The Gardens of Versailles

The Gardens of Versailles

The Front of the Versailles Palace

To the west of the Palace of Versailles, lies 800 hectares of land that has been cleared, trimmed, trained, artistically designed and lovingly cared for by the gardeners of Versailles. Beginning with principal gardener Andre’ Le Norte, between 1661-1700, the gardens were designed in a French Garden style which is based on symmetry and commanding order on nature.

Aerial view of the Gardens of Versailles
By ToucanWings - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36855446

If you visit Versailles, please step outside and enjoy this amazing splendor of nature. If you would like, you can rent golf carts to get around the gardens at a quicker pace or you can just wander and walk. The day we visited the Palace and the gardens was a cold day so we opted for the golf cart ride. We also enjoyed the hot chocolate that was sold right by the golf cart rental. It tasted like a chocolate bar had been melted for a drink. Cocoa in hand, and a fabulous way to travel, off we went to explore the gardens.

My husband looks cold but always ready to drive a golf cart.

Bassin Apollo Fountain

I'm sure the water is cold but oh so pretty!

Marie Antoinette's house at Versailles

The Grand Canal

Looking towards the back of the Palace Versailles

I will say my only disappointment was that we visited during the winter. I’m sure spring time would be the perfect time to enjoy the gardens. But with hot cocoa and enjoying being out with nature, who could complain. True beauty!!!! If you haven't seen the movie A Little Chaos I would highly recommend it.

A Little Chaos

A truly beautiful story about the building of the Bosquet De La Salle De Bal at Versailles.

Bosquet De La Salle De Bal

Versailles Palace and Gardens.... Bucket List Checked!

PSV wins Dutch Football League

Eindhoven "de Gekste"

Eindhoven the Craziest !!

When I was moving from The Netherlands back to America, my friends gave me a bag called Eindhoven de gekste! And that's what happened a few days ago when Eindhoven PSV football team clinched the Dutch title! I just wanted to give a shout out to the guys and a job well done.

 

 
And as the saying goes Eindhoven proved it true... Eindhoven de Gekste!!


From this American Girl.... to The Netherlands.....Gefeliciteerd!!!

The Palace of Versailles ~ Château de Versailles

From hunting lodge to the museum of history for France, The Palace of Versailles, was my last bucket item to see while having the privilege of living in Europe.

On our trip to Paris, we decided to make the short drive to the city of Versailles, France to visit the famed Palace. I seriously thought the drive was supposed to be about an hour past Paris but as it turned out it was about a 12 mile drive. We were headed there on a Sunday so the traffic was really quiet.

But this was also a short time after the terror attacks in Paris so the city was still on edge and the United Nations were holding Climate Change Conference and all the world leaders were coming to town. Word on the radio was they were shutting down certain highways to clear roads for their arrival. This made for a great day to visit Versailles before heading out of town.

Approaching the golden gates that would take us back to a time when Louis the XIV first hunted there as a boy with his father, to taking up residency when he became King of France, I was a tad giddy.  

King Louis XIII bought the land that was in a country town in France called Versailles. Traveling from Paris, he built a small chateau in 1624, which he used as a hunting lodge.

It was not until Louis XIV (1638-1715) became King that he moved to Versailles from the Louvre in Paris, taking his government to be with him. Known as The Sun King, Louis XIV ruled from 1643-1715. The chateau of Versailles was his finest achievement of his reign.

They say.... Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I will follow with pictures only the eye can decide if they are worthy of entering your heart. For me, an American Girl in Holland, yes.

The Chapel

In the Hall of Mirrors

Hall of Mirrors

The beauty and opulence was from beginning to end. These are only a few of my pictures I took to share. Next up.... I would step outside into the gardens.