Thursday, September 18, 2014

Versailles Gardens

Wandering Around The Cottage - September 2014 Edition-  1


Warning! This is a very picture heavy post and, believe me, I'm not showing you half of those I actually took that day.

Je vous préviens, cet article est très chargé en photos... et encore, je ne vous montre pas la moitié de celles que j'ai prises ce jour-là et je vais couper en deux articles...


Some of you guessed right about the place I visited the morning before the wedding.

Certains avaient deviné juste sur le lieu que j'ai visité le matin précédant le mariage de mon amie.


I knew you would love to see it, so I got into my mom's car and drove to Versailles. I was completely frightened at the idea of driving in such a big city, but I decided I could try a new challenge. I was so proud when, after being honked once or twice, I parked my car in front of the castle, that I called my dad to tell him!

J'ai pris mon courage à deux mains, j'ai pris le volant de la voiture prêtée par ma maman et j'ai conduit jusqu'à Versailles... Oh, je ne faisais pas la fière et on m'a bien klaxonnée une ou deux fois car je ne comprenais rien aux différentes voies de circulation... Mais je me suis finalement garée devant le château.


Now, don't get all your hopes up. We're not going inside the castle. In August, the queues to get inside the castle are completely crazy, like hours long and even if I arrived early, I wouldn't have had time to wait and to visit... The crowd in August also would have made impossible taking any picture inside...


Bon, ne rêvez pas, je ne vous emmène pas à l'intérieur... En plein mois d'août, pour espérer rentrer dans le château et en ressortir avant le début du mariage, il aurait fallu que je sois là à 5h du matin... Je suis arrivée avant 9h et il y avait déjà une queue de milliers de personnes qui serpentait dans la cour... Sans compter que prendre des photos avec cette foule aurait été impossible.


But I cut trough the crowd queueing to buy a ticket to go straight to the gardens. They are absolutely magical, especially in the morning when most people are inside the castle.


J'ai traversé la longue file de personnes qui souhaitaient entrer dans le château pour aller directement dans les jardins, qui sont absolument magiques, surtout le matin quand il n'y a pas trop de monde.


There are so many interesting and beautiful things in the gardens, that I didn't have time to see them all, but you won't be disappointed by what I show you (at least I hope so).


Il y a tellement de choses splendides à voir dans les jardins que je n'ai pas pu tout voir... Mais je pense que mes choix ne vous décevront pas...


The gardens were conceived by Louis XIV, the Sun king, and four gardeners/architects. They are very diverse: sometimes you have amazing views and it feels like you can see the whole park at one glance and sometimes you find secret alleys where you can guess some rendez-vous must have taken place...

Just a little proof I was there!

Les jardins ont été conçus par Louis XIV et quatre jardiniers/architectes. Ils sont très surprenants car parfois la perspective y est impressionnante et on a l'impression de pouvoir embrasser d'un seul coup d’œil tout le parc, parfois on tombe sur une allée secrète dans laquelle ont dû avoir lieu nombre de rendez-vous galants.


One of the secret alley goes to one of my favourite part of the garden called the ballroom.


Une des allées secrètes mène à un de mes bosquets préférés: la salle de bal.

So sorry abour the guard on the picture...
In 1664, Louis XIV organised a week-long celebration to show-off his gardens. Officially, the celebration was in honor of the Queen and the Queen Mother, but apparently all the people invited understood it was really in honor of Louise de La Vallière, his mistress.


En 1664, Louis XIV organisa une fête pour inaugurer une partie des jardins. Officiellement, la fête était donnée en l'honneur de la reine et de la reine mère... Mais il semble que nul courtisan ne s'y soit trompé: c'est Louise de la Vallière, la maîtresse du roi, qui était réellement célébrée.


After this celebration, the king decided to create, again, more rooms in the castle as some of the guests had to sleep in their carriage due to a lack of room...

C'est après cette semaine de fête que le roi a décidé d'agrandir encore une fois le château car certains nobles avaient dû dormir dans leur carrosse, faute de place.


