In 2008, when I was 21, I came up with the idea of booking an Interrail ticket and touring Europe for a month. I decided travel to Paris, Madrid, Granada, Barcelona, Venice, Rome, Athens, Istanbul and Vienna. And I felt the strong urge to do this tour alone.
Day 2 – Versailles (France)
For the second day of my interrail trip, I decided to make one of my teenage dreams into a reality and visit the Palace of Versailles. I’ve always been fascinated with history and specifically le Roi Soleil Louis XIV had intrigued me in school. The monarch of the 1600s became the archetype of absolutism for his contemporaries. He indisputably reshaped French politics, art and culture and left his mark on Europe for decades to come.
The Château de Versailles may be considered a masterpiece of baroque architecture and was the blueprint for Central European palaces for decades to come. Every time I heard about the palace or its creator, I dreamed of seeing it for myself. And Versailles being about a 1 hour train ride outside of Paris made this trip the perfect opportunity to finally visit.
And honestly, the palace and its gardens did not disappoint. Louis XIV had some of the greatest architects, artists, gardeners and craftsmen of the time working on it before and after he moved into the royal residence in 1682. And that shows. The level of detail and craftmanship is mind blowing. Every single room is a piece of art filled with more art. Same goes for the palace grounds. I was mesmerized. It was everything I was hoping for and more.
Unfortunately, I underestimated distances and food options. The palace and the gardens are massive, so I did not even get to see all that I wanted. And even though I had brought snacks, I underestimated what my body needed to sustain me while exploring the area and did not find that many options onsite that fit into my budget (typical rookie mistake), so I had to cut the visit a little shorter than I would have liked.
For that reason, Versailles remains on my list of places to visit (again). When I finally get to return to Paris, I will make sure to also head back to the royal residence. I dream of wandering the halls and gardens again, feeling spellbound and grateful to see these wonders with my own two eyes. And I can’t wait.
Cover picture was taken in the gardens of the Château of Versailles (France) in Aug 2008
Missing the beginning of this story?
Around Europe in 30 days #1: Forming a plan
Wandering Explorer Travel 
I found that the palace of Versailles itself doesn’t take too long the visit, but it’s the gardens that you can get lost in for hours, perhaps even two days! Nevertheless, Versailles is an absolute masterpiece of French (even European) history, and it’s a must for every visitor to make the “pilgrimage” over if they’re in France!
LikeLike
I could not agree more, Rebecca 😇
LikeLiked by 1 person