Palace of Versailles

Just outside of Paris is one of France’s most famous royal residences, the Palace of Versailles. The monumental chateau is over 721,000 square feet of lavish furnishings, sparkling chandeliers and marble accents. Then there’s the garden, which alone covers nearly 2,000 acres, with three other opulent estates hidden in the back of the property. Dave and I looked forward to getting out of the city for a day. As much as we loved Paris, we were ready for a change of scenery at a much slower pace.

We had another delicious Parisian breakfast at Claus before jumping on the train en route to Versailles. We loved seeing Paris from a different perspective. It went from the city buildings along the Seine to the green countryside with quaint houses sprinkled throughout. It was a 45-minute train ride, with a 15-minute walk from the station to the palace. Walking through the town was one of our favorite parts of the day; it made us wish we had planned a few days in the rural areas of France.

The palace was impossible to miss. At the foot of the town were the elaborate walls of Versailles. We thought we left the crowds behind in Paris, but the front gate was absolutely full of people. In fact, the line snaked up and down the entire length of the square several times before finally reaching the only entrance into the complex.

Once inside, it was evident why thousands flock to Versailles each day. From floor to ceiling, every inch of every room was fully embellished with beautiful wallpaper, intricate moldings, and sumptuous décor.

The most illustrious room in the palace was the Hall of Mirrors. It was as over the top and extravagant as we imagined. Everything was either covered in a bronze guild, pristine marble, or incredibly detailed paintings. It was surreal walking in the footsteps of royalty; however doing so among hundreds of other people did take a bit away from the experience.

We took a break from the crowds and headed outside to explore the garden. The manicured hedges created an extensive maze that led to secluded water fountains, statues, and ponds. We grabbed lunch near the Grand Canal, where our tired feet decided it was time to head back. The travel books were not kidding when they suggested spending a full day here. We stayed for five hours, and still didn’t see the second half of the garden!

Back in Paris, after a much needed nap at our hotel, we set out looking for dinner around 9:30pm. Dave and I just happened to stumble upon La Fontaine de Mars, where we had the best meal of the trip. For starters, brioche bread with goat cheese. For entrées, Dave had steak frites with a butter-tarragon sauce, and I had chicken with morels and rice pilaf. For dessert, Dave had crème brulée, and I had a dark chocolate mousse that was so light and airy it was like eating a cloud.

On top of the food being incredible, the service was just as exceptional. While waiting for our dessert, an older couple and their dog were seated behind us. As they let the dog loose in the restaurant, the man began smoking a cigar. The host noticed I wasn’t exactly thrilled about this, and without hesitation, whisked us away from the horrible smell to another table inside.

And to top off our lovely evening, we caught the midnight light show at the Eiffel Tower. Each day we fell more in love with Paris. As cliché as it sounds, we were learning to not just sightsee, but to aimlessly wander and see where the evening takes us.