I’ve always been captivated by France and its history. Having studied French as an optional language at school increased my fascination. Paris was therefore high on our European itinerary and on our second day in that city, I was en route to the Versailles Palace.
We queued in the courtyard outside the expansive limestone buildings with grey roofs. While we waited, our tour guide served us an entrée of historical snippets.
I was unprepared for the scale of grandeur of this piece de resistance. Inside were marble staircases, gilt-edged doors, chandeliers and canopied beds. The walls were adorned by the works of the Who’s Who of artists and impressionists, and other objets d’art.
I imagined what it would have been like, waiting in the outer room to be ushered in to King Louis’ salon. He deliberately had a tiny hole in the wall to eavesdrop on his guests waiting outside.
Queen Marie-Therese’s bedroom was plush and ornate with a raised bed. She would have required a couple of maids to help her step down to the floor.
The Coronation Room had a wall-to-wall painting of the crowning of Empress Josephine. Not far away, I came vis-à-vis with a menacing but impressive Napoleon Bonaparte holding a sword.
The Hall of Mirrors was simply stunning with its many chandeliers. It’s not hard to visualise the crème de la crème of society gracing that long Hall for soirees.
We then entered the room where the Treaty of Versailles was signed. The ornate blue and gold brocade tablecloth was still in mint condition. It was sobering to think back a hundred years to World War I. The signing of the treaty brought an end to the war and the carnage around Europe.
Every room had a story behind its opulent décor and priceless artwork. Walking back down a curved marble staircase with a swish of my camera, I felt a bit regal myself. Was that an accidental curtsey or did I really miss my step while walking?
We then headed outside to view the lavish and spectacular gardens.
Manicured lawns stretched far as the eye could see, with fountains everywhere, flowers, coiffeured hedges, ivory statues and stables. Our visit was timed to coincide with the Fountain Show which was definitely worth the wait. I was amused when the guide told us that gardeners used to discretely hide behind bushes on each level of the terraced gardens. They turned on the fountains just before the King approached, so he always saw the water flowing.
Our matinee at Versailles Palace was soon over. However, the memory stayed with us long after we said Au Revoir and moved on to our next rendezvous.
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