My favourite part of the garden that day was the Orangerie. Weirdly enough, I was nearly the oly one there and I felt like a princess having the whole place for myself.


L'endroit que j'ai préféré ce jour-là était l'orangerie. Bizarrement, très peu de gens avaient le courage de descendre les escaliers pour entrer dans cette partie du jardin. J'avais cette immense merveille pour moi toute seule ou presque.


There are about 1,500 trees there and if you ever come to Versailles in summer, do take the time to walk through the orangerie. The smell is magical.


Il y a environ 1500 arbres dans l'orangerie et si jamais vous passez par Versailles en été, faites l'effort de traverser cette partie du jardin: l'odeur qui se dégage des arbres en fleurs est étourdissante. 


Can you imagine having lemons from Versailles on your table? I had to resist the urge to take that one home.


Quel rêve d'avoir un citron de Versailles sur sa table! J'ai dû me faire violence pour ne pas en voler un.


When I walked up those stairs again, it was already 10:30 am and I should have gone straight back to my car to drive home, have a shower (it was already quite hot, even if the early hours had been chilly), iron my dress, put some make up on, untangle my always messy hair... And be ready on time for my friend's wedding...

Quand j'ai remonté les escaliers, il était déjà près de 10h30. J'aurai dû courir vers la voiture, retourner le plus vite possible à la maison pour prendre une douche, repasser ma robe,  me maquiller, tenter de démêler mes cheveux... et être dans les temps pour le mariage de mon amie...



I should have... but something really nice was supposed to happen at 11 in the gardens... I was torn... Did I decide to be a good girl or did I decide to live on the edge? That's what you'll know in the next post!

J'aurai dû... Mais quelque chose de vraiment bien avait lieu dans les jardins à 11h... J'hésitais... Ai-je décidé d'être sage ou ai-je fait la folle? C'est ce que vous découvrirez dans le prochain épisode!

See you soon,

A bientôt,


PS: I'm partying like Louis XIV!

http://knickoftime.net/2014/09/vintage-inspiration-party-155.html             Photobucket             Travel Photo Monday

Dwellings-the Heart of You Home          Linky Party           Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth   


Autumn A Return to Loveliness button                     Lavender Garden Cottage

   

37 comments:

  1. Ever the tease!

    I did not get to Versailles when I was in France so I appreciate the lovely tour.

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  2. Tes photos sont magnifiques et elles me donnent envie de retourner visiter le château... et l'orangerie qui est somptueuse.

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  4. quelles jolies photos ! quelles jolies couleurs ! quelle chance ce temps superbe !
    j'ai hâte de savoir ce qui s'est passé ce jour là à 11h00...
    cordialement - monique59

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    1. Merci beaucoup! J'avoue que j'ai été gâtée par le temps: alors qu'il faisait vraiment froid quand j'ai garé ma voiture, le soleil est bien vite sorti!

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  5. So beautiful. I knew it you would go there!LOL! Oh you brought back so many memories!AriadnefromGreece!

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  6. Et Magali a descendu les escaliers de Versailles sur les traces d'Angélique.
    Waouh, je suis impressionnée.
    Je dirais que tu désirais partir & qu'en montant ces fameux escaliers tu as perdu ta chaussure, qu'un beau Prince est venu te la remettre, qu'il t'a enlevé sur son destrier, qu'il t'a emmené dans sa demeure, qu'il t'a déposé sur son immense lit & que tu t'es réveillé dans le tien avec ta chaussure à la main en étant déjà en retard pour le mariage de ton amie..........
    Elle est folle cette Babette.........
    Bisous.

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  7. Oh I hope you were bad!!! What a gorgeous place. Thanks for taking such amazing pictures and sharing Magali! Cheers.

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  8. I have a feeling you were bad and stayed since you had only minutes to get ready for the wedding when you returned! This place is absolutely enchanting! Can't wait for the next episode...:)

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  9. This is one of my top places to visit. I do not know when, but I will get there one day!

