Paris1972-Versailles2003

And you can tell ,love the history of the places I go, not just for a pretty picture or nice walk but to know their history and meaning in our world. A complete world traveler and or road warrior indeed.None the least in my dear old home of Versailles,in the Yvelines dept 78 of the Île de France region of my belle France.  Therefore, let me tell you again always more of my dear Versailles !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

I like to bring you back to my dear Versailles , memories forever, they were 9+ wonderful years spent in this marvelous royal city that we will remember forever. I have written plenty on it in my blog, but there is always more more of the City. This is from a new visit last week just love it !!!

The Avenue de Sceaux is a very much used traffic street in Versailles, one of the three streets which radiate in a fan from the place d’Armes, in front of the Palace/museum of Versailles, with the Avenue de Paris and the Avenue de Saint-Cloud. The Avenue de Sceaux borders some of m y favorite buildings in the city such as the  Petite Écurie, Court of Scents, the Square des Francine, also called Louis XIV abreuvoir or watering place, at no. 10: Hôtel de la Marine et des Galères; and Jardin des étangs Gobert or pond garden of Gobert.  You can, also, walk from the parking above on Avenue de Sceaux directly into the left hand side of the palace/museum or commonly call the Château de Versailles! The Avenue de Sceaux in the district of Saint-Louis created in 1710. A nice convenient parking is at the end, by the RER C train station.

Avenue de Paris ,is the old royal road that connected the palace of Versailles with the palace of the Louvre  in Paris, In fact as you go by car as I, you come into Versailles  on the Avenue de Paris and come into Paris on the Avenue de Versailles ; the now D910 or D10 road !! The Avenue de Paris was created in 1682, the central axis of the Trident set up by Jules Hardouin-Mansart (avenues of Sceaux, Paris, Saint Cloud). One of the widest avenues of France at 97 meters. Many nice monuments to see on it see posts,

The Place de la Loi, built from 1938, completed in 1945, it was officially handed over to the city on November 12, 1941, by General Pacault. The city then took the opportunity to baptize the circular square that surrounds it as Place-de-la-Loi. It will be necessary to wait until July 7, 1946 for it to be inaugurated. This monument has two pillars 12 meters high by 3 meters wide in the form of vertical cobblestones. One represents the gendarmerie and the other the Republican Guard. They frame a statue which symbolizes Force in the service of the Law. This does not interfere with the view of the Saint-Antoine de Padoue Church, located just above in neighboring Le Chesnay-Roquencourt.

The Place d’Armes located in front of the Palace of Versailles. It is about 300 meters long and 150 meters wide. On its side opposite the castle, three lanes radiate the avenue de Saint-Cloud; the avenue de Paris, and the avenue de Sceaux. In 1660, when Louis XIV decided to extend his palace ,it was decided to level and to enlarge the Place d’Armes and radiate from it three wide avenues planted with trees. The Place d’Armes borders the following buildings: the Château de Versailles where the Grille d’Honneur separates it from the Cour d’Honneur; the Grande Ecurie, and the Petite Ecurie. Since 2009, the square has also been home to the equestrian statue of Louis XIV, which previously stood in the Cour d’Honneur.

The Rue du Maréchal Joffre, is awesome, the former rue de Satory named after the hill it crosses to the south, Some of my favorite buildings here are at No. 2: Former small vegetable garden of the king, No. 5: House where Mademoiselle de Romans died in 1808, one of Louis XV’s mistresses, of whom she had a recognized son Louis-Antoine de Bourbon, No. 10: Current entrance to the Potager du Roi or King’s vegetable garden which was created from 1678 to 1683 under the direction of Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinie, No. 12: Parc Balbi former cul-de-sac of Satory giving access to the entrance to Balbi Park, . No. 29: Lycée Jules-Ferry former hotel of the Duc de la Vrillière in 1772, which served as stables for the Countess of Artois, (wife of future king Charles X) , younger sister of the Countess of Provence,(wife of future king Louis XVIII),

The Rue de l’Indépendance Américaine was the former rue Gambetta,then rue de la Superintendance and then rue des Quatre-Fermes. From the name of the treaties signed at Versailles (end of the conflict between France and England/USA) in the current municipal library , Some of my favorite buildings here are at N° 1: Grand Commun du château de Louis XIV, former military hospital The “Grand Carré des Offices” (Commun du King, Queen, Monseigneur and Madame la Dauphine) was built between 1682 and 1684. This functional building in brick and stone has the appearance of a rectangle of 83 meters by 76 meters with a vast interior courtyard. It is now attach to the Domaine de Versailles, No. 3: Hôtel de la Guerre-barracks Carnot , No. 5: Since 1803, the municipal library of Versailles has been located in the former hotel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Navy ,No. 4-6 Hôtel de la Surintendance, occupied successively by Jean-Baptiste Colbert , then by Louvois former Ministry of War under Louis XV built on the site of the king’s first vegetable garden., No. 7: Hôtel d’Orléans, built in 1762 by Anne-Marie-Louise d’Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier, first cousin of Louis XIV and granddaughter of Henri IV, known to the court as S.A.R. Mademoiselle or Miss., No. 9: Former Hôtel de la Superintendance des Bâtiments du Roi built by J. Hardouin-Mansart in 1702, occupied by the brother of Madame de Pompadour and then by the Comte d’Angivillier , It became a minor seminary from 1834 to 1906, then Caserne Vauban: military engineering district (engineering school in 1990) which then abandoned it. No. 12: Hôtel du Grand Contrôle des finances built in 1681 on the plans of J. Hardouin-Mansart, hotel of the Duke of Beauvilliers (Colbert’s son-in-law), then bought by Louis XV for the General Control of Finances, and then housed the military circle before returning to the Domaine de Versailles ,it has become a four-star luxury hotel !!

