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The Gardens of Versailles

The Gardens of Versailles occupy part of what was once the Domaine royal de Versailles, the royal demesne of the château of Versailles. Situated to the west of the palace, the gardens cover some 800 hectares of land, much of which is landscaped in the classic French Garden style perfected here by André Le Nôtre. Beyond the surrounding belt of woodland, the gardens are bordered by the urban areas of Versailles to the east and Le Chesnay to the north-east, by the National Arboretum de Chevreloup to the north, the Versailles plain to the west, and by the Satory Forest to the south.As part of le domaine national de Versailles et de Trianon, an autonomous public entity operating under the aegis of the French Ministry of Culture, the gardens are now one of the most visited public sites in France, receiving more than six million visitors a year

Museum of the History of France

In the 19th century the Museum of the History of France was founded in Versailles, at the behest of Louis-Philippe I, who ascended to the throne in 1830. Many of the palace’s rooms were taken over to house the new collections and the large Galerie des Batailles (Hall of the Battles) was created to display paintings and sculptures depicting milestones battles of French history. The collections display painted, sculpted, drawn and engraved images illustrating events or personalities of the history of France since its inception. The museum occupies the lateral wings of the Palace. Most of the paintings date back to the 19th century and have been created specially for the museum by major painters of the time such as Delacroix, Horace Vernet or François Gérard but there are also much older artworks which retrace French History. Notably the museum displays works by Philippe de Champaigne, Pierre Mignard, Laurent de La Hyre, Charles Le Brun, Adam Frans van der Meulen, Nicolas de Largillière, Hyacinthe Rigaud, Jean Antoine Houdon, Jean Marc Nattier, Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Hubert Robert, Thomas Lawrence, Jacques Louis David, Antoine Jean Gros and also Pierre Auguste Renoir.

The Grand Trianon Castle

The Grand Trianon Castle is located in the northwestern part of the Domain of Versailles. Louis XIV requested that it be built as a retreat for the king or as a place for the king and his guests to dine without the strict etiquette of the court. Today, it houses visiting foreign dignitaries.It is renowned for its Italian architecture,pink marble, and geometrical french-style gardens. All visitors who come to see the Trianon leave in awe of the beautifully designed castle.

The Temple of Love

The Temple of Love is a nice sight to stop by. The temple was built in 1778 in the middle of a small island in The Parc. In the center of this circular temple is a replica Bouchardon statue. Th original can be found in The Louvre Mesuem. It is an especially popular sight for couples who often enjoy sharing a kiss at the center of the temple.

The Grandes Eaux Musicales

The Grandes Eaux Musicales is a beautiful garden composed mostly of fountains. The largest of which was built in the 17th century and is called Bassin de Neptune or Neptune's Fountains. These consist of 99 individual fountains. Also in the garden is the Bassin d'Apollon or Apollo's Fountain. For visitors looking for a gorgeous eye catching experience, they should definitely visit this lovely location.

Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors is the central gallery of the Palace of Versailles and is renowned as being one of the most famous rooms in the world.
As the principal and most remarkable feature of King Louis XIV of France’s third building campaign of the Palace of Versailles , construction of the Hall of Mirrors began in 1678. To provide for the Hall of Mirrors as well as the salon de la guerre and the salon de la paix, which connect the grand appartement du roi with the grand appartement de la reine, architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart appropriated three rooms from each apartment as well as the terrace that separated the two apartments (Marie, 1968; 1977l Verlet, 1985a).

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