This morning, we headed to the train station at around 8:30 bound for Versailles. Having only heard about how big and opulent it is, I was excited about seeing this palace for Kings Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI. The only thing I knew about it was the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.... and even at that, I didn't know any of the details!
I was totally astonished by the level of luxury exhibited that I could not help but to gawk at all of it. We were told on our tour that this palace was so big and so exorbitant that entire industries were created just to build and furnish it. All of the floors and pillars, etc. were marble. The lavish art work that adorned the walls and ceilings (and sometimes actually were the walls and ceilings) was astounding. It was a profound example of human-worship.
King Louis XIV built Versailles on many thousands of acres - only a fraction of the original parcel is still used today (almost 2,000 acres) for this palace and grounds - as a getaway from the stresses of palace life in Paris. It eventually became the only palace for the King and all of his ministers. He moved his entire governing cabinet here and held them captive with luxury. That allowed him to run the government the way he wanted to with all of the other ministers distracted by anything and everything they could ever desire. Interestingly enough, as I understand it, Louis XIV began a serious art collection at his old palace. This old palace kept the art as a start to a new museum - The Louvre!
As crazy-big and luxurious the palace is, the palace gardens are probably what Versailles is most famous for. Louis XIV harnessed the power of the Seine River to power some 1200 fountains (only 300 are still around today) across the length and breadth of the grounds. It was something like holding your finger over a water hose to make the water come shooting out. The water would come out of the fountains by using steadily shrinking pipe, thus increasing pressure... at least that's how I understood it. He was also very well known for keeping a grove of orange trees in chilly France... he did this just to show off mostly, but it was to also prove that he was the "Sun King." He is the only one who could have done this. He was extremely full of himself, but he had the charisma and that "it" factor that truly endeared him to the people. He was also known for being available to the masses.
Also on these grounds, Marie Antoinette built her little getaway from the getaway many years later... a working village so she could experience "common life." Of course, her village had all the trappings of a real village, but she didn't have to do any of the work... she could just delegate. I guess it made her feel a little more at home since she was from a small Austrian village before she married Louis XVI.
After Versailles, we toured the Military Museum which is attached to Napoleon's tomb. We went through the newly opened WWI and WWII portions of the museum. It was a bit insulting from an American's standpoint to hear the French version of WWII. It was almost as if there was some big, huge war going on, and, oh yeah, the Americans helped out. When it was all said and done and the Allied troops liberated Paris, they called Charles Degaulle the great liberator! Arrgh!
From the Military Museum we went over to Napoleon's tomb. Can you say, "Little-Man Syndrome?" The tomb itself was HUGE! The hall in which it is housed was gilded with 24 pounds of solid gold directly above the gargantuan sarcophagus housing several coffins in which lie Napoleon Bonaparte. It was surreal! Surrounding his gloriously dead body were all of his gloriously dead military big-wigs. It was a little much... but it was interesting.
From there we trekked on over to the Arc du Triomph via the legendary Champs Elysees (See yesterday's blog about driving the rent car). I assure you, it was much more enjoyable to walk this than to drive it. The Champs Elysees houses many different very expensive shops, as well as car dealers displaying the best of what they have to offer - including concept cars on display. I even saw a Tour de France store... turns out, the Tour de France ends on the Champs Elysees.
We finally get to the Arc, and we get ready to take the stairs to the top. Bear in mind our legs are pretty much jello from all of the stairs we have been climbing over the last week, not to mention all of the walking we have been doing. It took some convincing, but we finally decided to just do it. I mean, how many times are we going to have the opportunity to climb to the top of the Arc du Triomph?!
Tomorrow finishes our time in Paris. We still have several things to do, and time is dwindling, so I'm sure we'll get yet another early start for another big day!
Brett and Beth
The organ in King Louis XIV's personal cathedral. This cathedral was the ONLY example of any kind of worship of God and not of man.
The stunning Hall of Mirrors
Marie Antionette's village estate on the premises of Versailles
A look across a miniscule portion of the grounds to the back side of the palace
The man-made canal inspired by Venice, Italy. King Louis XIV thought, "Why go to Venice? Let's bring Venice here."
Napoleon's tomb. It's hard to see just how big it really is... to give you an idea, those white statues surrounding it are about 10 feet tall.
Napoleon's frock coat and his famous hat
By taking my life into my own hands, I stood in the middle of the Champs Elysees to get this picture!
Beth in front of the Arc du Triomph
France's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWI under the Arc du Triomph.
1 comment:
That is so cool! Y'all have seen some AWESOME stuff. Now you need to come to NYC so we can hang out with you :)
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