“This is rich,” the wonderstruck words that subconsciously poured out of my mouth upon exiting the cab and taking in (as much as one can) the splendor and glory of what us peasants know as Chateau de Versailles.
One eyeful – or dare I say, a lifetime of eyefuls – is not enough to truly absorb the architectural splendor and artistic opulence of the iconic humble digs of Marie Antoinette. Chambers draped in priceless tapestry, grand fireplaces created from marble (which I can only imagine was sourced from the finest mines of Italy back in the day) and a maze of palatial luxury. I couldn’t even, and I still can’t even. Versailles was overwhelmingly stunning experience and is officially in my top three favorite destinations in Paris.
It was one of those cloudy ominous days at the palace, with the breath of forthcoming winter teasing the autumn air as the smoke-grey clouds rolled over the region of Versailles. Fall is my favorite time to tour Europe. It’s off-season and the chilly air makes it acceptable to escape into cafes more frequently, to fuel yourself with more afternoon espresso and macaron helpings than summer justifies (which Versailles is loaded with, by the way). My tour was leisurely, often taking a few minutes here and there to examine the intricacies of a single door knob – my weakness while traveling, doors – most of which carved with the iconic fluer-de-lis. I might have also taken a few shameless mirror selfies – don’t judge, I’m a millennial.
Construction of Versailles started around the time of Louis XII, who was attracted to the region for its hunting grounds, but it was Louis XIV (The Sun King) who transformed it into the seat of French government. Completed in 1715, the U-shaped palace boasts a humble 700 rooms, 1,250 fireplaces, 67 staircases, a private church, opera house and famous gardens which could double as a small city.
The palace was built to take any guest’s breath away, and that it does. It was constructed to not only be the summit of French luxury, but also the epicenter of European culture, arts and architecture to the finest degree.
It was a chilly day but a visit to Versailles requires a bit of a statement (afterall, Marie Antoinette donned 4-foot-high hairdos, so I couldn’t possibly show up in sneakers). I wore my new favorite fall staple, a red coat from Zara (similar here), paired with a patterned Zara frock (similar here) suede LK Bennett boots and a huge trend I currently see dominating the streets of London, Paris and German: sheer black tights.
The end of the Revolutionary war in France in 1789 led the royal residence to be transformed into a museum for the people. Last residents Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were stripped of powers and as most of us know, beheaded, but the fatal end was no end for the legacy of wanderlust-inducing euphoria Versailles continues to produce for every traveler who walks through its magnificent doors.
Versailles remains one of the most enchanting walks through French history to this day. Just as I said when my eyes saw the sprawling palace for the first time as I exited the cab – the sight is simply rich, and life really shouldn’t be any other way.
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