The Rue Satory, from the name of the hill south of the city to which it gave access. Former rue de la Montagne which united rue du Maréchal-Joffre and the current rue de Satory. An interesting building to see here is at No. 18: Birthplace of General Lazare Hoche, who died at 29 after having “pacified” the Vendée (war of west vs French revolution). Balconies with curved railings. Bought by the city in 1986. The street ends today at the old carrefour or crossroads of Quatre Bornes with rue de l’Orangerie.

You know the Gare Château Rive Gauche train station of the RER C network is the closest to the main entrance of the Château (10 minutes on foot). It is accessible from many stations in Paris (St-Michel Notre-Dame, Invalides, Champ de Mars – Eiffel Tower, etc.). On the way back, all trains go to Paris.

The Avenue Clément Ader is next to Camp de Satory ,i came this time by here passing an old reliable gas station BP, This street connects the Saint-Louis district and the Satory district, via a passage under the national 12 road coming from the A86,

The Guy Môquet covered trench, or Guy Môquet tunnel, is a work of art located on the beltway road A86, in the territories of Vitry-sur-Seine and Thiais in the Val-de-Marne (dept 94) , With a total length 650 meters long, this twin-tube tunnel has 3 traffic lanes per direction, And we take it to go around Paris on our way East/West

The N186, or RN186, is a road which was the second ring of Paris before being gradually replaced by the A86 highway, The A13 begins in Paris, more precisely on the peripheral boulevard at the height of the Porte d’Auteuil. It is then cut and covered on certain sections, before meeting the A12 at the Triangle de Rocquencourt. A connection A13 to A12 and vice versa taken zillions of times

The famous CC Parly 2 shopping center with nearly 200 shops on 3 floors with white, gold and warm and refined wood decor. We shopped here to death, our favorite by far while living in Versailles, It is at 2 Av. Charles de Gaulle, Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt (former Le Chesnay) on the road D186 becomes N186 at A13 dir Rouen or go over the bridge to St Germain en Laye etc, This was on our way out to A13 and new home !

The Versailles tourist office: https://en.versailles-tourisme.com/

The city of Versailles on its heritage: https://www.versailles.fr/65/decouvrir-versailles.htm#

There you go folks, a dandy small stories of my dear Versailles, as said, a lot more than the palace to be seen and enjoy. A nice town good for the whole family, heck it was great for mine. Again, hope you enjoy this post on my always more of my dear Versailles as I.

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

I have written quite a bit on Versailles and of course used to lived in this glorious sublime city of my belle France , The usual tourist brochures do not tell you all but here , we make a distinction between the Château or Palace/museum, the annexes such as the Trianons and the old Domaine de Versailles. One is just current properties you come to see and the other is much more going back in history way back before 1685 ! Let me tell you a bit more in my black and white series, no pictures ; on the gates or portes of the Domaine de Versailles !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The property goes back way back of the Grand Canal into the towns of St Cyr l’école , etc , and its many gates or portes that encircle the old Domain of Versailles for 43 km !!. My favorite here was the Porte de Bailly still visible from the Ferme de Gally on St Cyr l’école. 700 meters from it you can still see the Porte de Noisy with a garden guardian house still there. Much further in the enclosure you have the Porte de Buc (town of Buc) ,Porte de Saint Cyr (town of St Cyr l’école) ,Porte d’Aréne (town of St Nom la Bretêche ) Porte de Jouy (town of Jouy en Josas) , Porte de Mérantais (town of St Quentin en Yvelines) , pavillon de Chateaufort (town of Chateaufort) ,Porte de Puissaloup (town of Bois d’Arcy) ,my favorite entrance to the Domaine , porte Saint Antoine or Porte de la Reine ( town of Versailles) ,Porte de Trou Salé (town of Toussus le Noble) ,Porte d’entrées or entering gate (town of St Nom la Bretêche private occupied today). You see my Domaine de Versailles !!!

Starting in 1685, Louis XIV had a wall built around his estate of Versailles, pierced by around twenty gates. These monumental doors are all built on the same model, according to the drawings of Jules-Hardouin Mansart. Straddling the enclosing wall in the form of a porte-cochere, they consisted of a quadrangular pavilion covered in slates, the ground floor of which constituted the passage and the first floor served as accommodation for the Swiss guard. The passage, capped with exposed joists, opened with two semicircular arches. It was flanked by two small recesses, one of which contained the staircase. The accommodation on the first floor consisted of a single room equipped with a furnace fireplace and lighted by two large pierced windows above each opening of the passage. The construction was in coated rubble with corner chaining, strips and cornice in cut stone. The enclosed estate had an area of 86 km2, more than ten times the territory of Versailles today. It then included 9 villages, erected into parishes, existing before its creation. These are the villages of Buc, Guyancourt, Bois-d’Arcy, Saint-Cyr, Villepreux, Fontenay-le-Fleury, Rennemoulin, Noisy, and Bailly. The palace and the small park were to the northeast of the greater park. This included the plateau of Satory, the upper part of the Val de Bièvres, the plateau of Villaroy, the pond of Saint-Quentin , the plateau of Bois d’Arcy and the plain of Versailles to the limit of Villepreux to the west. The large park was delimited to the north by the park of Marly. From the western end of the Grand Canal radiated five great alleys, dozens of meters wide, crossing the park. Villepreux’s Royal Alley was part of the “Great Perspective” imagined by Le Nôtre on either side of the Palace of Versailles.

