2023-06-07
Journey of original chrysanthemum
The Palace of Versailles, located in city of Versailles, Yvelines, on southwestern outskirts of Paris, France, is one of most famous palaces in Paris and one of five largest palaces in world (Forbidden City of China, Palace of Versailles France, Buckingham Palace of Great Britain, White House of USA, Russian Kremlin).
Even if tickets are booked in advance, Palace of Versailles is still most exciting time I have seen in line during my travels around world. This memory is so deep that it is still unforgettable: more than 2 hours passed from collecting tickets to entering. At that time, I almost gave up going to Barbizon when I saw lines winding around square, waiting to enter.
However, since I've watched 3-part documentary "Versailles" before, I'm still keen to intuitively understand fruits of France's heyday in 17th and 18th centuries.
The Palace of Versailles has a splendid and splendid classical exterior, interior and decorations are magnificent and artistically charming, mostly baroque, with a few rococo halls . More than 500 halls and halls are lush and luxurious. There are Royal Suite, Royal Suite, Marble Court, Hercules Hall, Diana Hall, Bullseye Hall, Venus Hall, Mirror Hall and so on.
What impressed me most:
Fabulous Hall of Mirrors, various huge paintings and chandeliers on roof of entire palace, and a gallery about war with France.
Up and Down: Hall of Mirrors
Bottom image: lamps in Hall of Mirrors
Paintings up and down: huge paintings and chandeliers on roof of Palace of Versailles
Images above and below: a huge mural of "Simon's Family Banquet"
Top: Joan of Arc, one of war galleries
In front of main palace of Palace of Versailles, there is a large French-style garden with a unique style. The planting of trees, flowers and plants in garden is ingenious, and scenery is beautiful and quiet, which makes people feel relaxed and happy. Standing in front of main palace and looking into distance, artificial river sparkles like a jade belt, with trees towering on both sides, lush and green, and statue of goddess stands gracefully in green shade. There are two blue wave pools nearby, and bronze sculptures along pools are colorful and beautiful.
At 16:00, a musical fountain show began. In a light rain, sitting quietly on steps, overlooking fountain to entire garden, melodious classical music was heard from surrounding speakers. Beauty is great. A building of this magnitude rises above swamp, and its landscaping demonstrates classical architectural aesthetics - culmination of ultimate symmetry. On one Autumn leaf, from Palace of Versailles, we can see heyday of France during reign of Louis XIV.
Louis XIV hunted here with his father Louis XIII when he was a child, and his father died when he was only 4 years old. After Louis XIV married as an adult, he decided to move palace to Versailles. Since area where Palace of Versailles is located is a forest and swamp wasteland, best architects, landscape designers, etc. were invited to rebuild Palace of Versailles to show power of France and, of course, embodiment of Louis monarchy. XIV.
May 6, 1682, Louis XIV officially used Palace of Versailles as his residence, and noble ministers who followed him moved here with their families. When Louis XIV was 76 years old, he was king for 72 years. He was romantic, fashionable and liked to dress up. trend of times, Palace of Versailles also became representative of essence of France. Especially Hall of Mirrors in whole Palace of Versailles, effect is like a dream mirror, and light reflected by mirror is like a fairy tale, which is amazing.
Louis XIV once said: "I am Versailles". The splendor of Palace of Versailles is still breathtaking.
Recommended 3 episodes of documentary "Versailles"
Appendix: Historical background of Palace of Versailles
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All change is a deliberate miracle, and miracles happen every moment.
—— "Walden" Thoreau