Paris1972-Versailles2003

We have driven and walked in my former memorable City of Versailles, and would like to have an imprint in my blog on the wonderful family times we had there, There is so much to see , doing my best, and glad found me these older paper pictures which now transposing in my blog for you and me, The pictures are old ,so the quality may not be as good ,but the memories are forever, This was my old home, so glad to post, Therefore, here is my take on curiosities of Versailles, part VIII !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

We move on to a more royal site at the Maison Modéle, building of the Pavillon des Sources at 11 rue Carnot, water came to the city from the forest of Marly and Chesnay since 1682, this house dating from 1683 ,is the first to follow Louis XIV buildings heights in the city, and the reservoir in it worked for two centuries! In 1866 the building becomes a housing site as any other to be live.  There is a plaque in the front door,  that tells you of this message.

We go back to rue Carnot and at no 5 you can see a building, this is the Ecuries de la Reine or the Queen’s stables. done in 1682, here were the first stables of the king later of the queen in 1682 to Marie Thérese of Austria (the  Spanish queen of Louis XIV).  The king and queen loves horses, and one time there were 2300 in the city until the revolution.

At the angle of rue des récollects and rue saint julien, you see the Portail de l’église des récollects, which first stone was put in by Louis XIV in 1684, to replace the church destroyed to built the Grand Comun ,call church of Saint Julien. This was an old order of the welcome order or recueillis that were established in Versailles from 1670.

The old Hôtel de Madame de Pompadour, 7 rue des Réservoirs, just attached to the castle, built in 1752 for the Marquise de Pompadour; after her death in 1764 the house came back to her brother the marquis de Marigny who sell it to king Louis XV to make a government building until it became in the 20C a hôtel des réservoirs or water reserves dept.

By 12 rue de l’independance Americaine, and see the old Hôtel du Grand Contrôle, purchase in 1680 , and the owners going bankrupt in 1720 the hotel was sold n 1724 to louis XV to established the general controls or budge office.  When the estate generaux was assembled in 1789 by louis XVI, more than 40 controlers have passed!  In 2016, the Lov Hotel Collection group (Stéphane Courbit) and Alain Ducasse Entreprise, obtained a concession for Le Grand Contrôle, Le Petit Contrôle, and Le Pavillon at the foot of the Cents marches or hundred steps, in order to convert these spaces to a luxury hotel, Following a large renovation phase, the establishment opened its doors on June 1, 2021. Today, the hotel is made up of 11 rooms and 2 suites.

At the  Avenue de la Division Leclerc, go see the wonderful door front of the Portail d’entrée du pavillon de la lanterne, It is the old royal  horse stables established by Le Vau between 1622-1664. Louis XVI  made it the official royal stables in 1787; around the central courtyard, you find a lanterne with seven courtyards smaller of deer, wild pigs, cerfs,phaisants, and other birds.  Inside you ,also, find the old house or pavillon de la duchesse de Bourgogne.(duchess of Burgundy mother of Louis XV).

The police had its buildings too in Versailles, but the picturesque one was called the Guet du Roy at the corner of rue Neuve Notre Dame and rue de Pétigny, Built in 1783 under king Louis XVI, It was decided that the Prince de Poix military governor of Versailles to watch over the land of the former pond of Clagny dried up in 1736 that was a property encircling the boulevard du Roi, rue Neuve Notre Dame, rue Berthier, and rue du Maréchal Foch (pretty much where the Notre Dame market is today) near the rive droite train station was inhabited by troublesome folks so it was needed to keep an eye from this building, after the French revolution and after passing by several owners it became a small café now closed since 1996.

The Pavillon de Musique de Madame at avenue Chauchard by the 111 avenue de Paris, In this building like the music pavilion of the Mrs Marie Joséphine de Savoie Countess of Provenceand sister in law of Louis XVI made built this pavillion in 1780 after buying the land from Prince de Montbarrey that needed to be in exile as not in accord with Marie Antoinette. In 1784 ;the countess ordered an English garden with a pond, chinese pavilions belvedere, small temple, cottages, dairy and music pavillion, Today only the dairy and music pavillion remain the rest was sold in the French revolution, In 1820 wings were added by the jewerlers of Louis XVIII, The guest here continue with Alfred Chauchard,  the co founder of the dept store Grands magasins du Louvre (gone and replace by the Louvre des Antiquaires). Without heirs, he gives the property to the Societé du Louvre, (today Louvre Hotels Group owned by the Chinese Jin Jiang International ) of which is cut in parcels for the workers of the dept store with the only condition that his statue at avenue du Louvre in Versailles is care for.

The Versailles tourist office on its heritage: https://en.versailles-tourisme.com/visit-and-explore-versailles-the-royal-town/a-town-to-discover

The city of Versailles on things to see: https://www.versailles.fr/65/decouvrir-versailles.htm

There you go folks, a dandy area to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments in my belle France, driving all over in my road warrior trails brings out sublime awesome spots with nice memorable family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on curiosities of Versailles, part VIII !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!