We took a 30-minute train ride our to the Palace of Versailles on a very cold and windy day. At times there was bright sunshine, fast-moving clouds, torrential bursts of rain and even hail - quite a weather event. Paris is experiencing a very unusual cold snap so we are feeling right at home, especially if it were November in Seattle!
So, King Louis XIV took a royal hunting lodge and - through four major renovations - transformed it into the spectacular Palace of Versailles. Throughout the palace you can see depictions of Louis as the Roi du Soleil, or the Sun King. In the following pictures you can see the clouds and the changing weather - all in a span of about 5 hours.
The famous Hall of Mirrors
The Sun King in gold on the royal gate, note the ominous clouds in the background...
The Sun King in relief on a door
The modern symbol for the Chateau de Versailles
Some of the interiors of the palace were semi-furnished and it helped you realize what life might have been like long ago in those lavish interiors. Here is Marie Antoinette's bedroom in the main palace:
Her theme was roses, lilac, bows and stylized peacock feathers.
The doomed lady herself...
Part of our Versailles visit included a mini train ride to view the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's private estate.
The music room at Petit Trianon. Notice the sunflower motif in relief on the walls is continued in the carvings on the pink marble fireplace.
One of her private bedrooms
Sunflower motif on a doorknob
Marie Antoinette's custom insignia - her initials MA
No comments:
Post a Comment