The Porte de la Tuilerie, dite Pavillon de l’Arènes  (b,1685) In Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, the Château de la Bretèche (private property), was sold to King Louis XIV in 1700, for the Count of Toulouse (legitimatized son of the king and Madame de Montespan) who will put his crews there, hunting, the castle finally returned, in August 1766, to Louis XV who wished to increase his domains of Versailles and Marly. The castle and the estate were then the subject of meticulous surveys by the first architect of King Ange-Jacques Gabriel. The castle cannot be visited. La Tuilerie-Bignon, also enclosed in the large park of Versailles, is the setting for one of the most prestigious French golf courses, of international renown. The Pavillon d’Arène, or Daresne, from the name of its first guard, is the remnant of a gate in the wall that surrounded the large park of Versailles, reserved for hunting small game and falcon hunting, known as falcon hunting. flight. Surmounted by a pavilion roof, the floor is occupied by a single room, which is generally the housing of the game warden. the perimeter wall formerly attached to the former hunting domain of Versailles today the GPV = Grand Parc de Versailles, You will see this abbrv repeated here,

Located on the D186 road arriving via Le Chesnay, the Porte Saint Antoine provides access to the domaine’s park. The Porte St Antoine or Porte de la Reine was one of the entrances to the Petit-Parc and the palace (our favorite entry for walks and plays with the family in the gardens) , Arranged at the passages of the riders and close to the Avenue de Versailles, this exit from the castle made it possible to reach the castle of Marly then St Germain in Laye

The Porte de Rocquencourt was the old entrance door and its porter’s house attached to the GPV enclosure wall today has become a simple access to the forest of Marly, The door and certainly the old porter’s house adjoining the enclosure wall of the GPV runs along the forest of Marly in the direction of the Porte à Bailly. Pierre Julien de La Faye, king’s adviser, and last lord of Rocquencourt , sells the estate to Monsieur, brother of the king, count of Provence, while Louis XVI acquired the lordship. The original fortified castle, built on the promontory overlooking the valley, was replaced by a building occupied by Madame de Provence, then by the Furtado-Heine family, and finally by the Murat family. On August 20, 1944, a stock of ammunition was there. destroyed and the damaged building was demolished in 1960.

The Porte du Val Joyeux , the Swiss house built in the middle of the 18C along the departmental road to Plaisir (D10/11), It was added to the pavilion built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart above the road in 1685, during the final closure of the large hunting park at the Palace of Versailles. Porch added in the 19C , Pavilion destroyed around 1855.

The Porte de Bailly or Porte de Maintenon (enclosure wall of the Petit-Parc) is located on the Allée Royale de Maintenon, its access allowed during hunting parties to reach the Grand-Parc, the forest or the castle of Marly, In the extension from the Allée Royale de Maintenon there was a last gate called the Grille de Maintenon. Located on the Allée Royale de Maintenon which linked the Etoile Royale to the Grille du Trou d’Enfer opposite the old castle of the Marly estate, the gate was, with the Porte de Noisy, one of the exits from the Palace of Versailles during hunting parties in the forest of Marly,

The Porte des Gondi formerly gatehouse of the Château de Noisy ,The gate, formerly known as Criton, is the only preserved architectural element of the château built for Albert de Gondi. The triangular pediment is supported by Tuscan pillars resting on harped legs. Integrated into the enclosure wall of the Parc de Marly during the reign of Louis XIV, it was renamed Porte des Gondi in 1993. This house, which disappeared from the domain of Versailles, was located on the road leading from Versailles to Marly.

The Porte de Puissaloup or the Puit à Loup  had a single room that serves as housing for the Swiss quickly becomes insufficient for a family. Annex buildings are therefore gradually added to the original building, which loses its rigor and symmetry. Thus the door of Puisaloup will end up being incorporated into constructions so important that one will not even distinguish the door any more , The building is then made up of a kitchen, next to a room with fireplace, above 3 bedrooms and below a cave. The pavilion of the door is composed of 2 rooms. A stable for 4 horses furnished with mangers and racks. A barn for 3 cows, a barn with 3 bays and lean-to; all covered in slate, except the barn and the lean-to covered in reed and in good condition except for a few minor repairs. When the RN 12 road (take no tolls from my Morbihan) was widened, the Porte de Puisaloup was demolished. It was located near the Elf gas station.

The Porte de Noisy was one of the accesses to the hunting grounds of the Grand Parc de Versailles and the forest of Marly , Due to its monumental dimensions, its height and width facilitated the passage of riders of up to 200/300 men during hunting parties , Erected on the 2,500 meter long Avenue Royale de Noisy from the Apollo basin, it joins the Avenue Royale de Maintenon used as a launching pad towards the game-rich lands of the Marly forest.

The Porte Porte de St Cyr as the entrance to St Cyr and the perimeter wall separating the Petit Parc from the hunting lodge, Located inside the Domaine du GPV ,its wall was integrated into the domaine

The Porte de Buc or du Cerf Volant , The village of Buc located in the GPV and its Porte du Cerf Volant integrated into the surrounding wall of the Petit-Parc In modern times in 1685, Hébert sold to the Marquis de la Feuillade seventy-eight arpents of coppice which were united the following year in the Grand Parc of Versailles. The proximity of Versailles also explains another major event for the topography of Buc: the construction of an aqueduct, completed in 1686, to convey the waters of the plateau through the Bièvre valley.

