Journey Across France

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Sunday, 25 April 1999 - Left Paris for a memorable day visiting Versailles , toured the opulent palace of Louis XIV including the dazzling Hall of Mirrors and vast formal gardens, saw Marie-Antoinette's Hameau and the elegant Petit Trianon then continued on to Chartres to explore its magnificent 12th-century Gothic Cathedral with its famous labyrinth and soaring stained glass before heading to Saumur for dinner.

France 1999
This is the entrance to Versailles. Louis XIV decided that Paris was too replete with rabble and decided to build a palace and support system for 20,000 noblemen, servants, and others. The chateau was built in 1662 - 1690. Not in the picture is the quickly forming line. Due to the strike by museum workers the Versailles would not have guides, but if you wanted to visit, you could get in and wander. We purchased a book and gave ourselves a tour. This is the entrance with Louis XIV on horse guarding the gates.
France 1999
Inside the palace was spectacular - every ceiling was painted with scenes depicting mythological figures and stories mixed with then current French figures. The famous Hall of Mirrors was breathtaking this was the hall which Louis XIV took each day from his apartment to the chapel, and it was here that courtiers waited for a chance to see the king. The gardens were built by Lenotre and are very formal. There are 250 acres of gardens with over 2000 orange trees. The gardens were designed to be viewed from the terraces.
France 1999
Far away from the palace is Hameau, a village built to entertain Marie-Antoinette. Here she would play at being a shepherdess sometimes having the sheep dyed various colors to match her outfits.
France 1999
Louis XV preferred a smaller retreat called Petit Trianon that is a model of classical harmony and proportion. Built in 1761 this building was a gift to Marie-Antoninette from Louis XVI.
France 1999
Our tour left Verailles and headed to Chartres to visit the magnificent Gothic cathedral. The current cathedral is the sixth one to occupy the same spot and dates from the 12th century. In the 11th century the building burned and miraculously, a relic of the Virgin Mary survived undamaged - this inspired an outburst of religious fervor. In just 25 years the current structure was built.
France 1999
This is a picture of the inside with a labyrinth inlaid in the nave floor.
From Chartres, we headed to Saumur for dinner.
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