Versailles

The last time I was in France, I hopped on a train to see the stunning, awe-inspiring Palace of Versailles, about ten miles outside of Paris. At that time, I didn’t think to book in advance and was heartbroken to find out they were closed that day as I approached the royal fence. When planning my most recent trip to Paris, Versailles was the first item on my list because I have been lusting to visit for years!

The Palace of Versailles is the central part of a complex that housed the French government, most notably its royalty, during the reigns of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI. Each one added improvements to make it more and more lavish and beautiful. As a result, the Palace of Versailles is considered one of the most beautiful achievements of 18th-century French art. After the French Revolution in 1789, it ceased to be a permanent royal residence. Fun fact: The Treaty of Versailles, which officially brought the First World War to an end, was signed in the Hall of Mirrors on June 28, 1919.

The French royalty were serious about their bling. Seriously just massive halls and paintings and chandeliers everywhere. No amount of words or photographs can describe or depict its grandeur. A minimalist would probably have been beheaded in their presence. We spent the morning exploring the palace, and the afternoon walking the gardens of the estate. It was such a beautiful spring day, I even got mon petit copain to row me around in a boat on the Grand Canal. Je t’aime!