Garden Hopping and Biking at Versailles

Door detail in Versailles

Photo op in the Hall of Mirros

Bike riding through the gardens

Marie Antoinette's chateau: stylish and lots of pink!

We spent today at Versailles.. a full 8 hours of running around the chateau and gardens.  Well, not really running, but biking and lots of walking!  The bikes were probably the best idea (nice work Laura!) and allowed us to cover more ground in the limited time we had.  Kyle gave us lectures on the building and the gardens with a lot of great history behind it all.  I did not know that the chateau was referred to as the 'gilded cage.'  It received this name because Louis XIV invited his enemies to his chateau for a 'party' and never excused them so they could leave.  Leaving without being excused was a preposterous idea, meaning the guests and their families were to reside at the chateau.  This allowed Loius XIV to maintain his power without worry of it being taken away from him.  Upon his death, 30,000 people resided on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles.  Needless to say, it's enormous. 

Marie Antoinette's chateau was great to see as well since I did not have enough time to see it the first time I visited.  Her residence was much more subdued in materials and details, but still incredibly beautiful and feminine. 

I need to visit once more though.. because the fountains weren't running again! Maybe the third time really is a charm? :)