The Porte de Trappes was located outside the wall of the GPV, the village held a gateway to the domaine de Versailles , Also, known as the False Porte de Trappes.

The Porte du Mérentais was built as the others in 1685. This pavilion was enlarged during the 18C,and is the only one still present on the territory of the current town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, a rare witness that should be preserved due to its unique character. Despite many transformations, the door is still visible. It is therefore a former guard house of the Grand Parc de Versailles. This residential building is now located in the heart of the Golf National course in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. The building, made of millstone, is made up of a cellar in the basement, a ground floor and an upper floor, i.e. an approximate area of 40 m². The roof is a 4-sided pavilion and is covered with slates.

ThePorte de Montigny in the town of Montigny-le-Bretonneux was located outside the wall of the GPV Also, the Porte de Voisins located outside the perimeter wall of the GPV, the village of Voisins had a gateway to the estate, which no longer exists. Their last descendant would be Count Auguste Gilbert de Voisns who had married one of the daughters of José-Maria de Hérédia.(French academy seat 79 and Cuban born).

The Porte de Chateaufort was located outside the GPV and its entrance door integrated into the surrounding wall of the GPV.

The Porte de La Boulie, now in the the Valley and the Forest located at the doors of Versailles, today a Golf de la Boulie

The Porte de Toussus Le Noble and Porte du Trou Salé (b 1686), The village of Toussus located on the edge of the GPV enclosure wall and its 2 gates, The Porte de Toussus is located west of the village. The ruin of the vault, threatening the safety of users, led to the destruction of two-thirds of the building in 1914. The rest was enlarged to accommodate agricultural workers. It is still used as a private dwelling. The Porte du Trou Salé is located to the east of the village. A farm developed around the gate in the 18C. It is now private property. Nearby we discover an old royal crown terminal, oriented towards the castle they indicated the limits of the domain, these were stone marks to delimited the entire property as king’s lands.

The Porte des Loges en Josas , The village of Les Loges was located outside the GPV with a single entrance gate into the estate , The former porter’s house composed of a main building where the guards or porters of the administration of the Domaine or Estate of Versailles

The Porte de Jouy en Josas , The village of Jouy on the outskirts of the surrounding wall and its gate allowing access to the GPV , This house is a former gate of Louis XIV’s hunting estate. In the canton, another gate remains at Trou Salé (Toussus-le-Noble see above) ) as well as the remains of a third, also at Toussus. These gates, where the guards residences, were built from 1684 to 1686 and were originally linked together by a masonry wall protecting the hunting lodge from any unauthorized intrusion. This, later crossed by a railway line that no longer exists, was used in particular for supplying French troops during WWII. The door or gate or Pavillon then annexes or outbuildings were added later.

The official Domaine de Versailles today:  https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/estate

The city of Versailles on its origins: https://www.versailles.fr/222/decouvrir-versailles/histoire-de-versailles/versailles-depuis-son-origine.htm

The official Versailles tourist office of the must see: https://en.versailles-tourisme.com/les-10-incontournables.html

Les Amis de Versailles or the friends of Versailles supporters’s group: https://www.amisdeversailles.com/?lang=en

The association des Amis du grand Parc de Versailles or assoc of the friends of the grand park of Versailles (domaine): https://grandparcdeversailles.org/

There you go folks, the property is huge, and this additional post will give you some ideas and history of its original size before the French revolution. If need any detail information feel free to post a question or contact me on this blog. I lived there for 9+ glorious years with memories forever !!! Again, hope you enjoy the post on my Domaine of Versailles as I 

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

This is a masterpiece inside the Château de Versailles; it has been recently renovated and better than ever. I like to tell you a bit more on the Royal Chapel as again found me couple pictures of the exterior that needs to be in my blog, See my other post with interior pictures, Hope you enjoy this post on the Chapelle Royale of the Château de Versailles as I.

I came first to the Château de Versailles back in 1990 and was like any tourist hurry up to see all in one day.  I had my family, my parents, and wife’s grandmother with us. The first couple of trips were like this, then they were more routine until finally came to live here in 2003. I took this place as my own, for many reasons and I always enjoy telling something about it whether the domaine or the City all tops, and now the renovated Chapelle Royale is beautiful beyond words. Mind you these are older pictures from different years,

It was designed as a temporary chapel, and the 1682 Royal Chapel will be used for 28 years, It is the sanctuary that Louis XIV will have best known. Great ceremonies took place there, such as the receptions in the order of the Holy Spirit in 1688-1689 or the wedding of the Duke of Burgundy in 1697. The final location of the Royal Chapel was found in 1687. Like that of 1672, the building has a barlong plan. It has an initially rectangular bedside. It stands on two levels. On the first floor, a gallery reserved for the king, facing the altar, borders the entire nerf. The chapel is preceded by two superimposed vestibules, which give access to the north wing. On June 5, 1710, the chapel was blessed by Cardinal de Noailles, Archbishop of Paris.

