What to See at the Palace of Versailles, Home of French Royalty

The royal palace of Versailles with its expansive gardens and massively intricate architecture is considered one of, if not the most, famous attractions in the Île-de-France region of France. Built by King Louis XIV, it has been home to three generations of French kings and queens from 1682 until the beginning of the French Revolution in 1798. As a result, each monarch was able to add new additions to the palace estate making even grander and majestic than it originally was. There is a lot see at here as the entire estate is 2,014 acres and so it's best to plan ahead. Be sure to download the Palace of Versailles Travel Guide and Offline Map to help you to maximize your trip.

1.      Estate of Trianon

Thies intimate estate is famously associated with Queen Marie-Antoinette and thus fondly called the Marie-Antoinette estate. Construction of the estate started under King Louis XIV. It was once called the "Marble Trianon" for the unique pink marbles panels that adorned the palace's facades. Marie-Antoinette is known to seek refuge and spent most of her time away from the prying eyes of the royal court in the marvelous rustic-style cottages of the Trianon. The cottages are surrounded by marvelous gardens with ornate geometric flowerbeds and tens of thousands of flowers.

2.      Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors is the most prominent feature at the Palace of Versailles. It was originally built as a terrace that stood between the King and Queen's bedchambers. The open-air terrace overlooking the gardens was soon remodeled due to being exposed to bad weather. When the hall was finished it served as a passageway and waiting area to impress his guests. The Treaty of Versailles, which officially brought the First World War to an end, was signed here in the Hall of Mirrors on June 28, 1919.

3.      Leto’s Fountain

The palace estate has eight majestic fountains that you can visit, but one of the notable ones is the Leto's Fountain. It was inspired by The Metamorphoses by Ovide. It illustrates the story of Leto, the mother of Apollo and Diana, protecting her children from the insults of the peasants of Lycia and pleading with Jupiter to avenge her. Jupiter agrees and turns the inhabitants of Lycia into frogs and lizards. The central marble pyramid depicts Leto and her children.

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Come to Strasbourg, the Charismatic French City with a German Accent

There are numerous compelling reasons why you should visit Strasbourg other than the fact that it is the official seat of the European Parliament. Here are some of them. And don’t forget to get the Strasbourg Offline Map & Guide City Travel & Metro to aid you on your visit.

1.     The Beauty of Strasbourg

Beauty has almost become synonymous with France. It's like everything French is beautiful whether it is in terms of language, fashion, food, art, or architecture. Such captivating beauty can be found in Strasbourg no matter which direction you look. The city is full of half-timbered houses built as far back as the Medieval Ages. Strasbourg most iconic structure is the Gothic Cathédrale de Notre Dame, which is the tallest medieval building in the continent. The cathedral features a colossal astronomical clock built in 1842 that depicts man's life and death cycle. Climbing to the top of the cathedral rewards you with a spectacular view of the city and the Alsatian countryside. Also, check out the Les Pont Couverts Bridge.

2.      The Marriage of French and German Cultures

The Rhine River is the only thing separating Strasbourg from Kehl, Germany which made it easy for the two cities to influence each other. Strasbourg was also conquered by Germans twice; first by the German Empire and second by Hitler’s Nazi Regime. Today, Strasbourg is in such good relations with Kehl that a Strasbourg citizen doesn’t even need to show a passport to cross the border to Kehl and vice versa.  You can clearly see German influence in Strasbourg’s cuisine, culture, music, fashion, and accent.

3.      The Alsatian Cuisine

The Alsatian cuisine combines traditional French food with German flavor and it is Strasbourg’s specialty. The city loses only to Paris when it comes to the number of Michelin-starred restaurants and eateries. Have a sip of both authentic French wine and German-style beer in one of the many breweries. Check out the bakeries for some world-renowned French bread sprinkled with some German love. You need to absolutely make sure that you don’t fail to sample the Tarte Flambée, the Alsatian version of thinly-sliced crispy crust pizza cut in rectangular slices.

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