Usually waking up to the sound of my alarm clock blaring has me scrambling to hit the snooze button, but this particular morning I couldn’t wait to hear that annoying buzzer! I sprung out of bed, pulled myself together, and was ready for a royal and regal day. Before leaving the apartment, I ran into the kitchen and downed my morning shot of espresso…nothing like a java jolt to get the blood flowing! We had an exciting day ahead of us, spending the day exploring the Chateau and Gardens of Versailles. With no time to waste, we jumped into the car, plugged Versailles into the GPS and were on our way! But first we had to make a pit stop for croissants and pan de chocolat…breakfast of champions!?
After about a 40 minute car ride we arrived at our destination. Pulling into the parking lot and looking up at the Chateau my eyes instantaneously were drawn in by the gold…golden gates, balconies, windows, detailing and more.
Versailles was crawling with tourists which was to be expected. Even upon early arrival we had to wait for hours in line to tour the Chateau. Thankfully with some snacks and good company, the time flew by. Before we knew it, we were stepping into the main entrance. After going through security, the entire Palace was open for us to explore. I was giddy with excitement.
Walking into the first room, my eyes darted in every which way trying to soak up the grand beauty…the walls were showered in gold, magnificent murals, marble, and velvet; it was just the right amount of overwhelming.
The massive windows lining the walls of the Chateau offered an incredible view of the perfectly manicured gardens…so dreamy!
After roaming around for some time, we finally reached the famous Hall of Mirrors, the Palace’s most remarkable and recognized gallery. It was over the top beautiful just as King Louis XIV intended it to be…my eyes were nearly blinded by all of the gold and crystals. The paintings on the ceiling were absolutely stunning and so culturally rich. This was by far the most beautiful art I have ever seen.
I could have spent hours in one room alone, just admiring the extravagant details.
Soon we made our way out of the Palace and it was time to see the Gardens! Perfectly trimmed greenery dotted with the most lush and vibrant flowers I’ve ever seen…it felt like I was in heaven.
Strolling further and further through the Gardens we saw a new perspective of the Chateau…a truly remarkable sight.
Spotting some stairs near one of the Garden’s fountains, we took a seat and enjoyed a traditional Parisian sandwich for lunch…ham and gruyère on a french baguette…delicious! We finished off the meal with some sparkling Perrier and apricots (they’re the best ever in France trust me!).
After lunch we continued our stroll through the Gardens that seemed to be never-ending. We eventually ran into Le Petit Trianon (Marie Antoinette’s Chateau) and couldn’t wait to check it out!
The lovely symmetric Gardens leading up to her home took my breath away…I certainly wouldn’t mind living there!
Wandering into Antoinette’s Chateau I eventually came across her famous bedroom! Red and gold details…a simply elegant and regal combination.
Next we went to Le Grand Trianon…my favorite Chateau in all of Versailles! The light pink colored marble and gold detailing instantaneously won my heart; and don’t even get my started on the black and white checkered marble floor…need this in my future house for sure!
The darling yellow and purple flower color combinations were my favorite! How incredible would a wedding be here ahhh!
After a long day of adventuring we took a quick detour into the town of Versailles to grab some dinner and drinks! I had the best crepes in the world; one savory and one sweet. The sweet crepe was my favorite; salted caramel sauce, nutella, and french vanilla ice cream! Too good to be true!
After a meal of a lifetime we went back into the Gardens for golden hour and planned to stay until nighttime for the Palace’s firework show!
The sunset was a firey orange, casting light on the Palace and creating a beautiful picture in the sky.
Royal music played as we walked through the Gardens…it was surely fun to feel like a Queen for a day!
As the sky started to darken we took our places on the stairs and got ready for the fireworks. Crowds of people made their way to come sit down taking up every seat available. We were all anxiously waiting for them to start.
The royal music gradually grew louder and louder indicating that the show was about to begin. I quickly took out my camera and put it straight into video mode!
These were by far the most amazing and striking fireworks I have ever seen. Bright hues of purple, soft pinks, rich reds, and crystally whites showered the sky. The colors continually exploded into the pitch black sky presenting themselves in every shape and style. Seeing these fireworks in person is something I believe everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. I will remember this show forever.
After the finale we rushed back to the car, beating the crowd and drove back to our apartment in Paris! Truly a day fit for royalty!
xo, Lexie
