2015-09-03-Versailles, FR-The Palace of Versailles by...
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  1. ThomasCarroll235's Gallery
  2. 2015-09-03-Versailles, FR-The Palace of Versailles2015-09-03-Versailles, FR-The Palace of Versailles
  3. Versailles, Main GateVersailles, Main Gate

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Versailles, Main Gate
Versailles, Main Gate detail-Imperial Crown and France's Fleur de Lis arms.
Versailles- guilded gate in front of the royal courtyard
Versailles, Courtyard of Honor
Versailles, Palace Wing and Chapel ("A Toutes Les Gloires de la France"-To all the Glories of France)
Versailles, "To all the Glories if France"
Versailles, Chapel detial
Versailles, Guilded Gate to the Royal Courtyard
Versailles-Ministers' Southern Wing
Versailles-A female soldier provides deterrent security
Versailles-Entering the palace
The French Royal crown and Fluer de Lis motif top the gilded fence in front of the Royal courtyard
Versailles
Georgia in front of the Royal Courtyard
Detail-The guilded fence. Center bottom-The Sun King motif. Louis XIV's chose the sun as his emblem
Versailles-Tom in front of the marble court and King's suite
Versailles-The marble court and king's suite
Detail-The king's suite. Note the Sun King Motif in the center of the clock.
Versailles Chapel-The lower level for minor nobility
Versailles Chapel-The upper level for the Royal family
Versailles Chapel-Guilded altar
King Louis Philippe (on white horse). (Louis Philippe I (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 as the leader of the Orléanist party. His father Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans had supported the Revolution of 1789 but was nevertheless guillotined during the Reign of Terror. Louis Philippe fled France and spent 21 years in exile. He was proclaimed king in 1830 after Charles X, of the senior Bourbon line, was forced to abdicate. His reign, known as the July Monarchy, was dominated by wealthy elite and numerous former Napoleonic officials. He followed conservative policies especially under the influence of François Guizot in 1840–48. He promoted friendship with Britain and sponsored colonial expansion, notably the conquest of Algeria. His popularity faded and he was forced to abdicate in 1848; he lived out his life in exile in Great Britain.)
Versailles-Marble Gallery
Loius XIV
Palace of Versailles
Palace of Versailles
King Louis XIV, The Sun King
Versailles-Ornate ceiling
Palace of Versailles
Georgia outside Versailles' Hall of Mirrors
Versailles' Hall of Mirrors (The Hall of Mirrors  is the central gallery of the Palace of Versailles. As the principal and most remarkable feature of King Louis XIV of France's third building campaign of the Palace of Versailles (1678–1684), construction of the Hall of Mirrors began in 1678.)
Versailles' Hall of Mirrors (The principal feature of this hall is the seventeen mirror-clad arches that reflect the seventeen arcaded windows that overlook the gardens. Each arch contains twenty-one mirrors with a total complement of 357 used in the decoration of the galerie des glaces.[7] The arches themselves are fixed between marble pilasters whose capitals depict the symbols of France.[citation needed] These gilded bronze capitals include the fleur-de-lys and the Gallic cockerel or rooster.)
Versailles-The Coronation of Napoleon (The Coronation of Napoleon is a painting completed in 1807 by Jacques-Louis David, the official painter of Napoleon. The painting has imposing dimensions, as it is almost 10 metres (33 ft) wide by a little over 6 metres (20 ft) tall. The crowning and the coronation took place at Notre-Dame de Paris.)
Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery
Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery-Napoleon I
Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery (The biggest section in the History Galleries of Versailles is the Battles Gallery. It occupies nearly all the two upper floors of the South Wing of the Palace up to the roof. Designed and laid out beginning in 1833, it was solemnly opened on 10 June 1837 and was regarded as the highlight of the visit to the museum.)
Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery (Louis-Philippe brought together here thirty-three paintings depicting the main battles that France had fought, from the Battle of Tolbiac in 496 to the Battle of Wagram in 1809. All the dynasties that had reigned over France are represented – Merovingians, Carolingians, Capetians, Valois and Bourbons – along with the regimes of the Revolution and Napoleon I. Its message was simple: France had grown as a nation through combats against its internal and external enemies; it was henceforth glorious, serene and ready to enter a new era founded on peace and prosperity.)
Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery-Siege of Yorktown, 17th October 1781 (This painting, executed in 1836 by Louis Charles Auguste Couder, shows France's Marquis de Lafayette (pointing with red sash) and other French officers advising General George Washington at the decisive victory over the British at the Battle of Yorktown. The inclusion of this painting in the Battle Gallery was clearly meant to emphasize France's key role in the achievement of American independence.)
Palace of Versailles-Sun King Motif
The Gardens of Versailles
The Gardens of Versailles-C Curve Glass and Steel Sculpture by Indian-British artist Anish Kapoor
Versailles-Sky Mirror Sculpture in Stainless Steel by British-Indian Sculptor Anish Kapoor (Sky Mirror is a public sculpture by artist . Anish Kapoor.Sky Mirror is a six-metre-wide concave dish of polished stainless steel weighing ten tonnes and angled up towards the sky. Its surface reflects the ever-changing environment. Along with other works by Kapoor, it is on display in the Gardens of Versailles until 11/1/15.)
Versailles-Stainless Steel Reflecting Sculpture by Anish Kapoor
Versailles-Water Parterre and Kapoor's Sky Mirror
Versailles Palace viewed from behind the Water Parterre
The Gardens of Versailles
The Gardens of Versailles-Latona Fountain and Parterre (The Latona fountain was the result of the desire of Louis XIV. He wanted in the centre of his Garden a fountain telling the story of the childhood of Apollo, the sun god that he had chosen for his emblem. To create this fountain, Louis XIV had a pond dug for Louis XIII transformed by progressively installing water features and sculptures produced by the Marsy brothers. The Latona fountain went through several stages before it acquired its present form. In 1667, it was the Frogs fountain. From 1668 to 1670, the first Latona fountain appeared; Latona was then on the same level as the other figures and facing the Palace. From 1687 to 1689, Jules Hardouin-Mansart created the present fountain by turning Latona around and placing her on the top of a marble pyramid.)
Tom in the Gardens of Versailles
The Gardens of Versailles-The Grand Canal stretches to the horizon
The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles-Indian-British artist Anish Kapoor's "Dirty Corner" sculture
Versailles-Sky Mirror
Palace of Versailles
Gardens of Versailles
Gardens of Versailles
Georgia admires the  gardens of Versailles
Georgia exploring the labyrinth Gardens of Versailles
Gardens of Versailles-The Ballroom Grove (Laid out by André Le Nôtre between 1680 and 1683, the open-air Cascade Ballroom is also called the Rocaille Grove, because of the millstones and the sea shells brought back from the coasts of Africa and Madagascar over which the water pours down in a cascade. The marble “island” in the centre, easily accessible, was used for dancing, an art in which Louis XIV excelled. The musicians played above the cascade and, facing them, an amphitheatre with grassy rows of seats enabled the spectators to sit down.)
The Gardens of Versailles-Bacchus Fountain (Also called the Autumn fountain, it is the same size as the three other fountains dedicated to the seasons and near the Royal Walk. Bacchus, a figure of Roman mythology, teaches the cultivation of the vine throughout the world. The god of wine and drunkenness, he symbolises the harvest and is surrounded by small satyrs, half child and half goat.)
The Gardens of Versailles-The Colonnade Grove (Build from 1685 on by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the Colonnade replaced a grove designed by Le Nôtre in 1679: the Springs Grove. A peristyle accompanies the 32 marble columns. The triangular tympani between the arcades are decorated with low relief carvings depicting children. The arch stones are adorned with heads of nymphs and naiads. The famous group in the centre on a circular marble base was executed between 1678 and 1699 by Girardon: Proserpine Ravished by Pluto.)
The Gardens of Versailles-Indian-British artist Anish Kapoor's "Dirty Corner" sculture
The Gardens of Versailles-The Royal Walk also known as the Green Carpet (Also called the “Green Carpet”, because of the strip of lawn that runs down the middle, the Royal Walk is 335 metres long and 40 metres wide. It was laid down under Louis XIII, but Le Nôtre widened it and lined it with twelve statues and twelve vases, placed in symmetrical pairs. Most of them were works sent by the pupils of the Académie de France in Rome in the 17th century. Paths lead off to the Groves which the stroller will discover as he walks along.)
