It took many days for the palace to be what it is today. Strangely enough it started off as quite a modest building. There are lots of King Louis’s involved with it.

Louis XIII liked the area where he went hunting. He built a small hunting lodge where he could stay the night and which he first used in June 1624. He decided to rebuild it in 1631. Construction continued until 1634 and laid the basis of the Palace as we see it.

The palace is linked with Louis XIV who loved being there. From 1682 it became the main residence of the French Court and government.

Louis XV added the Royal Opera House at great expense and the Royal Chapel.- the photo of the ceiling of the Royal Chapel.

Louis XVI became king before he was 20 and married Marie Antoinette in the Royal Opera House, one of the greatest events to have taken place there.

The rooms, be they the King or Queen’s Quarters or those of their Guards, are all unbelievably opulent with commodes and fireplaces, portraits on the walls of them all and occasionally children and dogs, painted in a similar fashion. I liked this rather modest room of the Queen with her library books. After many many rooms of similar decor and dimensions, they blended into one vision of untold privilege, wealth and power.

No wonder the poor folks objected and brought about the revolution in 1789. Versailles was never quite the same again.The court left Versailles in October 1789 for Paris. It would never return. Napoleon chose not to settle here, but opted instead for Trianon, which was more modest. In 1837 it opened as a Museum to the glory of France.

Versailles was rehabilitated as the years went by and was chosen for the signing of the peace treaty in 1919 in the Hall of Mirrors. Other significant events, concerts and operas have subsequently been held here.

The Park and the Palace have been looked after and have regained their place as an important monument and museum. Their upkeep and restoration is never ending and expensive but the people who pass through the gates on a daily basis suggests that they have a lot of admirers even to this day. The Gardens and fountains are splendid and we spent many hours in them on a glorious Parisian day.

Not my idea of a cosy home that is for sure!