Versailles

King Louis XIV hated Paris, so he tore down his Father's hunting lodge in the town of Versailles and built one of the grandest palaces ever -- 380 million francs, 36000 laborers and enough paintings to stretch 7 miles if they were put end to end.  He and the next two kings ruled France from Versailles where they, and the up to 10,000 courtiers who also lived there, could escape the drudgeries of Paris and enjoy life.  Unfortunately, they enjoyed life a little too much and forgot about all those Parisians.  In October, 1789 the revoluationary mob arrived at the Palace gates, demanded the King and marched him back to Paris.  He and Marie Antoinette were both guillotined three years later. 

Unlike many palaces, this one is sparsely furnished.  During the period of the Revolution, much of the furnishings were auctioned to raise funds for the government.  Today as items come available the Museum tries to buy them back. 

The Royal Courtyard and Palace

The building on the right is the chapel.  The King attended daily mass where his choir sang a newly composed song each day. 

Another view of the Royal Courtyard

The rear view of the Palace. 

 

The line to enter Versaille at mid day.  With Kate's well-planned itinerary we were there early in the morning and didn't wait in line. 

Doug gets in on the family tradition of plotting a tour route. 

Lori loves pots and this one's a classic.

The tourists in the 250 acres of gardens. 

Dr. Seuss must have been one of the gardeners

A couple was taking their wedding pictures in the gardens.  I'm not sure what this shot is suppsed to symbolize. 

Inside the Royal Chapel

The ceiling of the Royal Chapel

The altar

Louis XV's roll-top desk

Kate outside the Petit Trianon, located on the far corner of the estate.  Here Marie Antionette could escape the formalities of Palace life. 

The grounds were huge so there was a lot of walking involved.  Kate and Lori thought these cycles looked like great, but Doug and I weren't so keen on the idea. 

The King's bed.  He led a public life; people were around him all day.  The railing provided separation for the 100 or so people that would gather to watch him arise each day. 

The Queen's bedchamber.  As the revolutionaries stormed the palace, Marie Antionette escaped to the King's bedroom through the door on the left.  As with the King, people gathered to watch her arise....and they also watched her give birth.  Everything was attended by close friends and courtiers.   

The top of the Queen's bed. 

Large art work is being displayed near the palace entrance.  This one looks like giant french fries. 

The Hall of Mirrors.  240 ft long.  The 17 gigantic mirrors on the left echo the windows on the right.  The Treaty of Versailles was signed here in 1919 to end WWI. 

A huge canvas showing Napoleon's coronation.  Another copy hangs in the Louvre.  In the painting Napoleon's mother is in attendance.  In real life she refused to attend.  The early days of Photoshop. 

Mark and Lori by the lake

Hallway in the Palace