The Gardens of Versailles-Tom at the Apollo Fountain
The Gardens of Versailles-The Apollo Fountain (A fountain (the Swans Fountain) already existed her from 1636, under the reign of Louis XIII, which Louis XIV decorated with the impressive and celebrated group in gilded lead representing Apollo on his chariot. The work of Tuby, after a drawing by Le Brun, it is inspired by the legend of Apollo, the Sun gold and emblem of the king. Tuby produced this monumental group between 1668 and 1670 at the Manufacture des Gobelins, and it was then transported to Versailles and installed and gilded the following year.)
The Gardens of Versailles-The Apollo Fountain
The Gardens of Versailles-The Grand Canal
The Gardens of Versailles
The Gardens of Versailles
The Gardens of Versailles-Boat rentals on the Grand Canal
The GArdens of Versailles
French school children competing in a relay race on Versailles' grounds
Victorious French school children after winning a relay race on Versailles' grounds
The Grand Trianon, Louis XIV's refuge from the pomp and ceremony of Versailles main palace complex (The Grand Trianon was built in the northwestern part of the Domain of Versailles at the request of Louis XIV, as a retreat for the King and his maîtresse en titre of the time, the marquise de Montespan, and as a place where the King and invited guests could take light meals  away from the strict étiquette of the Court. The Grand Trianon is set within its own park, which includes the Petit Trianon (the much smaller château built between 1762 and 1768 during the reign of Louis XV).)
Grand Trianon (In 1668, Louis XIV purchased Trianon, a hamlet on the outskirts of Versailles, and commissioned the architect Louis Le Vau to design a porcelain pavilion to be built there. The façade was made of white and blue Delft-style "porcelain" (ceramic) tiles from the French manufactures of Rouen, Lisieux, Nevers and Saint-Cloud. Construction began in 1670 and was finished in 1672.)
Grand Trianon
Queen Georgia at the Grand Trianon
Grand Trianon interior
The French Pavilion, Versailles (This pavilion is known as the “French” pavilion because it was located in the middle of one of those regular gardens which began to be known as “French” gardens in contrast with the budding trend of English gardens. Built by Gabriel in 1750, it was one of Louis XV’s first creations at Trianon, the estate to which he had felt drawn towards since childhood. It consists in a vast circular living room flanked by four small rooms used as a boudoir, warming room, kitchen and wardrobe. Accompanied by Madame de Pompadour the king would go there to relax, listen to music after his visits of the botanical garden or having enjoyed a light meal at the nearby Cool Pavilion.)
Petit Trianon, Versailles (Petit Trianon, built between 1762 and 1768 during the reign of Louis XV, is a small château located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles.  It was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel by the order of Louis XV for his long-term mistress, Madame de Pompadour, and was constructed between 1762 and 1768.  Madame de Pompadour died four years before its completion, and the Petit Trianon was subsequently occupied by her successor, Madame du Barry. Upon his accession to the throne in 1774, the 20-year-old Louis XVI gave the château and its surrounding park to his 19-year-old Queen Marie Antoinette for her exclusive use and enjoyment)
The gardens of Petit Trianon
The Temple of Love on the grounds of the Grand and Petit Trianon (This Temple of the Love, which the queen could see from her room in Petit Trianon, was erected by Richard Mique in 1778 in pure neo-classical style. Built entirely out of marble, this invaluable building is especially notable for the quality of the sculptures by Deschamps which adorn its Corinthian capitals, its friezes and the inside of its dome. This exceptional quality is explained by the fact that it was supposed to house a recognized masterpiece of French sculpture, Cupid cutting his bow from the Club of Hercules by Bouchardon whose original, now on display at the Louvre, was replaced by a replica by Mouchy, another great 18th century sculptor.)
The grounds of Versailles
The Belvedere Pavillion (Overlooking the lake, this charming eight-sided bandstand was built by Richard Mique in 1777. Outside, it is decorated with sculptures by Deschamps: a fruit frieze garland once painted with colours, pediments evoking the pleasures of hunting and gardening, window imposts symbolizing the four seasons. Inside, the circular living room is paved with a marble mosaic and its walls are adorned with fine ornaments.)