On the ground floor (1 fl US) are placed two secondary altars dedicated to Saint Louis (Louis IX) and Saint Thérèse, patron saints of the royal couple. A third altar, adorned with a painting by Pierre de Cortona, occupies the gallery. This ancestor of Louis XIV, his patron saint and his model, built the Sainte-Chapelle, an architectural reliquary designed to contain the Crown of Thorns. The Parisian monument will serve as a model for religious architecture. The Royal Chapel of Louis XIV is inspired by it. The Royal Chapel was originally designed not to exceed the height of the roofs of the palace. But from January 1689, it was much higher. 43 meters high, it is surmounted by a cross at its eastern end. A large royal crown, placed on a cushion and a lead carpet, must have crowned the summit. It is a lantern almost 12 meters high, surmounted by a cross, which will top the building. Tt consists of a balustrade of open tracery and eight lead-sheathed wooden columns with composite capitals, heads of cherubs and festoons of flowers on the archivolts, eight consoles and finials surmounted by water leaves, a torus of acanthus leaves and a cross placed on a fleur-de-lysed globe.

In 1705, twenty-eight statues of Apostles and Evangelists, Church Fathers and allegories of the Catholic Virtues were placed on the outer balustrade. The program provided for thirty-four figures: the four Evangelists, the twelve Apostles, the four Fathers of the Latin Church, the four Fathers of the Greek Church, eight Virtues and the patrons of the French monarchy, Saint Louis and Charlemagne. The last two figures and four Virtues were removed.

The Château de Versailles on the Royal Chapel:https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/estate/palace/royal-chapel

The Versailles tourist office on the Royal Chapel :https://www.versailles-tourisme.com/la-chapelle-royale.html

There you go folks, this is a masterpiece and only in glorious Versailles, The Royal Chapel is a must to see in the must to see Palace/ Museum of Versailles to be enjoy by all for generations. This is my Royal Versailles, memories forever. Again, hope you have enjoy this wrap up post on the exterior a bit more as the other post was on history and longer description as I.

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

A wonderful subject for me as lived in the city of Versailles by the Notre Dame Church for 9+ years before moving on to the Morbihan. Versailles will always be in our hearts, it was our first owned home in France!  Go ahead and see the City ,but do not miss the palace/museum for anything as the Domaine of Versailles is awesome ! Let me tell you about the wonderful favorite rooms of mine, this time the Salon de l’Œil-de-Bœuf . Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Salon de l’Œil-de-Bœuf is located south of the Hall of Mirrors. It overlooks the Queen’s Grand Apartment. in the Château de Versailles, located in the dept 78 of Yvelines,in the region of Île-de-France and in my belle France.

The Salon de l’Œil-de-Bœuf or the ox-eye second room of the royal apartment. It is a strategic point of the royal apartment: to the north, it leads to the king’s bedroom; In the West, high mirrors doors open directly to the Hall of Mirrors and allow courtiers to enter or leave the king; On the south wall, to the right of the window, a door leads directly to the Queen, while a staircase, opening on the east wall, leads to the Dauphin’s apartment, located on the ground floor.

The second antechamber of the royal apartment, the Salon de l’Œil-de-Bœuf takes its name from the rounded window that gives light to the room on the south side. Originally, this room contained two, separated by a partition: the antechamber and the King’s bedroom, whose bed was placed in the corner to the left of the current fireplace. Embarrassed by the small size of these rooms, which struggled to contain all the courtiers present when he got up and went to bed, Louis XIV decided in 1701 to have the wall knocked down, to combine the two rooms into one and to move his bedroom. in the next room which was then only a living room. The decoration which reigns in the room testifies, like that of the preceding rooms, to the evolution of the personal taste of the king, who, at the turn of the century, abandons the rich marble decorations and the painted ceilings for the white ceilings and the gilded woodwork. . A frieze of children’s games reigns at the level of the cornice.

It is indeed in this room that the personalities having the privilege of attending the small and large levies of the king waited. They entered the sovereign’s room according to a codified ceremonial, we speak of “entrances”. Each entrance was reserved for members of the King’s entourage according to his rank or function with the Crown. Six entries were thus observed daily. For example, during the first entries, called “familiar”, we welcome the doctor, the surgeon and the royal children or later courtiers chosen at the discretion of the sovereign during the fifth entries. At the Palace of Versailles, a major restoration of one of the most emblematic pieces of the reign of Louis XIV began in February 2023. Built in 1701, the antechamber of the Salon de l‘Œil-de-Bœuf has a unique decor, at the transition between the Louis XIV and Louis XV styles. This complete restoration will last one year.

The official Château de Versailles :https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover

The Versailles tourist office on the palace of Versailles :https://en.versailles-tourisme.com/documentation.html

There you go folks, a magnificent palace that all should see in your lifetime at least once, The history of France is here,and the architecture not the least , a masterpiece for the whole world to see. We shall be back eventually to my former City of glorious memories for all, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Salon de l‘Œil-de-Bœuf as I.

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

A wonderful subject for me as lived in the city of Versailles by the Notre Dame Church for 9+ years before moving on to the Morbihan. Versailles will always be in our hearts, it was our first owned home in France!  Go ahead and see the City ,but do not miss the palace/museum for anything as the Domaine of Versailles is awesome ! Let me tell you about the wonderful favorite rooms of mine, this time the Salon de la Paix. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Salon de la Paix or Peace room is located south of the Hall of Mirrors. It overlooks the Queen’s Grand Apartment. in the Château de Versailles, located in the dept 78 of Yvelines,in the region of Île-de-France and in my belle France.

The Salon de la Paix or Peace room presents the same decor of marble panels and trophies of gilded and chiselled bronze arms as the Salon de la Guerre that is symmetrical. However, the brown adorned cupola and the covings of the blessings of the peace given by France to Europe. At the end of the reign of king Louis XIV, this living room was separated from the gallery by a movable bulkhead and considered to be part of the Queen’s apartment, from which it was the last room after the chamber. It was there that under Louis XV, Marie Leszczynska gave every Sunday concerts of profane or religious music which played an important role in the musical life of Versailles, and that, in the following reign, Marie-Antoinette held her game. When necessary, the partition separating the room from the gallery was dismantled and the living room was again part of the large apartment.

