The Palace of Versailles

The palace of Versailles — opulent, luxurious and regal. The royal chateaux and gardens are just 12 miles from the centre of Paris which makes for an easy day trip.

Once you’ve finished touring the palace be sure to wander through the gardens, past the grand canal to the Trianon palaces and Marie-Antoinette’s estate. It was wonderful to see the contrast between the palace and gardens and the hamlet of cottages in the estate.

We spent a wonderful day wandering around, and returned a few years later to have lunch in the park by the boating pond, which is free to enter. A word of caution though, when posing of a selfie, try not to drop your cycle helmet in the boating pond.

Versailles

Versailles

Versailles

Versailles

Ceiling mural, Versailles

Boating lake

The Petit Trianon

Cottages of the Queen’s Hamlet

Cottages of the Queen’s Hamlet