Versailles, France: Palace of Versailles

Courtyard of Honour

Royal Courtyard

Royal Gate

The Latona Fountain and Parterre

Chapel

Hall of Mirrors

Grand Trianon

Petit Trianon

A few years ago, a former boss advised me that if I ever take a trip to Paris, I have to go to Versailles. I had a general inkling of the place but I never thought about researching it. When Hubs and I arrived at the Palace of Versailles, it didn't occur to me this place would be massive. The property spans 17 acres! There is no way you can walk around the entire property without renting a golf cart. There is a mini train that takes you from the palace through the gardens to the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon.

The area I wish to return to is the Hameau de la Reine (also known as the Queen's Hamlet). During our visit, it has not been restored and was deteriorating quickly. The hamlet was a faux farming village where it allowed Marie-Antoinette to escape the responsibilities of court life. It was believed she enjoyed dressing as a young shepherdess and acting like a peasant while being surrounded by the comforts of the royal lifestyle. Marie-Antoinette was a spoiled brat so it wasn't a surprise that she was beheaded during the French Revolution. The palace was amazing but it was over-the-top for a period of upheaval of the country's political landscape.

Recommendations and tips:

1. Buy tickets in advanced and arrive early. Expect to spend the whole day on site.
2. During the high season, expect high attendance. I recommend visiting the Gardens and the Palaces of Trianon first before visiting the main Palace.
3. Rent a golf cart to roam around the gardens.
4. There is a Laduree on-site near the exit of the Palace.
5. Large baggage is not permitted on the premise. Bags are searched/x-rayed and visitors must pass through metal detectors prior to entering the palace.
6. Tickets are not required to visit the Gardens.

Palace of Versailles

Place d'Armes

78000 Versailles, France

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

Paris: Louvre Museum

1. Mona Lisa - Leonardo de Vinci

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana - Veronese

3. Death of the Virgin - Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio

4. Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Love - Antonio Canova

5. Venus de Milo. Found in Melos in 1820.

6. Cy Twombly's Ceiling

7. Liberty Leading the People - Eugene Delacroix. 1830.

8. The Raft of the Medusa - Theodore Gericault. ca. 1818-1819.

9. Captive (The Dying Slave) - Michelangelo

10. Death of Sardanapalus - Eugene Dalacroix. 1827.

11. Borghese Vase

12. Pyramide du Louvre - I.M. Pei. 1985-1993.

The Louvre Museum is one of the world's largest museums. The facility spans over 60,600 square meters. I was able to see all of the famous masterpieces that was on my bucket list. However, there were some exhibits that were closed due to renovations such as the Winged Victory of Samothrace. This gives me all the reasons to come back. It's hard to take everything in on one trip. 

Recommendation: Have a strategy to visit the artworks and exhibits that you want to see especially if you don't have the whole day to spend at the museum. To avoid the long lines at the Pyramid, enter the museum from the Carrousel de Louvre, an underground shopping/restaurant area that connects to the pyramid.