To get to Versailles, it is a half-hour commuter train ride west of Paris city centre. The town and suburb of Versailles has grown around a palace - the Chateau de Versailles, especially famous for its opulence, and for being the "most splendid example of control-freakery the world has ever seen". In 1661 Louis XIV, the 'Sun King', started building his chateaux to permanently live in Versailles in 1682. But the reign of Versailles ended in 1789 with the royal family forced to return to Paris and finally guillotined in 1793. Such is the history of the highly gilded buildings of Versailles.
I had visited the Chateau de Versailles 40 years ago and still can recollect the beautiful Hall of Mirrors. But this time we arrived in the 'royal' town at noon, and after peeking in at the palace, decided that we need to come another time, earlier and properly shod to explore the many buildings and the grounds, including the beautiful gardens.
Before leaving, we posed at the 'first and last piece of pomp in Versailles' - the equestrian statue of Louis XIV pointing towards Paris. So onward to Paris we will go (back).
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