Outside Paris: the palace of Versailles

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Chateau of Versailles, emblematic of the opulence of European aristocracy. In a space of just 60 years from 1624-1683, the hunting lodge built on the swamplands outside of Paris by Louis XIV’s father, was dramatically transformed into the exuberantly luxurious palace which we know today. In1682 Versailles became the official residence of the king of France. A showcase of royal wealth and power in the 17^th century a trip to Versailles transforms you to the former supremacy and opulence of the pre-revolution French aristocracy.

Sights
In order to fully appreciate the sights of Versailles, it is recommended that the visitor spend at least one full day in the palace and gardens. The principal attraction is of course the grandiose Chateau itself where the visitor is treated to a glimpse into the life of the former glory days of the Ancien Regime.

Perhaps the most famous attraction of Versailles is the 73m long Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors), encompassing a total of 357 full-length mirrors. In the glory days of the palace the Hall of Mirrors also contained a wealth of silver furniture, but this was later melted down for war funds. Charles Le Brun was commissioned to decorate the elaborate ceiling, under the order of the Sun King, in order to depict the benefits of French rule. Louis himself appears in several of the 30 scenes, dressed as a grand historic figure such as a Roman Emperor or war chief. It was also famously the location of the 1919 signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty between Germany and the allies. The Galerie des Glaces is currently undergoing a major project of restoration meaning that access is prohibited or restricted to visitors so it is worth enquiring before visiting.

The park and gardens cover 875 hectares of land, however the estate once extended to over 8,000 hectares in the glory days of Louis’ hunting grounds. The extensive formal gardens were designed and created by designer and architect André le Nôtre but Louis himself was highly proactive in the design and creation of the gardens, which he considered almost as important as the grand rooms of the chateau. The spectacular fountains are arguably the greatest outdoor legacy of Versailles and during the summer months the fountain displays accompanied by the baroque music that was contemporary of the time, are certainly worth looking out for.

Practical information
If you are staying in Paris accommodation in the centre of the city a day trip to Versailles is quite straightforward. To get to Versailles from the centre of Paris, take the RER C from Montparnasse station to Versailles Rive Gauche, from which you have a 5 minute walk to the Paris. The RER takes roughly 40 minutes to arrive at Versailles.

The chateau is open from Tuesday to Sunday, opening exceptionally on a Monday for French Public holidays. Opening times are from 9.00 to 17.30 from November to March and from 9.00 until 18.30 from April to October. The garden however is open from 8.00 daily.