In order to optimize our time in Paris, we researched museums with evening hours. Musee D’Orsay is open late on Thursday. Perfect! We designed our day to visit Versailles in the morning and then go to the Musee D’Orsay…also leaving time for a Parisian lunch and a stroll through the park.
The easiest way to get to Versailles–16 miles outside of Paris– is on the RER line C train to Versailles-Rive Gauche. We confirmed with our hotel concierge which train line and the directions to the correct train station. It was a warm sunny morning, so we decided to walk to the train station–just over a mile. The 20-minute train ride included a 2-man band singing and playing music on the train for tips. Many tourists take this train line to Versailles, so it was a great place for street musicians to make a buck. Upon arrival, we ignored tour guide companies and taxi cabs and made our way across the street to the McDonald’s. I think this was the fanciest McDonald’s we had ever seen. The bakery smelled amazing! The aromas from the fresh baked breads, croissants, muffins, cookies, and more were difficult to resist.
After our short McDonald’s pit stop, we walked a short distance to Versailles. Louis XIV transformed his father’s modest hunting lodge into the largest and most luxurious palace in Europe, housing 20,000 people at one time. Architects Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin-Mansart designed the palace buildings, Charles Le Brun designed the interiors, and Andre Le Notre designed the beautiful grounds, gardens, and fountains.
We used Rick Steves’ Versailles Tour as well as the free audio guide from the palace as our personal guides through the entire palace and opulent gardens. Both guides were very informative and described in detail many important aspects of each room and hallway. The history of Versailles–Louis XIV, Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette–is unbelievably fascinating! I enjoyed imagining what it must of been like living within these walls during those years.
Unfortunately, the Palace of Versailles was overcrowded with tourists–over three million visitors per year. I wished we arrived earlier to avoid some of the uncomfortable closeness of other bodies, but alas, we were in Paris at Versailles and it was absolutely amazing. Fun Fact: The Versailles property measures larger than the entire island of Manhattan!
After we left Versailles, we boarded the RER-C train back to Paris. We grabbed a quick lunch and then headed to Musee d’Orsay!
Inside the Palace of Versailles:
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