This is it, the dramatic finale to my four day long Paris excursion! And of course, I’ve saved the best for last: Versailles! The Palace of Versailles was one of, if not the top place that I wanted to visit in France. Considering that, it may come as a surprise to you all that I have actually been there before. Unfortunately, I was very young, so I don’t remember much. In truth, I think this only made me want to visit more, almost as a way to do the palace justice in a way I wasn’t able to when I was younger. I don’t think I can even remotely describe how beautiful and awe-inspiring visiting Versailles was for me, and the pictures I took simply can’t capture the effect of seeing everything first-hand. However, I think I can explain how it made me feel. To start off, I was sick the day of the trip. I had a mild fever, a cough, and was constantly congested. I also only had a very light breakfast consisting of instant noodles and a kiwi. So, during the trip there, I was both sick and hungry. Furthermore, I almost didn’t even get into the palace. In order to get into the palace, you need to show some form of ID. I had assumed that my student card for my French university would be sufficient to get in, but it turned out that they only accepted European passports or VISAs. Luckily, the lady at the check-in did me a favor and let me pass.
Despite all these setbacks, I had never felt more happy to be alive once I got in. The palace is a non-stop roller coaster of beautiful art followed by beautiful art. Paintings, sculptures, engravings, Versailles has it all, not to mention the staggering beauty of the architecture alone. Every room is more beautiful than the last, every painting distinct and worthy to be called a masterpiece. Then, on top of that, there is the historical aspect. Each art piece, room, and bit of furniture tells its own story and gives you an insight into what Versailles was like in the past. I was so captivated by everything that I saw that I spent 5 hours in the castle alone, never mind the gardens. I even declined the opportunity to go and eat in town with my friends in favor of having more time to look at everything. I ended up taking so many pictures that I maxed out my google account storage and had to buy more.
There was so much gorgeous art that I am even struggling to find favorites to talk about! Of course, the Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors) was the main centerpiece and most recognizable thing there. It was undeniably beautiful, but I actually preferred the room dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte. The paintings within that room, such as the famous Coronation of Napoleon, which is so big I was almost unable to fit it in frame, are really something, especially given the historical context. There is even a huge cathedral built into the palace, with a gold depiction of the Lord, multiple ceiling paintings, and a huge ornate pipe organ! However, my absolute favorite place within the palace was the Galerie des Batailles (Hall of Battles), where almost every major battle of French history, leading from the 5th century all the way to Napoleon are depicted in painting, along with busts of famous generals and plaques commemorating noteworthy soldiers who died in service to France. I spent an entire hour in this room alone, admiring the paintings and reading up on the history of each one. The gardens were equally beautiful, especially with the good weather of the day. Fountains made of gold and trees sculpted into complex shapes made for the perfect ending to my Versailles trip.
I wish I could go into even more detail about all the amazing things Versailles has to offer, but this post is already the longest one I have written by a long shot. I cannot recommend seeing it enough, and plus, it’s free for anyone under 25! Just make sure to learn from my mistake and bring proper ID.
