Friday, June 10, 2011

Our visit to the Chateau de Versailles

With Paris being a bit crowded, we decided to take a day train trip over to the Chateau de Versailles.  We were so glad we did!  Right when we arrived, we got off of the train and saw this big building on the corner.  We were sold, it was beautiful and we thought that was it!  Thankfully, some sweet tourists from San Diego stopped to take our picture and said "you know the Chateau is across that street and down, right?"  Uhh, no.  We didn't.  But once we started walking up to this place... 
we were wildly impressed!

The Chateau is absolutely breathtaking!  The front is covered in gold.  We didn't want to go inside once we saw the gardens.  Acres and acres of beautifully landscaped park.  It was one of the largest and most beautiful gardens I will probably ever see!

In the middle of the 'backyard' - there was a beautiful man made lake.  We rented a row boat and rode around.  The weather was hot - over 80 degrees, which we hear is unseasonably warm.  We both got a little farmers tan ;)
Map of the gardens, courtesy.
The Chateau from the front and the back.  The gardens weren't complete, but I loved the thousands of tulips!
I was a terrible boat rower, so TL did most of the rowing ;)
The Neptune Fountain was spectacular.  It only goes on once per day for about 20 minutes.  The incredible thing about these fountains is the piping and their age.  They've been original since the Chateau was built in 17th Century!

We walked at least 3-5 miles that day through the passage ways.  Everywhere you turned was another fountain, garden, or sculpture.

If you ever get the chance to visit Paris, I strongly recommend taking the 30 minute train ride over here.  It is magnificent!

28 comments:

Jessica said...

Those pictures are gorgeous! I would LOVE to go to Paris one day!! and how fun you got to go on a row boat!!

Rachel said...

Versailles is the only thing I really care about seeing in France! I have read every Marie Antionette biography and I can't wait to see it in real life!
:)
Y'all have fun!

Melissa: Write it in Lipstick said...

Amazing is that the garden where they filmed the man in the Iron Mask?

Julie@beingRUBY said...

HI Tracy
You lucky girl.. travelling again.. I certainly have the urge to take off.. and this would be a wonderful destination.. Somehow I never made it to Versailles in both my trips to Paris.. maybe next time

You look like you are having the time of your life .. and I love that shot of the tree lined avenue!! fabulous!

Have a lovely weekend and thanks for popping in my way!! ciao xxx Julie

Perfectly Imperfect said...

This was my favorite part of my trip to Paris. Hands down. In fact, it's about the only part I remember! I loved it there! Great pictures!

Lauren said...

OH my goodness! Versailles is one of my favorite memories from my high school trip to Europe! Beautiful!

Kimberly said...

your pictures are beautiful. I love all the tulips.

Katie said...

That place looks gorgeous! And lucky you on the weather! :-) I could probably spend all day there too!

Anonymous said...

i am new follower :-)

your trip looks A-MAZING!!!! i have always wanted to travel to Europe and especially visit Paris. your pictures inspired me to do so, at least once in my life :-)
have a great weekend!

Katie said...

That looks absolutely beautiful!

erinj0 said...

I have always heard that France is not one of the top places to visit, but Versailles looks absolutely breathtaking. Now that would be a place in France that I would love to visit - I hope you really enjoyed or are enjoying your trip!!!

So glad I found your blog :)
xoxo

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

The photos look amazing! It looks like it was such a beautiful day and a great place to be!

Lacey in the City said...

Oh how gorgeous!!! What an exciting time for me to stumble across your blog - thanks so much for commenting on mine last week and leading me here! YES - we are fellow SFSU'ers! I was there from 2005 - 2007. Did we overlap? I hope that you guys have a great rest of your trip!!

Lindsay @ la vita dolce said...

Gorgeous!!! The day I was in Paris I've never walked so much in my life :) but it was worth it!!
The row bow rude is awesome, what a fun idea :-)

Bel said...

Oh wow those photos are UNBELIEVABLE!!! Gorgeous :)

<3 Belly B

Bree said...

What lovely pictures these are! I would love to visit the Neptune Fountain!

artofbeingcool.blogspot.com

Carol {Everyday Delights} said...

Just lovely! When Nick and I went it was in November so none of the flowers were bloomed like they were for you. We said we must go back when the flowers were out!

Lori said...

What a gorgeous place Tracy ~ you had quite the trip and I have enjoyed reading them all!! xo

Jamie said...

How pretty! I can't wait to go back to Europe!

Life Abroad said...

It looks so beautiful! We never got a chance to visit it, but now I know that we will definitely have to go back one day. I love the picture of the same height trees, looking down the pathway, it looks so surreal! Ah I am really enjoying living vicariously through your travels right now!

Hope you had a great weekend xo

Kristin said...

Thats awesome you caught the fountain turning the 20 minute show!! Its beautiful!

Lindsay said...

I loved Versailles. It's just amazing when you think about how long ago everything was built. It left me speechless.

Let The Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore said...

Stunning photos! xx

Katie said...

Awesome pictures Tracy!! looks so much fun

Taryn said...

I absolutely loved Versailles when I was in Paris! Your pics brought back such good memories!!

xoxo
Taryn

Unknown said...

fabulous images!! I love france. I prefer the sud though

Im so glad I found your blog though! A lot more reading to do ^_^

Claire

Http://hearthandmadeuk.blogspot.com

Sierra said...

It certainly looks magnificent! Gorgeous views and it sounds like you got some good exercise too!

MissBliss said...

discovered your blog today... LOVE the title and love it! Glad you had some Parisian and outside of Paris adventures ;)