TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 - VERSAILLES PALACE & PACKING SUITCASES

Tuesday, April 29, 2014 was an "early" morning for us.  We had located a nearby RER (regional train) gate that was within a easy "10 minute walk" from the apartment.  So, we walked there shortly after 7 a.m. to board the RER train for Versailles Palace.  We had pre-purchased the tickets for the transportation to Versailles as well as the entrance.  And, Sylvia had located and purchased the tickets for the English guided tour of Versailles so we just needed to arrive early enough that we could get there "before the crowds". 

The Palace of Versailles is a royal chateau in Versailles in a Paris suburb.  When the château was built, Versailles was a country village; today, however, it is a wealthy suburb of Paris,  some 12 miles southwest of the French capital. The court of Versailles was the center of political power in France from 1682, when Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the royal family was forced to return to the capital in October 1789 after the beginning of the French Revolution.  Versailles is therefore famous not only as a building, but as a symbol of the system of  absolute monarchy.

First view of Versailles.

The Equestrian statue of Louis XVI welcomes us.

 

All that gold....

 

Tom & Virginia and the outer golden gates.

Information about the Academie Equestre de Versailles - The originality of this equestrian choreographic school-company is, that it combines both transmission of equestrian knowledge and practice of other disciplines such as fencing, dance, singing and Kyudo (traditional Japanese archery). Equerries therefore gain a true artistic sensibility, enabling them to develop their own repertoire.

Through the dressage lessons performed by the Academy’s riders with their mounts, demonstrating precision, rigor and gentleness of training, the public is invited to enter the intimacy of the Academy. Open to the public every Saturday and Sunday.

 

 

 

 Plus with the gardens and grounds, its virtually impossible to see everything in one or two visits.

 

 

 

 

 

Below, portions of the main building

 

In the garden by the pond, King Neptune

and Queen Salacia

main building

Line for the English speaking tour.

Looking toward the structure front, main entrance.

 

Inside, this outstanding desk.

And the chapel

The beautiful ceiling of the chapel.

 

And the pipes of the organ.

Note these lovely fluted columns

And paintings

Virginia, Sylvia and I did a walk-through" tour of the Hall of Mirrors.  The crowd was elbow to elbow, wall to wall.  It wasn't pleasant.  Tom sat on a bench and waited.  When we got out we spent a good 30-45 minutes looking for him and texting before we finally got together again.

 

We returned to the city of lights on the RER train and walked back to the apartment from our stop.  There were places on our list that we had not visited and we considered going out again.  But, just couldn't get the energy to leave and get in the crowds once more.  So, we packed and relaxed for the next day's flights that were to take us home.