The Palace of Versailles, Paris, France

The Palace was built in the early 17th century as a hunting lodge, by order of King Louis XIII.
It was later radically transformed by King Louis XIV, making it the seat of his government, getting away from the political turmoil in Paris. He also had a more modest palatial structure built 1,6 km (about 1 mile) north-west of the main palace, the Grand Trianon, a private retreat where only the King and those invited could go.
Near the Grand Trianon stands the Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet. Despite having been built for King Louis XV's mistress, Madame de Pompadour, the palace has always been associated with Queen Marie Antoinette's excesses, as she would often retire to the state she took for herself.
Versailles became a symbol of absolute monarchy so unsurprisingly, in 1789, the revolutionary government forced King Louis XVI to leave the palace and it would never again be a royal residence. In 1837 it became the Museum of the History of France, by order of King Louis-Philippe.

Opening hours: Palace 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.; Gardens 8 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.; Le domain de Trianon 12 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. (Closed on Mondays).
Entrance fee: (all included) €20
How to go: Take the RER C in Paris and get off at Gare de Versailles station.









Local: Versalhes, França

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