On day 5 we made big plans to knock out two big attractions, the Eiffel Tower and taking the train out to the town of Versailles and touring the sprawling Château that was home to the French Monarch. We may have worn our shoes out with all the miles we put on that day, but it was well worth the venture outside the city to see such a beautiful and historic landmark.
Once again we made sure to follow Rick Steves' suggestion in his book about getting to the Eiffel Tower early to avoid the long lines. I think regardless of what time you get to the park, there will be a line, just make sure to grab a coffee and a pastry while you wait.
After getting through security and paying for a ticket, we walked up to the second level.
There were lots of steps!
But it was well worth it.
Once taking in the second level, we made our way to the elevator to take us to the top...
and were very glad not to have to take these all the way to the top!
Once at the top we enjoyed looking at the city of Paris a whole different way and how the puzzle pieces all fit together.
Amazing to think that the Eiffel Tower was thought to be an eye sore and was to be a temporary fixture to the city.
Once done with touring the park we headed to the train station to catch a ride to the next destination.
Versailles is located 20 miles from Paris and is just a short train ride out.
We started our adventure heading towards the center of the modern town, we were told that there was a farmers market going on. It was time for lunch so we were hoping to find some street vendors as well.
We started off with some of the most delicious crepes ever!
After finding some shish-kabobs and some of the best strawberries ever we headed to the bus stop to jump on the bus to take us to the "Farm" of Versailles. Once on the bus we found that there were some more Americans taking the same self guided tour, 4 different groups to be exact...with the exact same tour book ;)
Once off the bus and on the property we headed to Marie-Antoinette's getaway, the Trianon Palaces and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette. This was her private area away from the rest of the royalty that retreated to Versailles during the summer months and also during the tense times of the revolution.
Once again it was amazing to walk through the same hallways, gardens and rooms as the royals did so many years ago. Much of the furniture and accessories couldn't be documented as original or were reproductions either from King Louis XIV, XV, or XVI and Napoleons reign, but it still just amazing to think of the luxurious surroundings they enjoyed (even when the country was falling apart and their people were suffering).
The Grand Trianon was built by Louis XIV, originally the Château of Versailles was to by a weekend getaway for the royal families, like a hunting lodge. But as time went on the royal family spent more time in Versailles then in Paris itself....possibly one of the reasons there was a disconnect between the royal family and the french commoners. So he expanded the property to get away from those that followed him to Versailles. In the days of Marie-Antoinette, she made it her own retreat for her family to escape the chaotic life of being royal. She often dressed down (at least to royal standards) and expanded the Trianon to include her own working farm (The Hamlet).
J may have felt right at home with the fields of hay.
The Temple of Love, with the statue of Cupid...a strolling point for the affluent society.
The Hamlet is were Marie-Antoinette spent time trying to relive a simpler life. She dressed down in the finest muslin and enjoyed the bounty of her crops without doing any of the real manual labor herself.
Originally 12 buildings were part of the complex, each one with their own small garden and thatched roof. Her own residence in The Hamlet also included a billiard room, 2 family rooms, a formal dining room and a library...much more elaborate then most peasants houses that she was trying to emulate.
The farm still has a handful of animals and hosts local school kids to learn about farming and agriculture.
The Petit Trianon built for Louis XV and his Botany studies (also a place to rendezvous with his favorite mistress) isn't too shabby either. It is said that the flowers would change daily to delight the Kings visually and also be aroma cocktails for him to enjoy daily.
Inside the saloon and bed chamber are decorated as Marie-Antoinette would have have left it during her stay. It was hard to remember that all these buildings were just their second (3,4,5,etc) home and not their main residences.
From the Trianon we headed to the residence that was the heart of the social, political, and culture for 100 years. We passed the Petit and Grand Canal on our way to Château, once again walking the same paths that so many royals and couteir's also strolled on. It was also at this point that I felt bad for all those that were in service to those that resided here. The miles between the main palace and all the surrounding building that those that worked for the royalty would have also traveled in order to please those that lived the lavish life. It took us a thirty minute brisk walk to get from the entrance of the Trianon to the backyard of the Châteaux.
First sight of the main Palace.
We wondered the gardens, taking in the fountains and art throughout the garden. The fountains are in working condition, however, they are only used in celebration and on special days.
The view from the backyard of the Château.
The Palace or Château was not built by King Louis XIV, but he used the public treasury to expand what was originally his fathers hunting lodge into a much larger retreat for all the French Nobles to enjoy...and to also be able to control what they were saying and doing. He was able to make Versailles the true seat of Frances government and centralized all the ministry's under one room with his large expansion to the property. He was also able closer to his hobbies of hunting and botany with the move "out to the country".
From the front you can see the different additions and wings that were added on over the years to accommodate all the nobility that called Versailles home.
The golden gates that only opened to the nobles, 5,000 of them could call Versailles home at one time (not including their entourage).
The courtyard of the u-shaped palace would have been bustling with chair taxis filled with nobles and carried by their servants from meetings to the theatre and all exploits in between.
The original section of the hunting lodge, and later the Kings official bedroom.
The Royal Chapel, were at 10am everyday the Royal family would come to worship. The nobles residing at the Château would also file in, but instead of worshiping towards the golden alter they would be staring up at their King, with backs to the alter.
After stopping at the Chapel, you file through several impressive rooms. All of them remarkable in marble, statues and paintings, all I could think about was I'm glad I had a map...even with that I couldn't exactly determine which room I was in.
But most of them had fabulous views out to the gardens.
Even stairways and hallways were dripping with precious artifacts and highlighted with gold.
Sculptures and paintings of significant royals done by some of the greatest artists of all time surrounded by more marble and gold.
The sculpture of King Louis XIV with his lion mane is sure to amaze. Hard to believe his rags (he grew up as a poor prince) to riches story, and how he made the ultimate come back.
Even as you enter the Guards Waiting Room, the lavish decor does not disappoint.
Nor does the War Room.
But once you enter the Hall of Mirrors it hard not to forget that you have already seen so many splendid paintings and details. The Hall of Mirrors is like walking on a disco ball, everything is bright and sparkly. The room looks out over the gardens and the windows let in an amazing amount of light that reflects off the mirrors directly across from the openings.
Louis the XIV loved the outdoors and hunting so several of the paintings and sculptures have a hunting themes.
The royal bedroom was lavishly decorated in the finest fabric, the King was always surrounded by the royal court and had little privacy...just the curtains to separate him from the onlookers.
The Queens Wing and Bedchamber also was decorated to the hilt. Two of King Louis Queens died here, and 19 princes were born in this room. It is decorated for each season and is currently representing the time Marie-Antoinette spent in this room.
Even the servants stairwell was photo worthy ;)
This closed the day in Versailles, we ventured back to Paris on the train. Cleaned up at the hotel and then headed out for supper. We made reservations and ended up at L'Orangerie and had a fabulous supper, probably the best food we ate the entire time we were on our trip.
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