Finally... visiting our neighbours!

We moved to Versailles in January 2010, exactly one year ago... and guess what? We never took the time to visit our neighbours!
But last week, first New Year resolution has been executed: on a sunny morning we went over for a visit.
See what beautiful surprises we encountered (& some historical facts too!):

The Château de Versailles, which has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for 30 years, is one of the most beautiful achievements of 18th-century French art. The site began as Louis XIII’s hunting lodge before his son Louis XIV transformed and expanded it, moving the court and government of France to Versailles in 1682. Each of the three French kings who lived there until the French Revolution added improvements to make it more beautiful.
The Hall of Mirrors, the King’s Grand Apartments, the Museum of the History of France. The Château de Versailles, the seat of power until 1789, has continued to unfurl its splendour over the course of centuries. At first it was just a humble hunting lodge built by Louis XIII. But Louis XIV chose the site to build the palace we know today, the symbol of royal absolutism and embodiment of classical French art.

Picture taken in March when my parents and my aunt & uncle were visiting us

In the 1670s Louis XIV built the Grand Apartments of the King and Queen, whose most emblematic achievement is the Hall of Mirrors designed by Mansart, where the king put on his most ostentatious display of royal power in order to impress visitors. The Chapel and Opera were built in the next century under Louis XV.

All so shiny...

The château lost its standing as the official seat of power in 1789 but acquired a new role in the 19th century as the Museum of the History of France, which was founded at the behest of Louis-Philippe, who ascended to the throne in 1830. That is when many of the château’s rooms were taken over to house the new collections, which were added to until the early 20th century, tracing milestones in French history.

(info via the official website).

Some beautiful doors

The Hercules Room

The Royal Chapel

 

So many rich materials are used

  

 The famous Hall of Mirrors

We were not the only visitors...

 

A glimpse of the gardens, even beautiful in winter time

Wanna now what the gardens look like in summer, then have a look at this.

Bisous,

Picture credits of The Royal Chapel/The Hercules room: www.chateauversailles.fr