Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
October 2016: Versailles
Versailles is located in the Île-de-France region of France, about 20km southwest of the centre of Paris. Although a city in its own right with around 85,000 people, it is effectively a well-to-do suburb of the French capital. When Louis XIV moved the royal court there in 1682, however, Versailles for a time took on the role of unofficial, de facto capital of the country. Its main attraction is the fabulous royal palace and gardens, which together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting visitors from around the world.
Hoping to buck the trend set by the huge numbers of tourists, we began our visit in the gardens and outbuildings, leaving the main palace until last. While the palace building as a whole was most impressive, the absolute highlight was, predictably, the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors.
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