Day Trip to Château de Versailles

“Let them eat cake!” The famous words attributed to Queen Marie Antoinette, who lived in the Palace of Versailles with King Louis XVI until the French Revolution in 1789. Legend has it that these words were uttered to the French people at a time where the masses were experiencing famine and bread shortage. Since there was no bread, the queen thought eating cake/brioche was the solution to the people’s bread problems. While many historians dispute the quote was actually said by the late queen, the statement garnered symbolic importance highlighting how out of touch the elite were to the needs of the masses.

Getting there

Declared as a UNESCO world heritage site, the Palace of Versailles is another must-see destination in France. You can take a train from Paris and it would take just about an hour or less travel time to get to the city of Versailles which is located about 20 kilometres away from the City of Lights. Once you get to Versailles station, just follow the droves of tourists and eventually you will arrive at the palace gates after about a 20 minute walk. Be warned though that you may have to endure long queues to enter into the palace even if you booked your ticket in advance. So, if you’re coming from Paris, leave early.

Palace of Versailles

Serving as a museum now, the Palace of Versailles once housed the kings and queens of France until the French Revolution. After a quick tour of the palace, you will realise why the people revolted — the people suffering from famine and poverty while the ruling elite get fat and host parties in their lavish homes.

One of the most famous rooms in the palace is the Hall of Mirrors, housing 17 arcaded mirrors facing the windows. You can easily notice the ornate and gilded interior plus extravagant chandeliers hanging from the painted ceiling. Aside from the Hall of Mirrors, you can find various salons as well as the private bedchambers of the kings and queens.

Gardens of Versailles

While the palace was astonishing, the highlight of the day trip was the definitely garden. It’s a huge area which you may not be able to explore in just one day.

Once you get through the garden entrance, you will immediately see the large fountain overlooking the whole garden complex with the Grand Canal in the background. This fountain is the Bassin de Latone. Exploring this labyrinthian area may become daunting, as you will have numerous gardens, fountains, and parks to visit. Thus, best to get a map beforehand and plot your way through.

Near the Latone fountain is the Orangerie which is another attraction of the gardens with the grass cut  into swirls and circles. It also has a small lagoon in the background. Nice spot for some photo op and selfies.

After exploring the numerous gardens and parks inside, head down to the Grand Canal. There you will get to see the largest concentration of people. There are food stalls and restaurants for when you’re craving for a snack. If it is a sunny day out,  might become too packed but still you will be able to enjoy strolling around. You will also see people having picnics and just enjoying nature. The pathways beside the Grand Canal are lined with some classical statues to give you that regal feel. Upon arriving at the Grand Canal, you will immediately see another famous fountain: the Fountain of Apollo.

Other places within the gardens are: Grand Trianon, Petite Trianon, and the Hamlet of Marie Antoinette. The Grand Trianon and Petite Trianon were built as small palaces far from the main palace to serve as a place of respite when the king of France wanted some alone time away from his court. The Hamlet of Marie Antoinette was designed for the Queen and her friends to amuse themselves by “playing peasants.”

If you’re a fan of history and nature, Chateau de Versailles will definitely not disappoint.