The Palace of Versailles

Originally a hunting lodge for the royal family The Palace of Versailles became the home of the royal family and the government seat in 1682.  It was built by Louis XIV and was meant to project the absolute power of the French monarchy.  Louis wanted his palace to be the best around so what the architects added to make it stand out was the Hall of Mirrors. 

 

At the time people didn’t have mirrors not even royalty so this hall is what made the palace stand out at the time.  It is a 75-meter long ballroom with 17 huge mirrors (made of smaller mirrors put together) on one side.  From the outside it looks like you can look through the palace but really you are just seeing the reflection from the mirrors.

The royal family lived here until 1789 when the French Revolutionary mobs took Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette back to Paris to be beheaded. 

We started walking around the massive gardens, they go on for as far as you can see!  We learned a little about Absolutism and how the gardens were pruned to be just how the king of the time wanted them to look.   He had control of everything even nature. 

We saw where they keep the royal orange trees in the summer.  The orange trees are in pots and carried inside for the winter.  Some of the trees date back to very distant kings.  

Winter

Fall

Summer

Spring

We saw the fountains that represent the seasons.   

We got to see a few statues but unfortunately because many of the statues are made of marble and marble is porous they are protected and covered in the winter to prevent damage.

Inside we made our way though lots of amazing rooms and bedchambers.  We got to see the Hall of Mirrors.  Then before we left the town of Versailles we stopped for crapes, éclairs and macaroons.  MMM they were good!