Versailles Tourist Traps

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After that I walked my way up to the the Hall of Mirrors (la Galerie des Glaces), which was made due to the glory of Louis XIV and definately is now the masterpiece of the Chateau. I heared via my audio guide (and of course wrote it down in my Diary of a Madman!) that the hall measures 73 metres long, 10.5 metres wide, and 12.3 metres high. At one end is the Salon of War, at the other is the Salon of Peace. Seventeen windows overlooking the garden are matched by seventeen arcaded mirrors along the wall. These exceptionally large mirrors were made in a Paris workshop founded by Colbert to compete with Venice's glass factories. Just a funny fact to learn, because I visited that particular factory of Murano (Venice) about 5 years ago!

I just stood in awe witnessing all this amazing beauty. I saw the finest ancient statues as well as busts of Roman emperors dotting the walls. Just another fact I was impressed by: in 1919, the First World War officially ended when Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors. Let’s continue the tour ...

Phone: 01 30 83 77 88
Address: Versailles, Yvelines
Directions: As a part of the Chateau Versailles the entrance of the Chateau itself can be found at the right wing of this amazing castle, it’s the main entrance.
Website: http://www.chateauversailles.fr
Other Contact: Fax: 01 30 83 77 90

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And finally the last part of this tour came in sight. It took me through the Versailles' history galleries which is the largest history museum in the world (18,000 square metres). I did not have enough eyes to see all these masterpieces. The history of France is told through painted and sculpted and it was founded in 1837 by King Louis-Philippe and was was dedicated to 'all of France's glories'. Therefore only victories can be seen and of course no defeats ...

This is the same at the Battle Gallery, the last room of the tour. The hall is 120 metres long and therefore makes it the longest hall in the Chateau. It recounts French history through very impressive paintings. From the founding of the monarchy by Clovis to the wars of Emperor Napoleon I, all of France's great battles are depicted in a cycle of monumental paintings. So ... that wraps it up, my own personal tour through the Chateau. Thanx to the audio guide and not too much people it took me about 2,5 hour, but definately very much worth while!

Phone: 01 30 83 77 88
Address: Versailles, Yvelines
Directions: As a part of the Chateau Versailles the entrance of the Chateau itself can be found at the right wing of this amazing castle, it’s the main entrance.
Website: http://www.chateauversailles.fr
Other Contact: Fax: 01 30 83 77 90

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The next very interesting place was the Queen's Suite where the first ladies of France lived. For example Maria Theresa, wife of Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette who refurbished the decoration according to the order dictated by royal protocol. I learned that the suite was arranged as followed: Queen's Guards Room, Antechamber, Peers' Salon and Bedchamber. Do have a look at the paintings on the Italian-style ceilings, amazing! And of course ... the bedchamber of the Queen followed at this tour. I read that it still looks today as it did when Marie-Antoinette left Versailles during the French Revolution in 1789. The Rococo-style woodwork, as well as the ceiling painting were commissioned around 1730 by Louis XV in order to please his wife, Maria Leszczinska. Marie-Antoinette found this terribly old-fashioned and decided to replace all the furnishings, notably commissioning silk hangings woven in patterns of lilacs and peacock feathers, garnishing the alcove and the enormous four-poster bed (restored in 1976).

And after that I visited the King's Room and bedchamber. Louis XIV's bedchamber occupied the exact centre of the chateau from 1701 onward. It was a key setting for events in the Sun King's day and was arranged to reflect this ceremonial function. I must admid that I did have a very extensive look that the bed ... so beautiful and beyond imagination!

Phone: 01 30 83 77 88
Address: Versailles, Yvelines
Directions: As a part of the Chateau Versailles the entrance of the Chateau itself can be found at the right wing of this amazing castle, it’s the main entrance.
Website: http://www.chateauversailles.fr
Other Contact: Fax: 01 30 83 77 90

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This is just one of those tips you will get by talking to someone who knows! When I bought my Day Pass ticket the lady at the office told me to go to the Dauphin’s Apartments or gardens first, because all the bus loads full of tourist visit the Chateau before they go somewhere else which causes really huge queues! She adviced me to return to the Chateau around 15:30u, because the queus would be all gone and I would have much more space to enjoy this beautiful castle. I did follow her advice and it worked out just like she told me. Great tip!

After walking through the beautiful 17th century galleries I saw a master piece, the Chapel Royal. The Chapel Royal is consecrated to Saint Louis and amazingly I saw that it features a tribune on the same level as the royal apartments, and therefore overlooking the nave. The weird thing is that the chapel's architecture is simultaneously Gothic and Baroque. Its floor plan, loftiness (over 25 metres high), stained glass, pointed roof and gargoyles all reminded me of some medieval cathedrals I visited over the years. I watched the columns, balustrades, carved pillars, painted vaults, and coloured marble tiling. The altar glitters with its gilded bronze bas-reliefs, featuring a Descent from the Cross and at the top, the symbol of God.

Phone: 01 30 83 77 88
Address: Versailles, Yvelines
Directions: As a part of the Chateau Versailles the entrance of the Chateau itself can be found at the right wing of this amazing castle, it’s the main entrance.
Website: http://www.chateauversailles.fr
Other Contact: Fax: 01 30 83 77 90

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Can somebody please tell me how to describe a tip about the Chateau of Versailles without leaving anything out, but also without getting too boring by just mentioning all those historical facts in the correct timeline. I'm sitting behing my computer right now and still haven't decided how this will work out, but will have a go at it. The Chateau is so huge and the history behind it is so important ... I hope I wont miss a thing and will keep you clustered at the screen while reading about it.

The Chateau dates back till 1623 when Louis XIII built a hunting lodge, a little gentleman's chateau of brick, stone and slate at Versailles. During this period some extensions were deemed necessary and from 1668 untill 1670 the New Chateau developed itself. And finally in 1682 Versailles became the official residence of the Court of France, supplanting the palaces at the Louvre and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. At this period the Hall of Mirrors, Orangery, Stables and the Chapel Royal originate. Let's enter it ...

Phone: 01 30 83 77 88
Address: Versailles, Yvelines
Directions: As a part of the Chateau Versailles the entrance of the Chateau itself can be found at the right wing of this amazing castle, it’s the main entrance.
Website: http://www.chateauversailles.fr
Other Contact: Fax: 01 30 83 77 90

Versailles in rainy weather turns into a somewhat depressing sight, and you miss out on the outdoor sightseeing - the park, I mean.

Kind of takes part of the fun out of the trip...

Unique Suggestions: If you are so unfortunate as to go to Versailles on a rainy day, at least take an umbrella:))

Fun Alternatives: Go in late spring, to avoid both the largest crowds and the worst of heat.

Arrgh, this is the last thing I would want to do. Pay €5 to sit on a slow-moving tourist train together with screaming kids and fat occupants to see the Trianon Gardens and Grand Canal.

Unique Suggestions: Since the Grand Versailles Garden is too big to be covered by foot, it is best seen by bike ...

Fun Alternatives: Rent a quaint bicycle ( €6 ) near the Grand Canal and ride through the gardens behind the Chateau . It'll be the highlight of your day, I assure you!

When we arrived, we could not see even the castle from the entrance with that horrible fog but It gave some kind of mistery .... and atmosphere.....

The day was not very warm as you can see lol but still we all were there ..

Fun Alternatives: At the top of the entrance you can see the symbol of the French kings