Chateau de Versailles, Paris

...his minister's houses, the beautiful chateau at Fontainebleu. After his death the Palace was left vacant for a while until inhabited by Louis XV, remaining the official residence of the royal family until the Revolution in 1789, after which it was left to stand and decay until it was turned into a museum in 1837, although it was not until the 20th century that full restoration works began. VISITING INFORMATION Cost: 7.50 Euros (plus your money for ...

Ophelia 09.09.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Chateau de Versailles, Paris

...know where to begin. The chateau is obviously impressive but has been copied so often that it seems in some ways familiar. It is the gardens and the grottoes and the sheer size of the whole that has captured my heart and imagination. These stunning formal gardens epitomise French Classicism and the immense scale of this elegant creation testifies to the ‘Sun King’s’ power not only over his people but, at least in his own mind, ...
...buildings: apart from the main chateau there are also a couple of baby chateaux. The largest is the Trianon which the king used for getting away from it all. It’s a pretty pink palace for family use as opposed to the whole court. The Petit Trianon was Marie-Antoinette’s special little getaway and nearby is her picturesque little hamlet. The hamlet has a farmhouse, a mill, dairy, dovecote and lake. Here Marie-Antoinette played at being ...

Freespirit 30.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Chateau de Versailles, Paris

...a fountain which faces the chateau and a statue of Apollo, (representative of the sun and Louis himself). The fountain is semi-submerged , with four deranged horses pulling the god of the sea from his murky depths. I have never seen another statue that stirs with life as this one does. The history of Versailles does not end with Louis XIV, it transcends through the centuries of french monarchs and Emperors, each adding or taking away as tastes dictated. ...
...Pompadour and Madame de Barry. Not to be forgotten, simply because of the folly involved, is 'Le Hameau de la Reine': This is a small village in the grounds that was built for Marie-Antoinette, ("let them eat cake") so that she could play at being a lowly milkmaid. The servants were ordered to satify the Queen's every whim and had to roleplay, baker, fisherman etc. etc. No wonder there was a revolution! I definitely suggest a guided tour, or at ...

peel.rebekah 19.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Chateau de Versailles, Paris

If you are going to Paris at all you must visit this wonderful place. Although you are packed in with crowds of other tourists, it is well worth it. It is absolutely spectacular inside and outside. One of the main features for me was the Hall of Mirrors. Definitely a sight worth seeing. Together with the fantastic gardens and Nepoleon's apartments you could not fail to be impressed. It is absolutely astounding - magnificent. The royals really did ...

Bethnone37 14.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Chateau de Versailles, Paris

Paris....I always wanted to go there, its supposed to be the city where you fall in love. Well I spent 3 days with a female friend, and at the end of it we both felt unloved and unwanted!. Paris is a city where romance is everywhere, in the little niches on the pont neuf, in the main square of the louvre at night, in the cafes and bars on the backstreets, there are secret trysts between lovers. If you want to put the sensuality back in your life, ...

ARyder 16.12.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Chateau de Versailles, Paris

...for a tour of the chateau itself, seriously consider investing in an audio guide: this buys you access to more rooms and gets you away from the truly horrendous crowds shuffling through the main salons. I've never seen so many people crammed together: literally shoulder-to-shoulder, and crawling along at a snail's pace: not much fun, especially on a hot day. Overall verdict: worth seeing, but plan carefully and pace yourself! ...

pennyg 20.07.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Chateau de Versailles, Paris