Take A Peek: The Stately Rooms of the Palace of Versailles
Chateau de Versailles or the Palace of Versailles used to be the center of French power, wealth, and influence. Today, it is a massive museum that shows the ups and downs of France way before the French Revolution. With 700 rooms, how can you not be lost? Or burn calories going up and down the marbled staircases? The Queen and King’s apartments are separated (or connected) by a large terrace but later converted into a massive Hall of Mirrors, which is no doubt, the most extravagant room in the palace. I don’t remember I had a peek at Marie Antoinette’s rooms – but I think I was told it was under renovation. Ok, two months since I was there and I’m trying to remember everything here. 😂
The King’s Apartments
But, what I do remember is that I was in the rooms on the King’s side of the palace. You can’t miss them because you have to pass them before reaching the grand Hall of Mirrors.
The Frescoes. The beauty of all these rooms is found in the paintings on the ceilings. Yes, it’s a pain in the neck! Each room has its own interesting theme but is mostly named after the gods and goddesses from Greek Mythology.
Might Not Be Accurate. Since I’m trying to remember the rooms from memory, I’m not sure if the photos below are labeled properly. Pardon if there’s a mistake. Let me know if I labeled the rooms wrong. 😉 My apologies.
The Stately Rooms of the Palace of Versailles
Hercules Room. Named after the Greek divine hero, this room was the last to be built by King Louis XIV. Unlike Michelangelo’s masterpiece at Sistine Chapel, the frescoes here were painted on the canvas first before they were plastered on the ceiling.
Abundance Room
As the name suggests, this room is abundant with food. 😀 This was the refreshment room filled with wines, liquors, coffee, etc…
Venus Room. Look up and find heroes of ancient times whose actions were inspired by the goddess of love.
Diana’s Room. Find the painting of Diana in a series of hunting activities.
Mars Room. Can you identify Mars on a chariot pulled by wolves?
Mercury Room. On the ceiling, Aristotle is receiving different animals from other countries given by Alexander the Great.
Apollo Room. Also called the Throne Room. King Louis XIV’s famous portraits hang above the fireplace.
The Royal Chapel. This magnificent room is off-limits to visitors. However, the door is wide open for you to take a peek at its unparalleled grandeur.
How to get to the Palace of Versailles
The palace is an hour’s drive west of Paris. Instead of taking a train, I decided to take the bus tour that our hostel arranged because there’s only a 3 euros difference. And the best thing about it was our own car dropped us off right at the entrance of the palace. Unlike the train, you have to figure out a ride to the palace when you arrive at Versailles station. Our driver gave us three hours and a half to explore the palace, which is enough unless you want to explore the whole acres of gardens.
Where to Stay in Paris
This is a medium-priced hostel that’s a few steps from the Gare Du Nord metro stop. The hostel is reachable to a lot of cafes, restaurants, and grocery shops. The hostel itself has a fantastic bar with bulging security guards. 😉 The rooms are sizeable, clean, and well-ventilated. The bunk beds are comfy with electrical pugs and lamps.
How to Save Time and Money in Paris
Paris has an excellent transport system. There’s nothing to worry about getting from one tourist attraction to another. If you have more time in Paris, then, you can do it all on your own. And it would be cheaper and less time-consuming if you are on the Hop-On and Hop-Off Bus. However, if you only have a short time staying in the city and you want hassle-free preparation (especially avoiding long queues), then joining a Paris Tour is always a good idea!
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