We awoke early on Tuesday morning, took a 40 minute ride on a commuter train arriving at station Versaille-Rive Gauche.
...but it was worth it because we were now in the domain of the Sun King: Roi Louis XIV.
After a walk from the train station we arrived at the main gate of Versailles.
Versailles, the name alone signifies Grandeur. Excess. And Beauty.
Le Palais de Versailles is in a word, breathtaking.
Welcome to THE Glory of France.
After waiting in a queue for 45 minutes we bout our tickets to enter the Palais (Access to the Gardens is free by the way and a great many people come just to picnic, stroll through the acres and acres of gardens, fountains or take a row-boat on the grand canal). We thought we were done, but alas no, now we had to queue for another 45 minutes to actually enter...
Didier, MY gloire de la France.
While we were in the 2nd queue, this was as close as we could get to La Porte Royale, as it was under renovations and only a small part of the gilded fence was visible.
Every where you look you see Fleurs de Lys, AND the symbol of the Sun King.
Shortly after entering we arrived in a large hall that was the separation between the Kings Apartments and La Chapelle Royale.
This was the largest of the paintings in the room...
The ceiling...
A close up of the mantle...
Two statues in the anti-room to the Tribune Royale of the Chapelle, (where the royal family heard mass.)
The Chapelle Royale
This was actually the 5th Chapelle. Aside from perhaps the Gallerie des Glaces, this is one of Versailles true masterpieces.
the Tribune Royale.
Two more views from the main floor. Unfortunately entrance into the Chapelle itself is limited to tour groups. We thought of sneaking in with one of the groups but we, neither of us look particularly asian...)
A 17th century gallery on the main floor, just past the Chapelle...
The floor of the Chapelle...
We next entered the Grand Apartments du Roi. This is le Salon de Mercure, the King's rather public bedroom...
Roi Louis XIV (le Roi Soleil)
Roi Louis XVI
Then through the Salon de la Guerre...
...to THE room of Rooms, hall of Halls, the glory of Glories:
La Galerie des Glaces
And then to the Queen's apartments...
Reine Marie-Antoinette.
Soon thereafter we were beginning our tour of the exterior.
A view of the Grands Apartments from le Parterre de l'Eau.
A close up of le Galerie des Glaces from le Parterre de l'Eau.
Le Grand Trianon.
a sneaked peek inside...
The front gate and its 'Guard'...
And of course Marie-Antoinette's escape from court life... Le Petit Trianon.
And now onto the Gardens...
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