Adventure is Out There: Chateau de Versaille-Part 1 in the Chateau

I've dreamt about wandering the gardens of Versailles ever since my high school history teacher described it in one of his lectures.

I was almost tempted to skip this outing due to the fact that we'd have to get up way too early amd most of us are still suffering the forever lingering cold. Plus, Versailles is no small endeavor. It requires most of your day in order to really get the full experience. However, after doing more research about it and listening to Rick Steves describe the view of the gardens I knew we had to go. I downloaded Mr. Steves walking tour and did some research about the history so I could share with our group. We were ready for Versailles.

When the alarm rang to wake up a few hours later, it was hard to roll out of bed. Our goal was to arrive at Versailles by 8:30am (they open the gates at 0900). You want to be in line before the gates open to avoid the crowds. We left our apartment at 0715 to catch the first metro. We would have to switch from the Saint Paul (1) to the B train and then get off at Notre Dame exit to get on the long C train all the way to Versailles. When we arrived at the subway we realized the guys (Pedro, Josef and Shane) didn't make it. They were still trying to wake up. Miss Dania and her crew sadly departed early this morning for Spain. We already missed them.

The overall train ride from our apartment to Versailles was about 45 minutes. The longest train ride was about 30 minutes long and most of us fell asleep. When we arrived, we made a mad dash off the train. Imagine the Disneyland tram when you get off? Everyone is making a run for the entrance. The walk from the train station to Versailles is about 5 minutes but we made a quick stop at the tourist office (located next to the Pullman hotel) to buy tickets for the musical garden show. Our museum pass includes entrance into Versailles but not the special garden area or Marie Antoinette estate. Rick Steves tip was to purchase those tickets at the tourist office to avoid any lines. When we arrived at the complex there was already a line of a couple thousand people.

I thought at first these people were in line to purchase tickets but I was wrong. We quickly got in line and waited for the gates to open.

The gates are painted with gold!

A statue of King Luis XIV outside the gates of Versailles. Even though the weather was chilly we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful sunny day to explore Versailles.

As the gates started to open, the guys arrived just in time to join us. After going through security you end up in the courtyard of the estate. I didn't think anything could be bigger than the Louvre, but the Chateau was at least three times bigger. I gave us about 2 hours to walk through the Chateau before going out to the gardens for the show.

You get a free audioguide with your admission ticket, but Super Nel and I had the Rick Steves walking audioguide so we used that instead. I like how he explains the history and his silly jokes.

Versailles was created by King Luis XIV. He did so for personal and political reasons. He grew up visiting Versailles when it was just a rustic hunting lodge. He hated being stuck in the city of Paris so he chose to make Versailles an amazing estate and moved court out to the country. His political reason for doing so was to keep court in the country because he could control them and keep them busy and from plotting against him. King Luis XIV was known as the Sun King and everyone loved him. He enjoyed dancing and parties and had some very sexy legs. He ruled for 72 years. Later the current King and his wife Marie Anntoinette were removed from Versailles during the French Revolution when the people forced the royals back to Paris. Versailles was later turned into a tourist attraction.

The Chateau is broken up into 2 sections-the King's quarters and Queen's quarters.

The only reference to Christianity at Versailles was the church. This was because King Luis wanted to be known as the people's Sun God.

Every morning at 10am King Luis would walk through the doors of the church for morning prayer.

The official key to the gates of Versailles.

One of many paintings of the King in the Chateau. King Luis was a very fashionable King. Entire industries were created to make wigs and clothing. The fashions of the King spread world wide. Even George Washington wore a wig from this influence.

A hallway of statues.

Some of the King's quarters:

The ceiling of one of the rooms. The rooms are named after people from the Roman era-Apollo room, Mercury room, Diana room, etc.

This is the room you came into during a big party if you wanted a quieter space to enjoy a drink. Behind these doors, King Luis would invite special ladies to join him. They might look at his artwork, including the Mona Lisa (this is where she lived before moving to the Lourve!).

Can you see the flower garland in the painting? Then it extends to the barrier of the painting with the wood. Barroque style of art used different means of making art look bigger than it really was.