France: Château de Versailles

Idyllic French countryside path 

Marie Antoinette's Hamlet, a "country escape" created for her in the palace grounds. Here they brought in peasants to create a working farm for Marie to frolic in. They dyed the sheep to match her dresses, and bathed them in perfume so they smelled sweet for her. You can imagine the rumours that went from the peasants on the hamlet back to the villages about Marie- she was truly out of touch with her people.

The Petit Trianon, a small chateau in the grounds of Versailles initially built for one of the King's mistresses, it was eventually given to Marie Antoinette by King Louis XVI as a way for her to escape the palace. She loved it.

The grand canal in the palace grounds- Matt with baguette in bag.

Thats the Palace of Versaille in the background. Its massive.

The gardens immediately in front of the palace. Apparently, the French way is to dominate nature, creating straight lines and symmetry out of rows of trees and hedges.

On of the highlights of our trip to Paris was the day excursion to Versailles, on a day bike tour. (Would recommend 'Fat Tire Bike Tours' for any heading this way). From central Paris we cycled out to a train to take us out to Versailles, about half an hour out of the city. We stopped off a village market to buy our lunch for the day - fresh baguettes, incredible goats cheese, parma ham, duck pate (mousse de canard), and fresh apple and cherry juice.

The grounds of the palace are immense, and beautiful. Our helpful (and very American) guide Andrew gave us a rundown of the history - King Louis XIV built the palace, Louis the XV lived in it and enjoyed it, and Louis XVI (along with Marie Antoinette) paid for it - with their lives. King Louis XIV (who built it) had said "I am the state", and also "after me, nothing" - basically, I know that I'm screwing the country over by spending so much money on such extravagance, but its not going to be my problem. The gold around the top of the palace and its gates was originally real, it was looted during the revolution, and now is just gold paint.

After the busyness and occasional dirtiness of the city, we loved getting out into the French countryside, riding bikes through tree-lined avenues, the sun, eating our lunch beside the immense central canal overlooking the palace. We did get inside the palace to see the king and queen's chambers, famous Hall of Mirrors and Hall of Victories, but it was packed with tourists inside. Much nicer to be out enjoying the gardens.