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  10. How beautiful are these gardens? Such a delight to see them! I love the Orangerie with the beautiful patterns. If I ever get to go, I shall go in the spring....Thank you so much for taking us along, despite the harrowing drive and time constraints. What a fun adventure! xo Karen

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  11. Wow.... fantastic! That's a really beautiful garden's design. Such an interesting place to be visited. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. You're welcome! The design of this garden was mostly done by Le Nôtre. There's also a wonderful kitchen garden you would have loved, but I didn't have time to see it.

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  12. I hope you stayed because I am dying to see more pictures of the gorgeous gardens. Living on the edge can be exciting.
    Traci

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  13. Swoon. I want to be there. I can just imagine my littles running around all those secret nooks having a grand time and maybe finding a secret nook with my special someone. :) Just beautiful.

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  14. Oh my goodness, it amazes me at the luxury of the very rich.
    Can you imagine the help it takes to keep the gardens and the castle.
    There is no question of the beauty and your photos are wonderful.
    Oh, Congratulations on your big city driving. It can be very stressful, but you did it!
    Bravo!!!

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  15. Spectacular, Magali! So glad you decided to make the drive so you could share with us! I would love to visit Versailles someday.

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  16. Beautiful tour, Magali, a fabulous treat! I know you, you lived on the edge, I can hardly wait to see!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  17. I love your photos of the gardens! I could never drive. I think I road a bus and it took a really long time! If my daughter's plans take us to Europe again next year, she wants me to take her.

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  18. Hi Magali, a post on Versailles truly deserves to be photo heavy. You were so smart to run straight to the garden and beat the crowd. It has been many many years since I visited this place and your photos just reminded me how magnificent the gardens are. Your lovely photos brought them to life.

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    1. Thank you, Marisol! I love Versailles as I grew up really close to it, but the crowd is an issue, especially to take pictures.

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  19. Oh you left us hanging! Such a minx! :) I absolutely adore all of your Versailles images. I have had the pleasure to visit this grand palace twice and can't wait to go again. Wonderful!

    Have a beautiful weekend.

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  20. Ah you keep us in suspense, great job. I do love the L'orangerie the best, it is spectacular. I bet in another month you will see some amazing fall colors in this garden that will create a whole different look and feel, like the post I did on Schonbrunn recently

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  21. Hah! A teaser...waiting to hear what happens next...This place is amazing and even THAT is an understatement! How magical!

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  22. I have no doubt you couldn't resist Magali and stayed until 11am. The gardens are exquisite, i can almost imagine that citrus smell!

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  23. Magali, these are fantastic photos! Just love them - and the proof that you were there. :-)) I would love to visit there someday.

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  24. Your gorgeous photos reminded me of my own trip to Versailles. I think I enjoyed the gardens much more than the palace itself, so I think you made an excellent choice. You saw some places that I never got around to as that place is quite enormous, and I had already spent so much energy walking around the palace.

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    1. There are so many things to see it's impossible to do it in one day, even if you stay in the gardens! I would have loved to show Marie-Antoinette's estate... But I was running out of time!

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  25. Those gardens are absolutely magnificent! And ANOTHER Magali picture! You're spoiling us. :)

    -andi

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  26. Amazing pictures! Such a beautiful location. thanks for sharing them!

    Jocelyn @ http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

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  27. Absolutely majestic Magali ! Thank you for this tour, you can take us into the castle some other time, but I LOVE Every photo you took!

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  28. I'm glad you live on the edge, Magali. LOL I was thinking that, as far as I know, no one has ever added more guest rooms to their palace because I had to sleep in my carriage for lack of room. Ah well, life is good nevertheless.

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  29. Stunning is all I can say!!! Thank you for sharing this tour with us, absolutely delightful! Please join us again in the Art of Home-Making Mondays Magali! :)

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  30. Amazing, I've always wanted to visit Versailles, it looks like such a beautiful place. All that gold on the roof is incredible and the gardens are just breath taking.

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