Versailles

This magical castle holds a huge place in French history.  from Louis XIII who built it originally as a hunting cottage, Louis XIV the Sun King transformed it, Louis XV finished it and Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette lived here last before the guillotine. It is a true testament to opulence and represents their wealth and power. 

We had a guided tour through the apartments. The king lived on one side and the queen lived on the other. These rooms were all open to the public and the aristocrats as well. Everything was carried out in the public eye. There were even official waking and going to bed ceremonies. There was the official bedroom where the the ceremonies took place and the unofficial bedrooms where the king and queen actually slept. 

Our tour guide was clearly very passionate about French history and art giving much more detail than our kids probably needed but they were very polite. I think they were very impressed! The hall of mirrors was probably everyone's favorite part. Any furnishings that remain in the castle are original to the palace. It is quite jampacked in the palace, everyone pushes and shoves their way along and that can be rather unsettling for the students. They were relieved to exit out into the gardens. 

The gardens are beautiful at peak, but now in pre-spring were not as picturesque. It is very windy and chilly here, enough to form white caps on the fountain pools! After some strolling we had a great time haggling for key chains and scarves at the base of the gate.

We are back on the bus on the way back to town and the Champs-Élysées. During free time we may have some shoppers and a few who choose to go up the Arc de Teiomphe for a pretty view of the city. 

Some photos from Versailles: I have more from the interior and will post from my camera tonight)