Versailles

(Pictures: Chapel in the Chateau, the Hall of Mirrors, View of the Grand Canal and Gardens, View of the Chateau, inside the Temple of Love, a path through the gardens)


Today Gramzie and I visited Versailles, the famous Chateau of the French royalty. Versailles is about 22 km outside of Paris and about 45 minutes by train. We toured the chateau, which is, not surprisingly, very grand. The famous Hall of Mirrors was particularly interesting to see, as were the king's and queen's apartments. It is impossible to describe the scale of Versailles, although I will say that I can't imagine calling a place like that my home - even if I were a queen!

We walked through the gardens and to the living quarters of Marie Antoinette - the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon. These were buildings about 3 km away from the main chateau that she built and designed in an effort to have a more "simple" living space - simpler than the chateau they may be, but they are many, MANY times the size of a normal house today, so I wouldn't say she was roughing it when she lived there.

We really enjoyed the day today, and luckily the rain held off for the most part. Tomorrow we have a very early start as we say Au revoir to Paris. We make our way to Cahors and the Grotte du Pech Merle.