Versailles

Versailles. *sigh* So much history. So much grandeur. So much power!

I can't even begin to describe how amazing this palace and its gardens are today, hundreds of years after its hey-day. But before I try, a history lesson to those unacquainted with this marvel of a place:

It is most well-known for being the palace of Louis XIV, aka the "Sun King." He used it to flaunt his enormous power as king, purposely built outside of the capital city Paris so people would have to travel in order to visit him. He hosted many events and used the splendor as a tool for advocating his superiority.

The palace is also famous for holding the quarters of Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI, before the start of the French Revolution.

I don't know how to avoid making this entry much more than a stream of pictures, but there's really no harm in that. So enjoy and marvel at the beauty:

the entrance gates

first glimpse of the palace

me and my friend Jessica in the front courtyard

model of the giant palace

  if you thought the palace was huge, take a look at it compared to the gardens beyond!

a peek out the window - who wouldn't love to see THAT view when they wake up in the morning?

This next section is of the Hall or Mirrors, the most famous room in Versailles. It was the room in which all the big gatherings were held - parties, balls, etc. Its elegance is so visually attractive due to the windows lining the outside wall, each of which correspond to a mirror, thus amplifying the brilliance in the room. Then add in all the crystal chandeliers that proceed down the length of the hall and it's a beautiful sight to see.

entering the hall

close-up of one of the mirrors

even the ceiling is amazing

The next three photos are of Marie Antoinette's chambers.

her bed

the door from which she supposedly escaped when angry Parisians stormed the palace to take the royal family back to Paris at the start of the Revolution

portrait gallery added by one of the kings

fancy chandelier

This concludes the tour of Versailles: the palace. Now we proceed to the gardens. These were by far my favorite part of the estate! Unfortunately, my camera did not appreciate the exhaustion of taking so many pictures, so its battery died at this point. Sadness. However, I do have a few pictures taken by my friends who were with me. Here we go:

After a LONG walk (but worth it), we were able to reach the little hamlet that Marie Antoinette built when she lived at the palace. Apparently she liked to fantasize herself as a milkmaid... However, it seemed as if we were stepping into a storybook, specifically Beauty and the Beast. All we wanted to do was run up to a second story window and start yelling "Bonjour!"

Maurice's cabin, perhaps?

And finally, a parting glance of the beauty of Versailles:

Pictures just don't do it justice...

A bientot!