Marlborough Tower, Versailles (This circular tower on the shores of the lake is mainly decorative. It was originally called “The Fishery Tower.” It was created after a popular lullaby from the era. The basement is used for storage, but the top part of the tower has a fairytale-esque design.)
Marlborough Tower on the grounds of the Queen's Hamlet, Versailles (The Hameau de la Reine ("The Queen's hamlet") is the rustic retreat that was built for Marie Antoinette. It is situated in a secluded section of the Trianon gardens, within the park of Versailles, and adjoining the Petit Trianon, a small château.)
The Queen's Hamlet (The Hameau de la Reine  (The Queen's Hamlet) is a rustic retreat in the park of the Château de Versailles built for Marie Antoinette in 1783 near the Petit Trianon in the Yvelines. It served as a private meeting place for the Queen and her closest friends, a place of leisure. Designed by the Queen's favoured architect, Richard Mique and with the help of the painter Hubert Robert, it contained a meadowland with lakes and streams, a classical Temple of Love on an island with fragrant shrubs and flowers, an octagonal belvedere, with a neighbouring grotto and cascade. There are also various buildings in a rustic or vernacular style, inspired by Norman or Flemish design, situated around an irregular pond fed by a stream that turned the mill wheel)
The Queen's Hamlet
The Queen's House on the grounds of the Queen's Hamlet (This building is the most important building of the Hamlet. In fact, it is composed of two separate buildings joined by a wooden gallery, decorated with white and blue earthenware flowerpots with Marie-Antoinette’s monogram. On the right, the Queen’s House itself, the ground floor comprised of a dining room and a games room, while the first floor was made up of a large living room, a small living room and a Chinese room; on the left, the Billiard Room, the ground floor comprised of a billiard room, and a private apartment on the first floor. From the top of the gallery, the lady of Trianon, wearing a simple white muslin dress and a straw hat, could oversee the work being done in the fields.)
Tom at the Mill on Marie Antoinette's retreat
Marlborough Tower, The Queen's Hamlet, Versailles (The Marlborough Tower was used as an observatory and from the top of the tower it was possible to communicate with the palace through light signals! It was from here that the boat-rides would take off; ever since Louis XIV's time it had been popular to go on boat rides along the canals in the park and some courtiers even had their own boats. The royal family's fishing equipment was stored here as well.)
The Guard's House, Queen's Hamlet, Versailles (The Guard's House was the home of a Swiss Guard by the name of Jean Bersy who occupied the house with his family. It had been considered imprudent to leave the Queen and her prominent guests unguarded in such an "isolated area". Since the house was the home of a guard the Queen and her friends did not use it for their holidays.)
The gardens of the Queen's Hamlet, Versailles
The Queen's Hamlet-Le Moulin or the Mill (The Mill, built and fitted from 1783 to 1788, was never used for grinding grain, contrary to what is often argued. The wheel is driven by a stream derived from the Grand Lake and is only a decorative element. No mechanism or wheel were installed in the factory. The interior decoration was simple and neat. This structure is one of the most picturesque of the Hamlet. Each façade of the building is decorated slightly differently. This mill also served as a laundry.)
The Chapel on the Petit Trianon grounds
A beautiful, stately tree on Versailles' grounds
Georgia at Versailles with the Latona Fountain in the background
Tom at Versailles
Palace of Versailles detail
Versailles-The small stables across from the Place D'Armes
Winged Victory, Versailles
Courtyard of Honor, Versailles
Exiting the palace grounds. Bye bye, Versailles
Louis XIV-King of France and Navarre (1638-1715)
Place D'Armes, Versailles
A mime on the streets of Versailles town
Versailles Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) (The small town of Versailles, adjacent to the palace complex, is beautiful with a relaxed pace.)
Versailles RER Station where we caught a train back to Paris
After our trip to Versailles, back "home" in Le Marais, Paris
Leffe and L'Angelus Belgian Beer and French Bordeaux and Syrah provided refreshment this week
The name of our Apartment was Papillon, or Butterfly

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