The walls are paneled in marble grand melange marble stand out against an arabescato background, the cymaise and plinth are in Sarrancolin marble. The ceiling is made up of five paintings, France gives peace to Europe, in the center, Spain accepts peace, Christian Europe in peace, Germany accepts peace, and Holland (Low Countries) accepts peace , Above the green marble fireplace is Louis XV offering his two daughters as a token of peace to Europe, a painting dated 1729. From the time of Marie Antoinette, although following the Salon de la Guerre and the Galerie des Glaces , the Salon de la Paix was an integral part of the sovereign’s apartment. It was a bit like his games room.

The official Château de Versailles :https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover

The Versailles tourist office on the palace of Versailles : https://en.versailles-tourisme.com/documentation.html

There you go folks, a magnificent palace that all should see in your lifetime at least once, The history of France is here,and the architecture not the least , a masterpiece for the whole world to see. We shall be back eventually to my former City of glorious memories for all, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Salon de la Paix as I.

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

A wonderful subject for me as lived in the city of Versailles by the Notre Dame Church for 9+ years before moving on to the Morbihan. Versailles will always be in our hearts, it was our first owned home in France!  Go ahead and see the City ,but do not miss the palace/museum for anything as the Domaine of Versailles is awesome ! Let me tell you about the wonderful favorite rooms of mine, this time the Salon des Nobles. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Salon des Nobles is a salon in the Grand Appartement de la Reine The salon is located between the antechamber of the Grand Couvert and the Queen’s bedroom and served as the second antechamber of the apartment. Of course, it is in the Château de Versailles, in the dept 78 Yvelines, in the Île-de-France region of my belle France.

The Salon de Nobles or nobles’ room is the antechamber under Queen Marie-Thérèse, it was in this room that Mary Leszczinska granted her solemn hearings, seated under a dais. She also held her circle, as we called this time of conversation settled with the ladies of the court. Marie Antoinette had the decoration remade entirely, preserving only the paintings of the ceiling, and for her, the walls of Damascus green apple bordered with a large gold braid. 

When the antechamber of the Grand Couvert was still a guard room, the Salon des Nobles served as the sole antechamber for the queen. It then becomes the apartment’s second antechamber, preceding the sovereign’s bedroom. It is also called the Queen’s Salon or the Queen’s Grand Cabinet. This is where the Queen of France or the Dauphines who occupied the apartment gave their audiences and held their circle. The queen’s armchair is placed at the back of the room, facing the windows, surrounded by the folding chairs reserved for the circle of ladies of the court. It was customary, when a queen or a dauphine died at the castle, to expose the coffin there for a few days, as in February 1712, after the death of the Duchess of Burgundy. The coffin of her husband, who died six days later, was exhibited with that of his wife.

The Salon des Nobles underwent transformations in 1785, under the direction of Richard Mique. The walls have low white and gold paneling and are hung with green silk trimmed with gold. Marie-Antoinette also had a fireplace in turquin blue marble installed and new furniture by Riesener such as chests of drawers and corner cupboards installed. The fireplace and furniture with the exception of a dresser not found were put back in the 1960s, The ceiling remains that known to Queen Marie-Thérèse , like the living room of the King’s Grand Apartment, exactly symmetrical to the north, it is dedicated to the god Mercury. The central composition depicts Mercury spreading its influence over the arts and sciences. The arches are each decorated with a composition illustrating great female figures from Antiquity,

The official Château de Versailles :https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover

The Versailles tourist office on the palace of Versailles: https://en.versailles-tourisme.com/documentation.html

There you go folks, a magnificent palace that all should see in your lifetime at least once, The history of France is here,and the architecture not the least , a masterpiece for the whole world to see. We shall be back eventually to my former City of glorious memories for all, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Salon de Nobles as I.

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

I have written plenty on Versailles and its marvels, but never enough. I have taken an older picture to create a new post on a wonderful spot in my Château de Versailles, Therefore, let me tell you more on the Bosquet de Salle du Ball or Ballroom Grove in the garden of the Palace/museum of Versailles. I will say again, more than two days are needed to see all here not to mention the rest of the city of Versailles ! You will be amaze of what you find in my glorious Versailles, Hope you enjoy the post as I

They are many but I do have my favorite grove or bosquet. I have written an overall introductory post on the others but the Bosquet de Salle du Bal or Ballroom Grove or also known in French as the Bosquet des Rocailles is my favorite of all,  Of the fifteen current groves, only five groves of Le Nôtre have been preserved or found their original appearance: the grove of the Girandole and the grove of the Dauphin which are essentially lounges of greenery, the grove of Enceladus, the Grove of the Three Fountains and this one of the Ballroom. The Ballroom Grove was the last grove to be laid out in the gardens by Le Nôtre, before the installation of king Louis XIV at Versailles. It was inaugurated in 1685. The central zone originally had an oval dance floor, delimited by a small canal. This track was destroyed in the early 18C.

