Today, we hopped on the RER and passed our Saturday wandering through the hallways and gardens of Versailles. About 30 minutes by train from central Paris, Versailles was originally the hunting lodge of Louis XIII. Louis XIV, the Sun King, transformed it into the lavish palace we know today. It’s a symbol of absolute monarchy, the idea that the king of France had the divine right to rule supremely and was completely separate from his citizens.  After the revolution, Versailles was abandoned and fell into disrepair. It was restored at the start of the twentieth century and is now visited by millions of people each year. You feel like a wall flower (you and 1,500 other visitors), looking in on the court culture of 17th and 18th century France.

I’ve attached a lot of photos to give you a better idea of the place. Touring Versailles I was struck by the grandiosity of power. This is a place that makes you feel small. You are forced to look up at painted ceilings and giant chandeliers. The intricacy and  opulence of the architecture make you speechless. Despite the crowds and the selfie sticks, it’s still an awe-inspiring experience.