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This is a comfortable well equipped, fully furnished 2 bedroom first floor flat with lift. It has full central heating and is situated on the prestigious Versailles Boulevard de la Reine, which leads straight into the park of the Chateau of Versailles. It overlooks a small garden at the back and has a large Balcony accessed from the first double bedroom and the sitting room. It is 200 metres from the Versailles Rive Droite train station, which has a direct line to Paris every 15 minutes during the week and 30 minutes at week-ends and is most convenient for Paris shopping, theatres, restaurants and the Grand Opera of Paris as well as the Champs Elysee with all its grand stores, restaurants and cafes. It is also within walking distance of the splendid Chateau of Versailles, built by the Sun King Louis XIV for himself and his court. The gardens designed by Le Notre is remarkable with its lake and the fountains for which Versailles is reputed. In the summer there is what is called the 'grandes eaux'. It starts at 3pm every Sunday, when all the fountains of the garden are opened up and you can walk through the gardens accompanied by music composed in the 17th and 18th century by the great musicians of the day, chosen amongst some of Marie Antoinette's favourite composers. The 'grand finale' consists of all the jets being opened up at about 5pm in the fountain of Jupiter. It is a truly a magical experience, reflecting the 'grandeur' of the Sun King's court. You can feel history. Inside the Chateau you can visit the King and Queen's bedrooms and apartments and overlook the balcony from where Queen Marie Antoinette, holding her eldest son, the young Dauphin of France (the heir to the throne of France) in her arms, while the revolutionary crowd arrived from Paris, only moments before they took her and her family with her husband King Louis XVI to their dreadful end in Paris. You can visit the truly extraordinary 'Gallerie des Glaces' only very recently restored to its former glory. In the Park and Gardens of Versailles are also situated the Grand Trianon built by The Sun King's grandson, Louis XV where he received 'gallant' company. It also has the petit Trianon where Marie Antoinette entertained her friends and the lovely Bergerie (farm) built for Marie Antoinette where she so loved to play at the 'Bergere' (farm girl). There is also the very beautiful Royal Chapel of St Louis where the royal family attended mass every morning, which is still a church today where Sunday mass is conducted once a month by the parish priest of Notre Dame (which itself is worth a visit for its remarkable architecture and situated minutes from the flat, near the Versailles Market) on the first Sunday of the month and is open to the public. It has also a number of other churches and a magnificent cathedral to visit situated in the old Versailles, as well as museums. Versailles has many shops, theatres and cinemas and the world famous outdoor and covered market place, all within a very easy 5 minutes' walk from the flat, where you can buy just about anything you may wish to eat. Believe me, French food is unbeatable. There are also shopping centres close by as well as supermarkets and other shops. It has a reputable and interesting Antiques 'Village' very close by worth the visit. Versailles also remains to this day the most Aristocratic city in France, with many old aristocratic French families still occupying the very same houses and apartments which their ancestors owned and occupied at the time of the revolution of 1789. In the park of Versailles those who are more active may hire bicycles and the more romantic, horse drawn carriages, which will take one through the gardens of Versailles, an experience on its own. In the evening, in summer, there are shows in the park ending with fireworks in the late evening. You have to book in advance for this in order to stand a chance to get a look in. There is street parking for cars, but we recommend you use the very convenient and cheap French public transport system. Taxis are available at night at a relatively cheap rate to take one back to the flat from Paris after a show or the Opera. It is not worth risking driving in Paris oneself. Just strolling through the old quarter of St Louis and the antique market is an experience worth the effort. Whereas the inhabitants of Paris can at times be rude and abrupt, those of Versailles are exceedingly courteous 'Noblesse oblige'. Have fun. |
