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| Château de Versailles and gardens |
Versailles is only a train ride from Paris and there is so much to explore in this magnificent sixteenth century château with its adjacent park. Just head out on your own and forget the bus tours that leave you feeling like you are part of a herd.
There are two ways to accomplish this excursion. There are private tours available for a behind the scenes look which is a totally awesome experience or you can choose to enjoy a full day of exploring the château and grounds on your own. One can also decide to combine the two which is what I opted for.
As with most journeys a bit of preparation is encouraged.
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If you have the luxury of planning your visit in advance join La Société des amis de Versailles so you won’t wait in lines. Simply go to their website and apply for a basic membership (60 euros) which will give you access to the Château at any time during the span of one year. Sometimes it is good to indulge oneself and bypassing long lines is a big plus. (http://www.amisdeversailles.com/adherez.php?article_id=20)
The best maps that I found can be downloaded from Rick Steves internet site on visiting Versailles. The maps are simple and are the perfect guide for a days adventure. So be prepared and download these for your reference. (http://www.ricksteves.com/images/france/versailles.pdf)
Now to get there! The RER (Rèseau Express Regional) is a commuter rail service connecting Paris and its suburbs. Take ligne RER C in the direction of Versailles Château - Rive Gauche. You can leave from Gare d’Austerlitz. Saint-Michel Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, Pont de l’Alma or Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel. About 40 minutes later, while sitting in a comfortable seat, you are quietly and gently whisked to Versailles. (There are only two tricky things to remember. Buy a return ticket so you need not wait in line for the return voyage and always keep your ticket since you will need it to enter and to leave the train station.)
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| looking at the garden |
So here you are in Versailles with maps in hand. I suggest that you start with the Château entering through the State Apartments from the King’s Wing and simply continue walking. You will pass through the grand Hall of Mirrors where you can marvel at the seventeen arched mirrors that match the 17 adjacent windows. The Hall is 250 feet long with 24 gilded candelabra, busts of Roman emperors, statues and ornate decorations, gilt and paintings throughout. On an historical note, the Treaty of Versailles was signed here ending World War I.
The next impressive area is the Hall of Battles filled with murals of the great battles of France. Not to be missed are the Queen’s Grand Apartment and the King’s Grand Apartment. Other memorable rooms are the Nobles Salon, the Guard room and the recently and beautifully renovated Mercury Salon and the Antechamber of the Grand Couvert.
