Versailles, which is southwest
of Paris, was a modest village until 1624,
when Louis XIII had a castle built
there. It was later enlarged by
Louis XIV and assumed it's present
day appearance by 1690. For 100
years it was the principal residence
of the Kings of France and the
seat of government. In 1790
the King and his family left the Palace
and returned to Paris. In 1837 it
was restored by Louis Philippe and
converted the Palace to a Museum
of French History. Occupied by
the Germans in 1870, it was the scene
of the coronation of Wilhelm
of Prussia as emperor of Germany.
In 1919 the Treaty of
Versailles between the Allies and Germany was
signed at the Palace in the Hall
of Mirrors. Again it was restored and
modernized under President
Charles de Gaulle and now it serves as a
tourist attraction.
The most luxurious wing of
the Palace is the Hall of Mirrors. Constructed
in 1678, it is 246 feet long and
33 feet wide and it's ceilings are decorated
with paintings by Le Brun celebrating French
victories. It's beauty derives from the
17 large windows which look out onto the
park, corresponding to
a similar number of mirrors on the opposite
wall...so the whole gallery is
flooded with light.
The Chapel designed
by Hardouin-Mansart was built around 1700.
We saw the Grand Apartment,
which was the King's suite, where he received
his court 3 times a week and where
Louis XIV died in 1715.
The Grand Apartment of the
Queen was elaborate and ornately decorated.
The Gardens of Versailles
occupy an area of 250 acres. It's
design was subject to strict geometric
principals and it contains wooded areas,
flower beds, statues and fountains.
The Fountain of Apollo depicts
the chariot of the god being pulled by
horses, while tritons blow on their
shells to announce the god's arrival.
We toured the Castle,
with NO air conditioning in 90+ degrees!
After awhile we left and went to
a nearby café for a cold drink and
pastry before going back to walk
in the gardens. ;-) We had a lovely
day in Versailles and brought back
wonderful memories.