Versailles gardens.

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Landscape artist Louis Benech and artist Jean-Michel Othoniel created a permanent contemporary artwork for Water Theatre Grove.

The Versailles Chapel from outside e1557287937846

An outside view of the Versailles chapel

The Queen’s Hamlet

Marie Antoinettes Village in Versailles France @DownshiftingPRO 1
Marlborough Tower and The Queen’s House

A visit to Versailles would not be complete without a tour of Marie Antoinette’s play village. Created to mimic a rural life, the Queen’s Hamlet was model after a quaint Normandy village which included a guard house, a dairy and a windmill. The buildings also included a dining room, salon, billiard room and boudoir. Although it was reserved primarily for the education of her children, Marie-Antoinette also used the hamlet for promenades and hosting guests.

The Queens Hamlet in Versailles @DownshiftingPRO
(L) The Warming Room & (R) The Swiss Guard House

The Grand & Petit Trianon

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Firniture in the Petit Trainon
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The Versailles Palace is a mammoth structure and court life was very busy so in order to find a bit of peace and privacy Louis XIV had the Grand Trianon Palace built at the far end of the northern branch of the Grand Canal. Louis XV share this summer retreat with his mistress Madame de Pompadour. However, the estate is perhaps most closely associated with Queen Marie-Antoinette. The wife of Louis XVI regularly sought refuge at the Petit Trianon, where she commissioned marvellous landscaped gardens centred around a hamlet of cottages built in the rustic style then in vogue.

We only had time to see the newly restored Petit Trainon and hope one day to return to Versailles. If you cannot find your way there just yet, I’ll suggest this amazing video produced this year. It will tempt you to make a trip to this amazing playground of the French Royals.

All about Versailles Palace Gardens Queens Hamlet @DownshiftingPRO
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Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.

10 thoughts on “A Photo Essay: A visit to Versailles #Travel”

  1. The pictures are stunning! I have never been to Versailles. I visited Paris many years ago and did all the touristy things but somehow did not have time to see Versailles while in France. I love the shot of the walkway lined with trees.

  2. Gorgeous! Stunning! I will say though, while I knew it would be a tourist destination I was surprised by just how dense the crowd was in that one photo.

  3. What gorgeous photos Margarita! The artwork is stunning, the architecture amazing! This must have been the best trip ever. I love the sculpture of the horses in the lake(?) Just lovely.

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