Chateau de Versailles, Paris

I have just returned from a brilliant few days in Paris. We went with a coach company and so it was all 'planned out for us'. One of the places which we were due to visit on the second day. When I realised that we were going there, I had a look on the website and when I saw the pictures I was amazed and could not wait to go there. ~ * What Is Versaille Palace ? *~ This palace was the home to the French Kings between 1682 and 1789. The monarchy was brought to an end after the French revolution. Today, the palace is open to tourists. As we went on a bus I am not sure of the way, although I know ... more

As I stepped off the coach the heavens opened and rain began to cascade from the sky. I was experiencing my first parisian rain and, far from being, the imagined romantic drifting soft dew I would have expected from the precipitation of such a fine city, the water poured down like a monsoon. I trudged my way to the palace's courtyard, followed at a more sedate pace by the members of the Newdigate Women's Institute. (Although not a member myself, not qualifying by some 40 years, the offer to join them in Paris at only £75 for two nights including travel had been irresistible). Our guide ... more

Stunning, superb, amazing – there are not enough superlatives to describe this mother of all palaces. I have been to Versailles twice so far and have still not managed to see it all. I was expecting it to be grand but nothing on the scale of what is found at Versailles. Versailles was the home to the French kings from 1682 until the Revolution of 1789 brought the monarchy to an end. I’m afraid I really don’t know that much about the history behind it all and to be honest I am not too interested. Long, long ago I read some historical romances featuring Angelique as the heroine ... more

The palace of the 'Roi Soleil', Louis XIV, is a thing of splendour, majesty and pomp, definitely not to be omitted from your tour of France. The work at Versailles began when the young king visited Nicholas Fouquet at his chateau, Vaux-Le-Vicomte; Overcome with jealousy, Louis set about the realisation of his own dream. Building commenced in 1661, as Louis consecrated his status of 'absolute' king with a palace that reflected his greatness. He brought together the finest architects, artists and gardeners from across Europe to fabricate this monument 'A tous les Gloires de la France'. Now this ... more

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 live in splendour at the time, easy to see though why the French rebelled against this. If you get the chance to visit, it's worth putting up with ... more

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, go to Paris...It was all I could do to stop myself dragging the nearest frenchman up a back street and letting the whole world know i was there ... more

We made the pilgrimage to Versailles on a sweltering hot June day this year - along with about a million other people! The journey out from central Paris by rail is very easy, and you can buy combined rail/entry tickets at the station on your outward trip, or alternatively, invest in a 'Carte' which allows entry to various museums. I would not recommend waiting until you get there to buy an entry ticket: queues are long and tempers fray easily. The place is, of course, stupendous - built on a massive scale, so big that they lay on a little toytown train to ferry you out to the Trianons, which ... more