Versailles

Versailles is more than a palace — it is a universe. Built by Louis XIV to demonstrate the absolute power of the French monarchy, the Palace of Versailles spans over 2,000 acres of gardens, fountains, and satellite palaces that took over fifty years to complete. The Hall of Mirrors, with its 357 mirrors reflecting the light from arched windows overlooking the gardens, remains one of the most awe-inspiring rooms ever created. But Versailles reveals its true depth beyond the state apartments. The Grand Trianon, a pink marble retreat built by Louis XIV for private entertaining, offers an intimate counterpoint to the main palace's overwhelming grandeur. Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon and her rustic Hameau — a picturesque mock village where the queen played at country life — provide a poignant glimpse into the private world of the doomed royal family. The gardens, designed by Andre Le Notre, are a masterpiece of landscape architecture featuring geometric parterres, hidden groves (bosquets), and the Grand Canal stretching nearly two kilometers. During the Musical Fountains season from April to October, over fifty fountains dance to Baroque compositions by Lully and Handel — a spectacle unchanged since the Sun King's era. For dining, La Table du 11, just steps from the palace, holds a Michelin star and offers refined seasonal cuisine. The town of Versailles itself, often overlooked, boasts a charming market quarter and several excellent restaurants along the Rue de Satory.

Highlights