You might wonder why I fast-forwarded my last day in Paris. Because, technically, I wasn't in Paris that day: I was in Château de Versailles.
The public transportation in Paris was so good that it took only €5,60 for a roundtrip train ticket to Versailles. Get it in any Metro station. I even got on a train to the wrong direction but rest assured, my friend. Just get out of the train and wait for a few minutes for the next train heading to the other direction. After you arrived, simply follow the crowd or prominent signs to get to the Palace. Unfortunately it was under renovation so no good picture of the outside. After you waited in the line for the €20 all-inclusive ticket, you started your "tour de Versailles" with the Royal Chapel.
Then you walked your way through numerous exquisitely decorated rooms for the Kings and Queens of France. Sorry I forgot which number you were, Louis!
The most famous hall in Versailles is undoubtedly the Hall of Mirrors, where the treaty was signed for the World War I. Because mirrors were more expensive than gold in the old time, the Hall of Mirrors was a bloody show-off of French Kings' stately wealth. Check out the breathtaking panoramics. More here.
You know I liked it because I had my picture taken here, by a friendly and fashionable Chinese. Don't be disappointed by the people in the background: You'll be lucky to be able to identify which one is you in the picture so get used to it!
This was an interesting way of treating kids: Put them in gold and let them help erect the lamps.
The Chandeliers looked great even with fake candles.
The bed was the "official" bed for the queen, although she didn't use it too often, we were told. Funny they put a rooster on top of it.
And here came the most famous and most tragical queen of France, Marie Antoinette. She was everywhere in Versailles; she *was* Versailles.
In one of the big room, the walls were painted by great French painters. The Coronation of Napoleon by David was probably the most famous one, whose original canvas version was seen in Louvre.
In the picture, the newly crowned Napoléon was crowning his empress, Joséphine.
After I finished the main palace, I visited the house for the dauphin and dauphine, where Marie Antoinette lived for a few years before her husband became the king. It was quite modest compared to the palace for the king and queen but more intimate, which was nicer to live in.
It seemed Marie Antoinette was very interested in decorating their rooms.
And she surely had a good taste.
Having finished the palaces, you would walk a long long way through the gardens.
It was an irritatingly long walk: The people who used to live here certainly didn't walk themselves. This place was so big that they even made a canal inside for the royals to put their boats in.
What did I walk the long way for? The Marie Antoinette Estate, which consisted the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet. Before I started, let me mention that I was such a good tourist that I downloaded the free podcast of the Versailles, which included the audio guide of the estate. Following the guide, I started with the Grand Trianon and found this room with the pool table.
I should have called these rooms "salons" but let's be American for a change.
And after seeing so many beautifully decorated rooms, I thought Marie Antoinette would have had a nice career as an interior designer had she not become the queen.
The gallery, like most of them in Versailles, was almost empty. But you could imagine what it would look like back then.
Once again, the queen of lavish lifestyle and bold fashion.
The guide told us that the Petit Trianon was her favorite and she spent most of her time here to escape from the court formality.
And like all rich people, she wanted to live a farmer's life, without the farming part, of course.
It was beautifully done. She could sell tickets for this, not that she needed the money.
The hamlet was built in a Northern European fashion.
And let's end our visit at the Temple of Love, where I took a picture for a happy couple. They kindly offered to take a picture for me but I said "no, thanks". Because it would be a sad picture. But don't worry. I'll come back.
The public transportation in Paris was so good that it took only €5,60 for a roundtrip train ticket to Versailles. Get it in any Metro station. I even got on a train to the wrong direction but rest assured, my friend. Just get out of the train and wait for a few minutes for the next train heading to the other direction. After you arrived, simply follow the crowd or prominent signs to get to the Palace. Unfortunately it was under renovation so no good picture of the outside. After you waited in the line for the €20 all-inclusive ticket, you started your "tour de Versailles" with the Royal Chapel.
Then you walked your way through numerous exquisitely decorated rooms for the Kings and Queens of France. Sorry I forgot which number you were, Louis!
The most famous hall in Versailles is undoubtedly the Hall of Mirrors, where the treaty was signed for the World War I. Because mirrors were more expensive than gold in the old time, the Hall of Mirrors was a bloody show-off of French Kings' stately wealth. Check out the breathtaking panoramics. More here.
You know I liked it because I had my picture taken here, by a friendly and fashionable Chinese. Don't be disappointed by the people in the background: You'll be lucky to be able to identify which one is you in the picture so get used to it!
This was an interesting way of treating kids: Put them in gold and let them help erect the lamps.
The Chandeliers looked great even with fake candles.
The bed was the "official" bed for the queen, although she didn't use it too often, we were told. Funny they put a rooster on top of it.
And here came the most famous and most tragical queen of France, Marie Antoinette. She was everywhere in Versailles; she *was* Versailles.
In one of the big room, the walls were painted by great French painters. The Coronation of Napoleon by David was probably the most famous one, whose original canvas version was seen in Louvre.
In the picture, the newly crowned Napoléon was crowning his empress, Joséphine.
After I finished the main palace, I visited the house for the dauphin and dauphine, where Marie Antoinette lived for a few years before her husband became the king. It was quite modest compared to the palace for the king and queen but more intimate, which was nicer to live in.
It seemed Marie Antoinette was very interested in decorating their rooms.
And she surely had a good taste.
Having finished the palaces, you would walk a long long way through the gardens.
It was an irritatingly long walk: The people who used to live here certainly didn't walk themselves. This place was so big that they even made a canal inside for the royals to put their boats in.
What did I walk the long way for? The Marie Antoinette Estate, which consisted the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet. Before I started, let me mention that I was such a good tourist that I downloaded the free podcast of the Versailles, which included the audio guide of the estate. Following the guide, I started with the Grand Trianon and found this room with the pool table.
I should have called these rooms "salons" but let's be American for a change.
And after seeing so many beautifully decorated rooms, I thought Marie Antoinette would have had a nice career as an interior designer had she not become the queen.
The gallery, like most of them in Versailles, was almost empty. But you could imagine what it would look like back then.
Once again, the queen of lavish lifestyle and bold fashion.
The guide told us that the Petit Trianon was her favorite and she spent most of her time here to escape from the court formality.
And like all rich people, she wanted to live a farmer's life, without the farming part, of course.
It was beautifully done. She could sell tickets for this, not that she needed the money.
The hamlet was built in a Northern European fashion.
And let's end our visit at the Temple of Love, where I took a picture for a happy couple. They kindly offered to take a picture for me but I said "no, thanks". Because it would be a sad picture. But don't worry. I'll come back.
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