This, Madame, is Versailles.

This is ridiculous.
This, Madame, is Versailles.
quote from Marie Antoinette (2006)

Last Saturday Lauren and I decided to venture out to Versailles to see the Chateau.  Upon recommendation from our American friends, the off-season is the best time to walk around the chateau (and other buildings on site) because it gets so insanely crowded during tourism season (which, is also when the gardens are in full bloom).

The chateau is huge and immaculate, just as one would imagine.  I always find it difficult to walk through places like this though.  I know that the curators and historians have put a great deal of effort to decorate the rooms in styles similar to its original design, and I also know that there must have been some intense restoration efforts (in the past and ongoing) to enliven the art and the details throughout.  None of those efforts are in vain (in my humble opinion), but...I'm a little less interested in the perfect presentation and much more interested in everything that isn't on the normal tour.  I may or may not have an adventurous streak (exploring some "iffy" areas at Ostia Antica in Italy, bungee jumping in Greece)  What's on the actual tour at Versailles pales in comparison to what is actually there--I know it does.  I want to crawl through the secret passageways and see the servant's quarters and explore every single room.  Again, the Chateau is phenomenal.  The paintings, the Hall of Mirrors, the Hall of Battles.  Incredible.  Just makes you wonder what other treasures hide in the rooms off the tour...

Hall of Mirrors

We ventured from the Chateau down the main avenue of the gardens to the Petit Trianon, part of Marie Antoinette's estate.  I think this may have been my favorite part of our visit.  Marie Antoinette had a small bedroom (still larger than my Parisian apartment!).  Just off of the bedroom was her boudoir, which acted as a sitting room with two windows.  But, Marie Antoinette requested that panels to cover the windows rise from the floors to ensure privacy.  You can see the mechanism on the ground floor where the king's staircase used to be (before Marie Antoinette had it ripped out).  The upstairs also had a grand room that doubled as a dining room with a table that could rise from the floor.  I'm not sure if it was actually ever used in this manner, as the kitchen was not fully finished for this.

Marie Antoinette's Boudoir, with the panel partially covering the windows

We continued on to the Grand Trianon afterward.  The pink marble is really beautiful and covers most of the exterior.  Inside, we found it rather odd that the bedrooms were all very much open to the hallways (unlike some of the quarters in the Chateau and definitely unlike the Petit Trianon).

Peristyle with view of the Right Wing

Lauren and I saw the Queen's Hamlet on the map and ventured back towards the Petit Trianon.  However, I failed to notice that the entrance we were looking for is only open during high season, so we walked quite a ways to be denied entry.  We started the big hike back to the Chateau to exit as close to the train station as possible.  In total, we walked over 6.5 miles at Versailles...not including walking inside the Palace.  We were pretty wiped out by the time we nearly reached the train station, so we decided to recharge at the local creperie.

We each had a savory galette (buckwheat crepe)--mine was mushrooms and cheese--and then we split a crepe amandine (roasted apples and almonds).  So yummy!  The short break gave us enough power to get to the train station for the 45 minute ride back into the city.  Overall, a very successful day!

Lauren & Me taking Hall of Mirrors selfies :)

Now I can't wait to go back to Versailles once the gardens are in full bloom!!