Palace Versailles, or Chateau Versailles in French, used to be the center of France's governance and French royal residence. It erects in the city of Versailles 10 miles west-southwest of Paris. The palace covers 2,014 acres of land including 230 acres of elaborately-designed garden. With its massive size, it overshadows most of the palaces of Europe, owning the title The Largest Royal Domain of the World.
Palace of Versailles served as a hunting lodge of King Louis XIII. It was his son, King Louis XIV, who moved Paris' government and court to the city of Versailles in 1682. Palace Versailles mirrors a fine 18th century French art and architecture making this famous French landmark a part of UNESCO's world Heritage site. The palace possesses captivating features and it is no doubt one of the most eye-catching palaces in the whole of Europe. With millions of visitors it accommodates each year, the palace becomes one of the most-visited palaces in the world.
Palace of Versailles' facade is an impressive sight and its interior is breath-taking . The Hall of Mirrors is among the attractive features of the Palace. Its length of 73 meters comprises of 17 arched windows intricately embellished with 21 mirror accents, making the Palace's hallway "illuminate" with 357 mirrors. The Hall of Mirrors holds relevance as it is where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, not to mention that King Louis XIV was the one who orchestrated this grand Palace accent.
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The current chapel, also coordinated by King Louis XIV, is arguably the most beautiful of all the chapels found in the Palace. The current palace is a reflection of the finest French Baroque architecture blended with medieval styles and early Renaissance trends. The Grand Apartment of King Louis XIV, popular for its name Apartment of the Planets, is also one of the captivating features of Palace of Versailles. The Apartment of Planet's ornately-painted ceiling is absolutely a sight to behold.
The grandeur of Palace Versailles is matched by a splendid garden where it erects. Created to perfection by the famous landscape artist of his generation, André Le Nôtre, the symmetrical French garden sprawled of regal fountains, bright blossoming flowers, and perfectly-manicured landscapes that are pleasurable to look at. The grand garden covers an entire 230 acre land, making it Europe's largest palace garden. Among the marble fountains and statues that can be seen there, the figures of Apollo and Latona are the most admirable. Queen Marie-Antoinette enjoyed the garden so much that she founded her own estate there and sought sanctuary away from the "issues" of the Palace and the state.
The perfect weather of Paris allows the visitors to have a sight of the royal Palace all year long, but for a much pleasing visit, going on a summer or spring seems the best as the garden exhibits the blossoming of the vividly-colored flowers. Since more than 3 million of people go to the Palace each year, it is best to schedule a visit for a more satisfying tour. Take note that the Palace gets busy on the mid-day to mid-afternoon, so it is best to go there soon after it opened at 9am. No trip to France is complete without going to Palace of Versailles, and whether it is chosen as the first or the last stop of the trip, being in the grounds of the Palace will serve as one of the most memorable parts of the France visit.
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