The works began in 1680 and were completed in 1685. The Grand Dauphin, the son of Louis XIV, organised a great dinner there to celebrate its inauguration. The grove was designed as an amphitheatre of greenery. The central arena had a small island surrounded by a canal on two levels and reached by four small bridges., Le Nôtre put the considerable incline created by the ramps to Latona’s Parterre to skilful use by designing a great cascade , the only one in Versailles, taking up the whole eastern end of the amphitheatre. The cascade has eight levels, is punctuated by marble ramps, and was decorated with millstones and shells, along with tall pedestals and gilt lead vases. The tiers intended for spectators were highlighted by boxwood hedges.  The Bosquet de salle du Ball or Ballroom grove has three entrances on the Allée de Bacchus-and-Allée de Saturne. It is located near the following places for direction: to the north, the rampe du Midi, which separates it from the parterre de Latone, to the east, the parterre du Midi, to the south, the bosquet de la Reine, scattered by the allée de Bacchus-and Allée de Saturne ,to the west the bosquet de la Girandole. The Bassin de Bacchus is located at the southwest corner, the fontaine du Midi at the northeast corner. 

A bit more detail of it from pamphlets, brochures taken from the Palace/Museum of Versailles in my many friends of Versailles tours of which I am a member since 2004.

The Ballroom Grove was dedicated to dancing, an art which the Sun King willingly tried. The musicians took place above the waterfall and the dancers on a small marble island in the center. The grove is made up of different elements: an open central zone, in an elliptical shape, terraces or steps of grass as a platform and a water buffet made up of steps covered with millstone from Île-de-France, shells and lapis lazuli from Madagascar, as a waterfall, and vases and torchieres in gilded lead. To the south of the Latona parterre, the grove received between 1682-1683 a refined furnishing of vases and torchieres of gilded lead.

On the eastern side, overlooking the great waterfall, four large vases were executed: two vases with handles supported by a dolphin’s head and two vases with handles supported by a lion protome. From the point of view of their general shape, these four vases are related to the ancient model of the famous Vase Médicis. Adorned with garlands and astonishing comedy masks, they are distinguished by the inventiveness of the decorative repertoire implemented. Opposite, on the side of the steps, the four other vases are of relatively simpler shapes, they however have a continuous relief on the belly: the Dance Scene and the Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite are taken up in a childish way by Children’s Bacchanal and Children’s Marine Triumph, Better visible because placed in the lower part, the eight imposing torchieres of the Ballroom Grove somehow evoke the lighting ,but here devoid of lighting specific to places of nocturnal festivities. On the waterfall side, the four torchieres are carried by ox feet: their base is decorated with scenes of children, the upper part with trophies of musical instruments tuned to the function of the place, while curious heads wearing the Phrygian cap appear on the middle part, full of this spirit of invention specific to the repertoire of forms from the world of goldsmithing. On the bleacher side, the four torchieres carried by lion’s paws, are decorated with reliefs of musical instruments and admirable figures of dancers holding musical instruments.

The central part of the Ballroom Grove was originally formed of an artificial island, on which were placed four Tripod Vases decorated with musical instruments, these kinds of large cassolettes were removed when the Ballroom Grove lost his island, at the end of 1706, Inventory of the marbles resulting from the demolition of the island of the Ballroom Grove in 1706. The island appears on the plan of Nicolas de Fer, engraved in 1705 by Charles Inselin, general map of Versailles, its park, its louvre, its gardens, its fountains, its groves and its city. The tripod vases are attested from 1707 in Marly-le-Roi. They appear on the painting by Jean Cotelle painted between 1688 and 1691. They were transferred to Marly, where they took their place at the bottom of the stairs of the castle terrace before disappearing, probably during the revolutionary period.

In 1702, Louis XIV asked his superintendent Jules Hardouin-Mansart to rebronze all the vases and girandoles of the Ballroom Grove, In 1712, the group of The Peace of the Greeks, also called Papirius and his mother, was placed in the grove to the west, on a Languedoc marble plinth sculpted by Jean Hardy. This new device is visible on an engraving by Jacques Rigaud. The group of The Peace of the Greeks came from the entrance to the Allée Royale. According to the antique model in the Roman collection of the Ludovisi, via a plaster version kept in the Salle des Antiques du Louvre, Pursuant to a decree of the Inspection Commission for Ancients dated April 24 1798 (revolutionary period) , the group of The Peace of the Greeks was moved to the Tuileries Garden , The base of the group of The Peace of the Greeks was still vacant when the 1850 inventory was drawn up, The 1857 inventory indicates the group of Love playing there with a satyr from the collection of the Comte d’Artois (future Charles X) and drawn from the reserves of Versailles. This base was empty in 1877.

The official Château de Versailles on the ballroom or bosquet de salle du bal: https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/estate/gardens/groves#ballroom-grove 

The Bosquet de Salle du Ball or des Rocailles or Ballroom Grove is a must to visit and worth the time me think. This is a huge property and unfortunately most foreign guides tells you to head for the inside and then the rest. To me it should be the other way around one day gardens one day inside and then maybe another half day for the Trianons/Hameau. Then , you can leave saying you saw the Domaine de Versailles , and not just the palace!  Hope you enjoy the post on the fabolous Bosquet de Salle du Bal inside the magnificent Domaine de Versailles as I

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

I bring you back to something very familiar. I have written many posts in my blog about my previous glorious town of Versailles; the choices are a lot more than the palace, indeed , I need to say the Palace/museum of Versailles is worth a kingdom and many things to see that require more than two days to see it all . My nostalgic Versailles is the préfecture capital city of the department 78 Yvelines, in the Île de France region of my belle France.

