A few days ago I visited Versailles. The Palace of Versailles, along with the gardens and the park, is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to many places. Situated a few miles from Paris, Versailles used to be the home of the Kings of France since Louis XIV. It was the center of power and culture in Europe for much of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Above: Statue of King Louis XIV of France
When I first arrived at Versailles the place was already packed with tourists. There was a long line for tickets, and an even longer line for ticket holders to get into the palace.
Usually, most people start off seeing the palace, which is at the entrance, before viewing the gardens, then moving on to see Le domaine de Marie-Antoinette (the chateau of the Queens and mistresses of France) further away, and finally visiting the park if time permits. This is what I did the last time I was at Versailles 9 years ago with my family, and we only had time to see the palace and gardens because Versailles was so huge. We were also at Versailles for 7 hours and still didn’t have time to see everything!
Part of the reason why it’s difficult to see all of Versailles is because of the very long lines. So, instead of waiting in line to see the palace first, I decided to invert the typical agenda and walk all the way to the park. Since I had to go through the gardens to get to the park, I also got to enjoy the beautiful gardens on the way. The weather was great, the fountains produced a relaxing breeze, and most of the other tourists were waiting to get into the palace so the gardens were much less crowded.
Above: Some pictures of the gardens of Versailles
After I saw the main parts of the gardens, I entered the park of Versailles. The park is the largest part of Versailles, and it includes a large canal where people can ride boats in. Around the canal, people were having picnics, and couples were enjoying the beautiful view and the cool breeze.
There were many beautiful boulevards in the park, and many locals went jogging and cycling here because there weren’t so many tourists.
Above: An empty boulevard at the park in Versailles
In addition to the boulevards, there were also many forested areas that a lot of the locals used for walks, runs, or cycling, but I didn’t venture far in these areas because of the sheer size of Versailles and I wanted to make sure I had enough time to see Marie-Antoinette’s estate and the palace.
Deep into the park, the areas were less packed, and locals outnumbered tourists. After a very long walk, I made it to the end of the canal, where I could see the palace from a distance.
Above: Nearing the end of the canal
Above: A view of Versailles from the end of the canal
After reaching the end of the park, I walked back towards the palace, arriving first at Le domaine de Marie-Antoinette.
Le domaine de Marie-Antoinette is no small part of Versailles. It consists of three main parts: the Grand Trainon, the Petit Trainon, and the recreational farm.
The Grand Trainon was built as a retreat for King Louis XIV and his mistress. Likewise the Petit Trainon was built as a retreat for King Louis XV’s mistress. The recreational farm was mainly used by Queen Marie-Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI.
The Grand Trainon and the Petit Trainon were also used after the French Revolution, with Napoleon and other French leaders using the grounds as a retreat.
Above: The Grand Trainon
Above: A room in the Grand Trainon
Above: Exiting the Grand Trainon
Above: The Petit Trainon
Above: A walkway at the Petit Trainon
Above: A room in the Petit Trainon
Above: On the way to the recreational farm
Above: The recreational farm
Above: The lighthouse at the recreational farm
After I finished seeing Le domaine de Marie-Antoinette, I went to see the Palace of Versailles, and I didn’t have to wait in line because pretty much everyone else started the visit at the palace.
This palace is one of the grandest in the world, and one of the most historical. The palace’s Hall of Mirrors is probably the most famous room. In addition to being the central gallery for the Kings of France, the Hall of Mirrors was also where Germany was established in 1871 after the Prussian victory against France in the Franco-Prussian War. This historic room is also where the Treaty of Versailles to end World War I was signed.
Above: The Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles
Versailles is the most beautiful palace in the world that I have been in. The place has a lot of historical and cultural significance, and the gardens and park are among the finest in the world.
Above: The Palace of Versailles