The Inspiration of Dreams, Past and Present: Versailles

Versailles is the grand palace and gardens that Louis XIV had built for mostly political motivations: physically and symbolically aggrandizing his power and stature in France, Europe, and the world with his neoclassical (and baroque) residence and entertaining grounds.




We will visit Versailles on Sunday (actually that will be Easter Sunday to be exact, March 31st).  The plan is to spend most of the day there.  The Museum Pass will give us entrance into the Palace.  And normally the gardens are open free of charge, however on Sunday we will pay an additional entrance fee to be able to see the fountains, which run only on select days now.  (I am still waiting to get the official word on when this starts.  Last year it began on March 31st, but they haven't yet announced the schedule for 2013.) 

I thought we would be within walking distance to the LDS ward in Versailles and thus give those interested the option of attending church.  However, a closer look and asking around, I've learned that it is a substantial haul.  We will have quite a bit of walking just with visiting Versailles; the gardens are 37,000 acres.  So, if anyone is nonetheless still interested in attending church in Versailles, then I would recommend getting a taxi from the train station, then join up with the group later.

You could bring a picnic for lunch or buy one at one of the cafés on the grounds.  There are many ways to explore the gardens: walking, biking, riding a golf cart, taking a tourist train, and even renting a paddle boat for the canal.

My husband Brent's two favorite things: Orangina and Versailles!

 The LDS Church is in the planning and preparation stages of constructing the first ever LDS Temple in France.  The construction could even have already begun by the time we are there.  Its location is not far from the gardens of Versailles, so if anyone is interested in walking by it, we will make sure we do it before catching the train back to Paris.