I like to come back to tell you a bit more on an important element of the Domaine of Versailles, the Bassin du Dragon basin. Hope you enjoy the post as I.  The Bassin du Dragon is located at the intersection of Avenue de Trianon and Allée d’Eau, to the northeast of the park. It is located in the alignment of the Allée d’Eau and the Bassin de Neptune which it precedes. A wonderful walk indeed of many family memories !

At the start of the Apollonian journey, this basin depicts the dragon Python, launched by Juno in pursuit of Latona, pregnant with Apollo and Artemis. The dragon was to prevent Latona from giving birth, in order to punish her for her union with Jupiter. He terrorized the population of Delphi by watching over his oracle, initially dedicated to Themis, goddess of Justice. The young Apollo pierced him with his arrows and made himself master of the oracle named Pythia. In order to appease the anger of Gaia, mother of Python, he created the Pythian Games. represent the dying dragon, pierced by the arrows of Apollo, and spitting its blood represented by the immense jet of water coming out of its mouth. He has a horse mane, pointed wings and a fish tail. Around him are four children armed with bows and arrows, which symbolize Apollo, mounted on swans and escorted by four dolphins.  The gaze is led towards the castle by the Allée d’Eau or water alley to the basin of the Pyramid, symbol of knowledge, which represents the oracle of Delphi.

Around this dragon there are four little Cupids on swans, each making a great jet of water & swimming towards the edge as if to save themselves: Two of these Cupids who are opposite the dragon, hide their faces with the hand so as not to see it, on their face one sees all the marks of fear perfectly expressed. The other two, bolder because the monster is not turned on their side, attack it with their weapons. Between these cupids are bronze dolphins whose open mouths push big boils of water into the air.

The Château de Versailles on the bassin du Dragon :https://www.chateauversailles.fr/decouvrir/domaine/les-jardins/les-bassins-les-fontaines#le-bassin-du-dragon

The official Château de Versailles on the Grandes Eaux Musicales or music gardens show https://en.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr/programmation/the-musical-gardens-show_e2758

The magazine of the Château de Versailles :http://www.lescarnetsdeversailles.fr/category/patrimoine/

There you go folks, it is a wonderful basin, and we have many souvenirs of walking by it. The Bassin du Dragon basin is one of the hightlights of the gardens at the Domaine de Versailles. Again, hope you enjoy it as I

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

I bring you back to something very familiar. I have written many posts in my blog about my previous glorious town of Versailles; the choices are a lot more than the palace, indeed , I need to say the Palace/museum of Versailles is worth a kingdom and many things to see that require more than two days to see it all . My nostalgic Versailles is the préfecture capital city of the department 78 Yvelines, in the Île de France region of my belle France.

I like to come back to tell you a bit more on an important element of the Domaine of Versailles, the Bassin de Latone basin. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

It is by advancing far into the water parterre, the first coming from the Palace/museum of Versailles, that this large Bassin de Latone basin is revealed. It is indeed located in the second parterre when walking towards the Grand Canal. Located in the center of the parterre, the Latona Fountain features a number of gilded bronze figures, surrounding a large pyramid. In the middle, at the top of a pyramid, a group of sculptures is displayed: Latona and her children, Apollo and Diana, Latona begs for justice from Jupiter and seeks to escape, protecting her children. Indeed, she reproached the peasants of Lycia for not having assisted her, at this moment when she had to face the wrath of Minerva, deceived wife of Jupiter. The master of the gods then decides to transform them into frogs. This is how we can see this transformation in the gilded bronzes surrounding the basin, as well as in the other basins of the parterre. All around the basin, 174 frogs, lizards, turtles, but also the peasants whose metamorphosis is in progress, throwing their jets of water towards the goddess. The Latona Fountain lies in the Latona Basin. On the top tier, there is a statue of the goddess Latona, mother of the sun and moon gods. The fountain was begun in 1670 by André Le Nôtre, then enlarged and modified by Jules Hadouin-Mansart in 1686 The theme of the Latona Fountain is taken from the myth of Latona (the Roman incarnation of the Greek goddess Leto), as vividly told in Book VI of the Metamorphoses of Ovid. Latona bore the gods Apollo and Diana by Zeus,

The mother of Apollo, the Greek god associated with the sun, Latona brings unity to the garden. However, with a few drops of water, she had to silence the reproaches of men transformed into frogs. Thus, royalty triumphs over the Fronde. The garden of Versailles is oriented towards the west and the setting sun. Also, it must bring to the Grand Canal and the basin of the chariot of Apollo, the god associated with the sun. Also, Latona’s pool shows her mother, in a moment of difficulty but triumphant over her enemies thanks to the divine intervention of Jupiter. She walks west, closing in on her son in glowing position. Note that Latona protects little Diana in her skirt. It is indeed necessary to protect it, it whose emblem is the moon in the domain of the sun. The four tiers are covered in 230 pieces of marble, composed of the white and grey-veined Cararra, greenish marble from Campan, and red marble from Languedoc.

The Château de Versailles on the Bassin de Latone :http://latone.chateauversailles.fr/page/le-bassin-de-latone/histoire-du-bassin

The official Château de Versailles on the Grandes Eaux Musicales or music gardens show https://en.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr/programmation/the-musical-gardens-show_e2758

The magazine of the Château de Versailles :http://www.lescarnetsdeversailles.fr/category/patrimoine/

There you go folks, it is a wonderful basin, and we have many souvenirs of walking by it. The Bassin de Latone basin is one of the hightlights of the gardens at the Domaine de Versailles. Again, hope you enjoy it as I

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