the one only Chateau de Versailles (Palace). When the château was built, Versailles was a country village; today, however, it is a suburb of Paris . From 1682, when King Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the royal family was forced to return to the capital in 1789, the Court of Versailles was the centre of power in Ancien Régime France. Versailles is therefore famous not only as a building, but as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy that Louis XIV espoused.
Number of windows 2,153 Number of rooms 700 Staircases 67

Probably the most famous room is The Hall of Mirrors which is lit by 17 tall windows matched by 17 mirrors that reflect the light. This well lit hall makes the chandellers sparkle and with all the gold and colorful paintings, it's spectacular.

The Hall of Mirrors was used as a passage way, each day the courtiers would wait here for the King and the royal famly in procession on the way to mass. It was also the setting for ambassadors and for state audiences. This hall is most noteable for hosting the proclamation of the German Empire on Januray 18th, 1871 and the signing of the Treaty of Versaille on June 28th 1919, which put an end to WWI.

Louis XIV (the Sun King) built Versailles to project the absolute power of the French monarchy....and it worked! Despite the layers of scaffolding covering the front of the building when we were there (2007) it still is an extremely impressive and grand building! We got there just as the water and music show was starting in the gardens (fountains timed to music from the 17th century) - Les Grand Eaux Musicales. The gardens are massive and the music made you almost slip back in time.

The chateau itself is incredible. The rooms and chambers are gorgeous and so ornate. The Hall of Mirrors was definitely a highlight.

Chateau de Versailles is a place to see when you're in France. It is so rich in history,. A day tour is not enough to really savor the richness of the place in history, art, beauty, elegance and of the French culture. It's about 20 kilometers away from Paris and you can get there by train (less than an hour) which is faster than taking the bus. From the train station of Versailles (pronounced as Ver-sigh) it is a few blocks away to get a glimpse of the grandness of Chateau de Versailles and to reach its gate. The perimeter fence of the Palace is made of thick solid round cast irons painted in black and gold. The pavement of the entrance are a mix of crushed yellow gold marbles and cobble stones. From the outside it is noticeable how vast the place is (11 hectares I was told). The Palace is said to have a floor area of 51,210 sq.m. Never miss passing through the famous, elegant and fabulous The Hall of Mirrors. Tour the vast grounds of Versaille riding the tram for free and you will feel being travelled back in time. The landscape, the ponts, the sculptures, the scent of the place... Not even the lense of a camera can capture the beauty of the place. There's nothing like it. I'm glad I came.

This place is just fabulous. While we went in the fall and the gardens were not in bloom, there was still plenty to see. The tours of houses were interesting and produce a major "wow" factor. I can't imagine how much it would cost to produce something of this beauty in today's dollars. Take a full day to do this as the history of the palace -- things you wouldn't even think of -- make for a very informative tour. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant on the property for a tasty meal. Take a stroll (with a guided tour a must!) of the Queen's hamlet and gardens surrounding The Petit Trianon and Grand Trianon that Marie-Antoinette developed for her own area of "sanity". There's little hidden gems there and a good tour guide knows all the stories.