Versailles

My mornings aren't like this any more.

My personal obsession. I don't know what it is about the gilded monstrosity that I find so fascinating but I suspect it has a lot to do with the sheer over the top Baroque sumptuousness of it all and the wonderful stories about the place and the amazing personalities who lived there. I love it and a trip to Paris just isn't complete without a pilgrimage to Versailles itself.

Me in the Salle de Paix at Versailles in 2003.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Marie Antoinette's bedchamber.

Marie Antoinette's bedchamber.

Marie Antoinette's bedchamber.

Marie Antoinette's bedchamber, showing the door she escaped through.

Marie Antoinette's bedchamber.

Marie Antoinette's bed canopy.

Marie Antoinette's bed.

Marie Antoinette's bedroom.

Marie Antoinette's bedroom fabric.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Madame Infante portrait by Labille-Guiard.

The Hall of Mirrors.

The Hall of Mirrors.

The Hall of Mirrors.

The Hall of Mirrors.

The Hall of Mirrors.

The Hall of Mirrors.

The Hall of Mirrors.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Versailles.

Bernini's bust of Louis XIV at Versailles.

The throne room at Versailles.

Bored in the King's bedchamber at Versailles.

Marie Antoinette and her children by Vigée-Lebrun.

Statue of Neptune.

Me looking amused.

Versailles, with me showing scale!

View from a window.

View from a window.

In the Salle de Mars.

Inside the chapel.

Inside the chapel.

Inside the chapel.

Inside the chapel.

Inside the chapel.

Inside the chapel.

An amazing view.

The Hall of Mirrors.

Hurty feet!

Huge ostentation.

The highlight of Versailles is the Petit Trianon and what has now been renamed 'la domaine de Marie Antoinette'.

Petit Trianon.

Petit Trianon.

Petit Trianon.

Petit Trianon

The steps leading to the gardens.

The summer house.

Inside the summer house.

Inside the summer house.

Inside the summer house.

The Belvedere.

The Temple of Love.

The staircase.

The Salon.

The Salon with its lovely Quality Street wrapper pink furniture.

The Vestibule.

The Vestibule.

The chapel.

The bedchamber.

The bedchamber furniture.

The private sitting room.

The dining room.

The famous painting by Vigée-Lebrun, which hangs at Trianon.

Sèvres porcelain belonging to Marie Antoinette.

The most perfect little house. No wonder she loved it so much.

It looks best in the late afternoon sun.

To prove that I was there.
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