Versailles Castle

The Versailles castle 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, 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 to the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, the Galerie des Glaces. It is from where the king radiated his power and where the destiny of Europe was decided over a century. The French classical architecture was completed by extensive gardens.

As you approach the château, you pass through the Cour des Ministres, paved with cobblestones. Here stands a statue of Louis XVI as he looks at a town which basically only existed to create houses for 20,000 noblemen, their servants and other members of the court who could find no room at the chateau containing 3,000 beds!
The Chateau proposes two itineraries; either a guided tour or not. Apart from the state apartments of the king and queen and the Galerie des Glaces (the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed at the end of World War 1), that you can visit on your own, most of the palace can only be viewed in guided groups, and whose times are much more restricted. Long queues are common.

There are over 600 fountains in the gardens, many designed by Le Brun and Mignard. The Seine river, several miles away, had to be diverted to keep water flowing in order to make the fountains work. The water rushed in and filled huge above-ground basins. The gravity pull is what kept the fountains running.

From 1661 and 1700, 250 acres of land were turned into intricate gardens and parks by Le Nôtre. The grounds are a perfect example of classic French formal gardens, (derived from the Italian design theory) adorned with marble, bronze and lead statues and fountains. The geometric flower beds, combined with fountains mix magically with the architecture of the palace. Beyond the formal gardens is the Petit Parc, and the Grand Parc providing an area for strolling or walking. 
 
Museum of the National Assembly They have a wonderful permanent exhibit, "The Big Hours of Parliament". This show presents the history of parliament, a short film in the Dome of the Congress, as well as several sessions in the southern wing of the chateau, about the different activities of the congressmen. The complete visit lasts about 1h30

Address

Chateau de Versailles, Versailles

How to get there ?

RER C : Versailles Chantiers, Versailles Rive Gauche. (Please note special rates) Bus : 171

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