The French have a reputation for being known as charismatic, extravagant, à la mode, and luxurious. However, this reputation didn't come from nowhere.
Today during my walk through the gardens and chambers of Versailles I could not help but notice the attention to detail and the integrity of symmetry and form used to design one of France's premier attractions, Le Chateau de Versailles. The palace itself not only looks expensive, but the interior and exterior- containing over 700 rooms- was made using some of France's most precious marbles. Excluding the golden gilded royal courtyard, the exterior of the building contains finely sculpted roof boarder decor and corner stones and is guarded at it's anterior with a large french gate. Upon arrival, I was already intimidated by the expensiveness of the look of the building. And once inside the building, I understood more of the origins of the infamous French aesthetic. The marble walls, towering statues with life-like features and billowing cloaks, chandeliers, monstrous mirrors, and of course ornate furniture to extend to the visitors an expensive welcome, not only showed the power and wealth of the French, but also showed-off the culture of the culture itself. They were artistic, precise, detail-oriented, dedicated to their country, and true masters in all they did from dancing to sculpting, to music and to architecture. As I learned, this was reflected in the constructional design of the Versailles Palace as King Louis the XIV wanted to put on a show of French culture. Even the building structure of the rooms themselves-that one room in the king's chamber led to the next, without a corridor- meant that the King was on display at all time, literally putting on a show for all his many visitors. However, nothing inside compared to the extravagance of the outside.
I had been looking forward to getting fresh air all day and also something to eat, as I dumbly forgot to eat breakfast that morning. I calmly waited for my friends to finish up in the washrooms and with their photoshoots on the famous Court Royale (the outdoor one in all the pictures with the black and white floor) and then almost jogging out to the gardens. I exited the staircase that led up to the first part of the garden and stoped dead in my tracks as I reached the top of the steps. I thought "How is it possible for man to create such symmetry, such masterpiece, and such splendor with something as wild and untamed as nature?" But here it was, right in front of me, and example of mankind's ability to produce the most incredible art from some of the most fundamental and natural items of the planet: trees, water, uneven earth, and fauna. My friends and I spent hours walking, biking, and canoeing across the grounds and not for a second did I feel bored, but rather was overwhelmed with the amount of space that was offered and so symmetrically controlled.
My favorite moment had to have been ma promenade en vélo around the grande canal of the garden. A whole 8.7 km around, my friends and I raced through what seemed like an endless path around the cross shaped canal. Sqaure-cut trees lined the path on both sides, while untamed forest engulfed the exterior of the area most-likely used for hunting. Fields of wild daisies and old stone steps led to more structures and views of the amazing gardens. I was truly in my element.
After our almost 3 mile bike ride and canoeing on the grande canal, we decided to get some refreshing gelato and head back to the buses. And I was sad to leave what felt like a true paradise. It is no wonder why Louis designed the palace the way he did: in hopes that the nobility would make the move from Paris to Versailles with him. He created a true paradise (minus the gelato and golf carts) and the gardens would work their natural magic making it harder and harder to leave.
Today was probably the highlight of my trip and it's all thanks to king Louis XIV, friends and the ability to explore!
Merci et salut pour le moment, mes amis!
