Versailles. Words honestly can not describe how beautiful that place is. I can understand why the french people were so upset with the kings for having what they had when they had so little because that place is breath-taking. The day began cold and wet which was dissappointing because I wanted a good day for Versailles, but it turned out for the best. We got this great tour guide named Sid who was very animated and interesting to listen too. I thoroughly enjoyed him. He also had this sweet mullet on the back of his head that was braided. Don't worry as soon as we all saw that, camera's were out and we were trying to get some sweet shots of his braid. I think mine is pretty good.
The palace of Versailles started out as a hunting lodge. Louix XIII was the first king that started to build more onto the palace. But Louis XIV was the king that really got the palace going. When he became king he told parliament that he wanted the capital of France to be changed from Paris to Versailles and waned a beautiful palace built. That same day he told parliament that he did not want a prime minister and so Louix XIV ran the country almost entirely by himself. He was such an important factor in the building of Versailles that his mark 'the sun' is seen throughout the palace. The inside of the palace is beautiful. Large glass windows, huge diamond chandeliers, large paintings that go from floor to ceiling, and intricate furniture. I honestly could not imagine that anyone lived there.
When I walked outside the palace into the gardens I honestly could not speak. It was so beautiful. The land around this place is huge! Just acres and acres of space, covered in trees and flowers and bush mazes (i'm not sure what they're called ha ha). One of my favorite parts about the gardens at Versailles was what Louis XIV called 'Little Venice'. It was this lake that was surrounded by trees and there were little boats all along it. Sid said that he used it to transport things back and forth. It was very beautiful.
Every king and queen that lived in Versailles added something new to the place. Louix XVI and Marie Antoinette's changes I feel were the greatest and the most beautiful. Marie Antoinette hated living at Versailles and being in the public eye all of the time. Her husband really loved her so he built her a Petit Trianon or little palace where she could go to get away from Versailles. Around the Petit Trianon there is a place called Hamlet which is suppossed to resemble the countryside in Austria where she was from. It is the cutest little place. Honestly it is magical. There are little houses and gardens everywhere and a beautiful little pond. It was my favorite part of Versailles. I could see why Marie Antoinette loved being there so much.
There is just too much to tell about Versailles! It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I'm really glad that I was able to see it.