Palace of Versailles
There are 2 small palaces on grounds called the Grand and Petite Trianon, these were where the royal family could be more relaxed. There is also a chapel, theatre, grotto, and orangery. There is also a village and farm but I followed the signs and the winding paths but could not find it.
Chapel
Grotto
Petite Trianon
The Palace of Versailles was the official residence of the Kings of France from 1682 until 1790. It was originally a hunting lodge, built in 1624, by Louis XIII. It was expanded by Louis XIV beginning in 1669. He used it as a little lodge as a secret refuge for his amorous trysts with the lovely Louise de la Valliere and built a fairy tale park around it. Jules Hardouin Mansart, the king's principal architect, drew the plans to enlarge what was turning more and more into a palace from A Thousand and One Nights. The terrace that overlooked the gardens was removed to make way for the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, the Galarie de Glaces. It is here from which the king radiated his power and where the destiny of Europe was decided over a century. The French classical architecture was complemented by extensive gardens.
Grande Trianon
Grounds of Versailles
It stopped raining and we went out to see the grounds. The grounds are huge and fantastic. We paid to take a tram to 3 different spots on the grounds, the Grand Trianon, the Petite Trianon, and the Lagoon. Since the tram goes in a circle and you can get on and off we went to the last stop and saw the lagoon first. The site looking back at the Palace with the ponds and lawn and gardens in front was just fantastic. When we got on the tram it went back to the beginning and told everyone to get off, in not particularly pleasant voice and said the ride was over. I said I wanted to go to the first 2 stops because we were told we could get on and off when we wanted and he just kept saying “finis.” we went back to the next tram to leave and had a discussion with the person there who did not want to let us back on but with a refusal to leave he did let us on again and we did the next 2 stops in order this time.
It stopped raining and we went out to see the grounds. The grounds are huge and fantastic. We paid to take a tram to 3 different spots on the grounds, the Grand Trianon, the Petite Trianon, and the Lagoon. Since the tram goes in a circle and you can get on and off we went to the last stop and saw the lagoon first. The site looking back at the Palace with the ponds and lawn and gardens in front was just fantastic. When we got on the tram it went back to the beginning and told everyone to get off, in not particularly pleasant voice and said the ride was over. I said I wanted to go to the first 2 stops because we were told we could get on and off when we wanted and he just kept saying “finis.” we went back to the next tram to leave and had a discussion with the person there who did not want to let us back on but with a refusal to leave he did let us on again and we did the next 2 stops in order this time.
These are just a few pictures, Versailles is huge and must be seen to be appreciated
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