#palaceversailles

[m1male2]

Chapel of Louis XIV, the fifth and last chapel of the Château de Versailles is a masterpiece of French Baroque. Dedicated to Saint Louis, patron saint of the Bourbons, its construction began in 1689 and was consecrated in 1710.

[cjsheridan]

The Royal Stables of Versailles

The French royal family really knew how to travel in style. You can catch a glimpse of their finery in an exhibition of royal carriages at Versailles Palace.

The exhibition is free to enter and is situated in the vast stable buildings opposite the main palace entrance.

Built between 1679 and 1682, this was one of the biggest ever projects to house horses. Now, it is home to the impressive Gallery of Coaches, the National School of Architecture of Versailles, the Centre for research and restoration of the museums of France and, unsurprisingly, the Equestrian Academy of Versailles.

It includes carriages used by both royalty and Napoleon, in state visits and also state funerals.

The impressive fine detail on the wheels and on the tops of the carriages are breathtaking.

The royal processions of yesteryear must truly have been a sight to behold. Fascinating videos detail the history of the pieces, including recent loans to other countries. 

This exhibition is a must see, so make sure you make time during your Versailles visit.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my photographic tour of the palace of Versailles. If you do get the chance to visit this amazing palace complex, I urge you to do so. Make sure you stay in the town of Versailles - it’s an oasis of calm not far from Paris, so you have the best of both worlds.

[m1male2]

Salón de Venus #PalacioVersalles, Paris

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEcUBzZHaJg/?igshid=7hao18kw7312

[cjsheridan]

The Perfect Petit Trianon

The Petit Trianon

This picturesque little oasis was a romantic getaway for yet another French king and his mistress - this time Louis XV and the Comtesse Du Barry. Completed in 1768, it was given as a gift to Marie-Antoinette by Louis XVI and became her favourite place to escape from life at court.

This is one of my favourite places in the Versailles grounds - it has such a calm, peaceful air to it. There are so many beautiful flowers in the formal gardens and it includes The Queen’s Theatre, hidden away in a quiet corner.

Marie-Antoinette’s influence is evident all over the building, from a bust (above), to a portrait of her proudly hanging in one of the Petit Trianon’s rooms (below). There is also traditional clothing on display. 

The rooms are far more informal in decor than the other official residences in the palace grounds. Marie-Antoinette’s bedroom (below) is a fine example of this.

The Temple of Love (below) proudly provides a romantic backdrop in the Petit Trianon gardens (also handy rain cover, should you need it).

The Queen’s Hamlet

This was built between 1786 and 1786 in a rustic design, which was fashionable at the time. It boasts a working farm, complete with all manner of animals, from goats to donkeys, and is a quaint, peaceful idyll on the edge of the palace estate.

A short five-minute walk from the Temple of Love, it is only accessible via the Petit Trianon gardens. But it is well worth taking the time to explore.

The Marlborough Tower (above) is just one of the highlights of this beautiful little oasis.

A fabulous little farm houses goats (below) and chickens, among other animals. This must have been the perfect little hideaway from the pressures of royal life.

Don’t miss next week’s blog about the Royal Stables.

[cjsheridan]

Vistas of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is a sight to behold. Once the home of French royalty, this sprawling mini metropolis gives a fascinating insight into times gone by.

As BBC2 screens the last episode in season two of the fabulous drama series Versailles, I wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate this amazing location.

Taken over the course of two visits to this fabulous venue, these photos are my tribute to this palace. The town of Versailles is also a wonderful place – it has the beauty of Paris but without the hustle and bustle of the city, plus it’s so close to Paris, it’s almost a suburb (only 30 minutes away on the train). It almost has a rural town feel and has the most amazing weekend market you’ve ever seen – all of the fresh produce looks so mouth-watering.

Originally Louis XIII’s hunting lodge, this site was transformed into the seat of the government in 1682 by his son, Louis XIV. Royalty were forced to leave the site after the French Revolution in 1789 and it was turned into the Museum of the History of France in 1837.

Part of the park land around the palace is common land, which is open to the public with free admission. However, other areas you have to pay to enter, such as the Estate of the Trianon.

To plan a visit, I recommend visiting the town for a long weekend and purchasing the 2-Day Passport ticket - which entitles you to visit everything in the palace and grounds over two days. You will need two days as the grounds are vast and you will not see it all in just one.

A World Heritage Site, it’s easy to see why – from the grand chapel to the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors, each room is a site to behold. Please join me as I explore the main palace and grounds with my camera.

The chapel (below) is just one of the grand sights inside the palace.

The glittering Hall of Mirrors (below) is the centrepiece of the interior of the palace.

There is even an Angelina tea room inside - complete with, in my humble opinion, the BEST hot chocolate in the world! You HAVE to try it! Their croissants (below) aren’t bad either!

The main gardens boast sumptuous statues and fabulous fountains including the Dragon Fountain, below. There are also musical fountain displays which run during the summer season.

And if you fancy a bit of refreshment as you wander around - why not stop for an ice cream at this lovely old-fashioned ice cream vendor (below).

Louis XIV, above, surveys his splendid home.

Don’t miss future instalments detailing the rest of the grounds, in which I’ll be offering a glimpse into the Estate of the Trianon.

[raised-and-confused-blog1]

Palace of Versailles, France.

[raised-and-confused-blog1]

Palace of Versailles, France.

[raised-and-confused-blog1]

Palace of Versailles, France.