I love visiting France so when Versailles
was suggested for a short winter break, it seemed a good idea. Of course, the
chateau and gardens are on everyone’s ‘to do’ list when visiting Paris but I was
interested to find out what the rest of the town is like.
We travelled on a Monday morning by Eurostar from St. Pancras to
Paris Gare du Nord, then took the metro to Gare Austerlitz where we caught a
RER train to Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche.
The hotel I’d booked - L’hotel Angleterre - was at the budget end
of places to stay and although the room was small it was clean, the staff were
very welcoming and it was a great location being only a short five minute walk
to the gates of the palace.
After settling in, we went for a
walk around the palace gardens (The chateau is closed on a Monday) and had
something to eat in La Flottille, by the Grand Canal.
I’d bought two-day passports (25euros per person in winter) to the Chateau online prior to travelling and we
arrived early on the Tuesday and Wednesday where a small but not off-putting
queue had already formed.
As well as going inside the
chateau and seeing the exhibition being held there, we also did lots and lots
of walking in the grounds and looking at trees. Wondering how everything had
been constructed at that time in history. Pondering about the logistics, and
cost, of all the construction.
Opposite the entrance of the
palace grounds there is a museum housing the historic coaches (free entry) and
further into the town, the king’s veggie patch, the ‘Potager du roi’ (6 euros
per person). Of course, it wasn’t the best time to visit the vegetable garden
as it was almost completely bare of produce with just a few hardy greens
growing. Still, it was interesting to see the skeletons of the fruit trees
lined up neatly in rows ready for their work later in the year.
The town is split into two halves by the palace and there are two self-guided
walking trails you can follow to discover more about the history of the rest of
the area. We picked up a map from the Tourist Office and searched out the
history boards which have English as one of the featured languages. It was nice
to explore the quiet parts of the town.
Returning home on the Friday, we took some time to walk around the
Marais area of Paris, following a map in a guidebook I’d taken with me. Then a whistle-stop
tour of the famous sights – the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame,
currently shielded by hoardings as the fire repairs get underway, before
heading back to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar home.
It was a really nice trip, quite relaxing and not too expensive.
Lots of inspiration from the palace grounds and all things French. Wrought
iron, decoration, fabrics and over the top grandeur.
