This is one of the well-known sights of Paris and one that I found the most awe-inspiring in all of France. For some, the bustle and hurry you find in a city the size of Paris can be a bit much and make a trip less than relaxing. But an afternoon at the palace of Versailles will restore all of your calm and reawaken the awe that brought you to the City of Lights. And if you love the atmosphere of Paris, you can't help but be entranced by the calming and really beautiful gardens of Versailles.

It's 14 miles outside of Paris, easily reached by bus, train, or car. By car, head down the Motorway A13 from Paris to the exit Versailles-Château. This is a sight that really is worth the drive.
I was on a two-week hard-core sightseeing trip around Europe and was expecting just another tourist stop. But there is a beauty and serenity there that was one of the nicest parts of Europe.

The costs to go into the palace vary depending on the kind of tour you take, but the average admission price is 7.50 euros. The chateau is open from Tuesday to Sunday, and for most of the year from 9 am to 6:30 pm. This is a beautiful and photographic place to see in Paris.

Versailles served as the kingdom's political capital and the seat of the royal court from 1682 to 1789, the year of the French Revolution. The chatueau is quite popular, and we were told it attracts about 3 million visitors a year! You should arrive in the early morning to avoid long lines! The chateau was built in the mid-17th century during the reign of Louis XIV (I love hearing them say "Lewey Kanz"), the so-called "Sun King" to demonstrate the bounty that was the French monarchy, and what a job they did! In every room, and down to every crevice, you are bombarded with his boundless self-glorification and indulgence. At times it feels almost tacky and gaudy, but then that's what you come for! It is so over the top that it's fabulous!

In the gift shop, you can purchase a tape for someone to watch and they can take the tour as well, in this "virtual" version.

Versailles is enormous. We should have gone earlier and been more well prepared. If I had to do it over, I would have done more research, worn more comfortable clothes and shoes, and planned for an entire day. We just went for an afternoon. I also would have brought a snack of some sort.

I liked the gardens the best although they were starkly lacking in flowers. They are mostly trimmed hedges and fountains. Inside the palace is not as opulent as I had imagined. By today's standards, it's very tacky and Donald Trump-ish. The Hall of Mirrors is under renovation, so don't expect to see that. Kelly was disappointed. The lines were horrendous, and it was extremely crowded. One thing I would have liked to do was to ride the horse-drawn carriages through the gardens, but it's 80 euros for about 20 minutes, so it's expensive. Its hard to take pretty pictures because there are just too many people.

In all, it was nice to say we went to Versailles, but it wasn't a particularly moving or even educational experience. I still, however, recommend it.

Some interesting things about Versailles are that there are rumors it is haunted, especially the Petit Trianon. People have claimed to have been transported back in time and have seen ghosts strolling the gardens.

Another thing I recently read on chocolateandzucchini.com was that Versailles actually has a real, working garden and a shop where you can buy produce and products made from things grown right there. I wish I had known about this before I went.

On the way back to the station, there is a lovely crepe place. I don't remember the name, but the service was good, and they made excellent, crispy, lacy buckwheat crepes filled with ham, cheese, and asparagus.

Even better than the palace itself are the grounds on which it stands. The gardens, fountains, flora and fauna, and statues were positively gorgeous. This is a location where you could easily return a second day and still have things left to see. The gardens are so astounding that if I could get married anywhere in the world, they would be the location of choice. Don't miss this great piece of history and breathtaking sight!