Halyn McIntyre
With the last few days of the trip looming over our heads, we got together for our second to last excursion in Paris, the Palace and Gardens of Versailles. The weather was beautiful, the sun shining for the first time in months (as if the universe was agreeing that this must be our best day) and the crowds small. Our day at Versailles was nothing less than magical, inspirational, and full of history.
Image: Bird Eye View of the Ground of Versailles
I have traveled to Versailles three times now, and after every time I can truly say that I dream of Versailles. We began with the self guided tour through the Palace where we were able to view and experience what life looked like for so many royal members for hundreds of years. From floor to ceiling, the palace exuded luxury. The ceilings having painting beyond comprehension, and the furniture, still perfectly intact, being made of the most beautiful fabrics and woods. The rooms were decorated in only the finest of gold, each pillow having gold threading outlining the florals of the prints. And the bedrooms, each having their own unique assortment of ostrich and peacock feathers at the top of every bed corner, and their mirrors reflecting the sunlight from the 15 ft high windows looking out over the gardens. To call Versailles the epitome of luxury would be an understatement. Walking around is like traveling to a fantasy world, and you cant help but day dream about the days so many royals spent in the halls.
Image: The Central Fountain in the Versailles Gardens Entrance
The most noteworthy rooms in the castle, known around the world for their beauty, are non other then the king and queens bedrooms, and right down the wing, the hallway of mirrors. These rooms truly take your breath away the moment you lay eyes on them.
Image: The Kings Bedroom
The Kings bedroom is themed from top to bottom in red and gold. The drapes being a semitransparent fabric that casts all red shadows around the room. His wall paper, sheets, carpets, and furniture are dyed in the most royal shade of red, with fine floral patterns being sown in with golden thread. The room is completely full with people standing shoulder to shoulder as everyone tries to push to the front to get a picture of his incredibly set bed. I imagine the Kings wouldn’t mind knowing this is how us peasents react to simply their bed now a-days. Atop his bed is a collection of white ostrich feathers, gathered just for their placement here. The unique and stunning room is beyond anything you could imagine.
Image: The Queens Bedroom
Contrary to popular belief (meaning my belief because I got so turned around looking for this room), there are separate rooms in the house for the King and Queen, and also chambers for Mary Antoinette. Meaning Maries room and the Queens room are two separate rooms on completely separate floors and wings of the palace. And though Maries room isn’t much to look at, just green and simple, the Queens room had everyones jaws on the floor. From her floor to ceiling ivory and gold decorations, to her timeless floral bed with white ostrich and peacock feathers at the top. Marie truly was quite the interior decorator. Now, dare I say Maries room had more people then the kings…..I dare. This room was full beyond any other room in the entire palace. The windows, open, allowing for the view of the gardens to be seen, and lighting up the gorgeous artwork placed along her walls and ceilings. This room never ceases to amaze me, and you need at least 25 minutes in here to really soak it all in. This room is the definition of luxury and timeless beauty.
Image: The Hallway of Mirrors
Originally created so the King could walk around and look at himself (cause he loved to do that so much I guess), the hallway of mirrors in a wide and artistically decorated corridor lined with floor to ceiling windows, with floor to ceiling mirrors. Each mirror is encrusted with golden statues of small angles, women, and florals, making the hallway feel almost outside. The crowds here can’t help but snap a million pictures of the pure beauty Versailles created in this hallway. The ceilings are painted in a beautiful depiction of angels and and gods, and the floors have the most unique pattern with so many different colored stone work. This room lives up to all of the expectations, and beyond. It’s such a surreal room to walk through, and one I imagine we all dream of when we leave.
And along with the incredible rooms we were able to experience, the artwork of the palace is beyond comprehension. From floor to ceiling paintings, to the incredible ceiling landscapes painted by hand, every visitor is constantly looking all around them to try and see just the beginning of the beauty of Versailles. This artwork is able to teach us so much about the history of the palace, the history of the royals who lived and partied at Versailles, and the historical beauty of religion, storytelling, and family.
Images: The Ceilings and Artwork of Versailles
After we toured the palace, we were able to move on to more independent time in the gardens. And I personally believe the gardens are the best part of Versailles. With over 20 ft hedges and greenery, Versailles has it all in the gardens.
Images: The Statues of the Versailles Gardens
The statues at Versaille are so similar to the works of art displayed at the Louvre and the Muse D’Orsay. With detailed depictions of Gods, royals, artists, and heros, you find yourself staring at the statues as you walk past. Their perfectly chiseled bodies, heands, weapons, and emotions bring something out in all of us that is indescrible. You truly feel the emotion of the statues, and quickly begin to read and understand the story telling each one possesses. Along with the statues, the fountains are displayed as peices of art as well. Many depicting Gods, they are made of the finest gold, and sit within fish and swam filled lakes, surrounded by people enjoying picnics, gelato, and champagne as they watch the beautiful states glisten in the sunlight. For me, I chose to spend about half an hour with my two friends on the trip, Kiki and Sydney, just sitting infront of the fountains, watching the fish swim by, and tossing bread to the swans. The beauty is so unmatched by any attempt with modern art. The artwork in the Versailles gardens is some of the most moving, beautifully created, and perfectly placed art I have every had the honor of visiting.
Images: The Gardens of Versailles
When looking at the lakes, off the the left side is the flower gardens of Versailles. With hundreds of differnt flower species, citrus trees, and greenery, the gardens are truly magical. Home to so many different wild creatures as well, walking around the gardens is like walking around a Disney movie. The roses the size of your face in every color, and the huge strawberry bushes, cant help but make you smile as you walk. At this point in the day, I was walking around by myself, and I chose to listen to my music and walk around the gardens, really taking it in. For a couple minutes I sat on a bench and just listened to the sounds of nature and the music playing through Versailles speakers, and you cant help but feel like a part of you is at home. The gardens are by far some of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen, and I may have taken a few flowers home with me (though I don’t think I was allowed to).
The history and beauty of Versailles is truly unimaginable and breathtaking. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, you can’t help but walk around in awe of the artwork, gardens, and historical luxury that make up every square inch of the ground of Versailles. Not only is this palace a place of deep historical education, but also one of the most spectacular and unique piece of history that we enjoy the exact way the royals did hundreds of years ago. Visiting Versailles is a day one that no one can forget. For the rest of our lives, we will dream of the day we spent at Versailles.
I can’t wait to see what the final days of this trip will hold.
Halyn McIntyre