Luxurious Versailles

CEBU, Philippines - I found myself in Versailles together with two of my friends, Celine and May. The town of Versailles, a very wealthy suburb in the western outskirts of Paris, has maintained its points of cultural notability and a Parisian artistic scene. It has kept an idyllic atmosphere, making it a place of great tourism and a great venue for festivities.

Entering the grounds of Chateau de Versailles (Versailles Castle), the official residence of the King of France and also the town’s main attraction, I was presented with masses of people fascinated with the beauty of the palace façade.

Chateau de Versailles reminded me of many other castles, which entailed a lot of beautiful furniture, endless paintings and sculptures. The castle’s interior was the perfect introduction to both classical and baroque collections. It made me believe that this chateau is probably one of the most prestigious, finest and most accomplished achievement of the 17thcentury. As every room has distinct detailing, a must see is the well-preserved Mercury Drawing Room (ceremonial King’s Chamber) adorned with early 17th century embroideries as well as the ballroom setting of chandeliers.

Outside, but within the palace gardens, we enjoyed lunch at the Palace Café, where a wide variety of French cuisine was available. After a light meal, despite the slightly low temperatures, we hired a golf cart to freely roam around the castle grounds. On our self-guided tour, we drove past the Hameau de la Reine (Queen’s Hamlet) and Temple de L’Amour (Temple of Love) surrounded by two other lovely castles, Petit Trainon and Grand Trianon, making it a great opportunity to take endless photographs.

Away from the palace grounds, another highlight is to enjoy a meal at a Michelin Star restaurant, Gordon Ramsay au Trianon, located in the Trianon Palace Hotel in the town of Versailles. This town’s traditional cobbled streets are also lined with numerous outdoor cafes frequented by tourists and locals alike.

A place filled with such variety, this chic suburb is well linked with the centre of Paris by several train lines, making it very easy to get to and from Le Gare de Versailles. It’s no surprise that Versailles is the unofficial capital regarded by the French as the “real” capital of France, as opposed to Paris.

With this grandiosity, as well as romantic settings, Versailles made me feel I landed in one of France’s most picturesque regions.