Visiting the Château de Versailles was truly a dream come true. The architecture is absolutely…read morestunning--every detail, from the grand halls to the intricate ceilings, is a testament to the opulence of the French monarchy. The grounds are just as impressive: beautifully kept gardens, sparkling fountains, and perfectly restored landscapes that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. As someone who loves history, I was in heaven. The palace is filled with artifacts from the Sun King himself, Louis XIV, and the stories about his many mistresses add an extra layer of intrigue. I could have spent hours just wandering the Hall of Mirrors and imagining the lavish parties that once took place there. Marie Antoinette's area, with its charming hamlet and gorgeous gardens, was a highlight for me--so peaceful and picturesque. We spent an entire day exploring and still barely scratched the surface. There's just so much to see and experience! I also have to mention the restaurants on the grounds. The food was surprisingly good--fresh, flavorful, and honestly better than most of what I get back home in America. If you love history, art, or just want to be wowed by breathtaking beauty, Versailles is an absolute must-see. I loved every minute and can't wait to go back!

The Hall of Mirrors has seen so much. It was where the Treaty of Versailles, that ended WWI and…read morearguably started WWII was signed. It was where the German Empire started in 1871. It was where Kim and Kanye hosted their rehearsal dinner here back in 2014, arguably the most important historical event that took place here to date. The thing that stuck with me the most though on the tour here, was when the mob of peasants marched on the Palace of Versailles in 1789 and saw themselves for the first time in these mirrors. Obviously they had seen their reflections in bodies of water here and there, but this had to be the first time they'd really got a good look at themselves. That just completely blew my mind. It sent me into a full existential crisis. It got me thinking about life back then compared to now. What would life be like if we could never see ourselves? Probably much better. We'd never really worry about whether we look good or not. I'd get so much time back in the day. Could be way more productive. But then I realized I'd more than likely be a peasant, getting shafted by the French government left and right. You'd only know what they want you to know. You'd just be busting your ass on the farm all day, giving loot to the government and getting damn near nothing in return. But maybe I'd be happier? Life was so much simpler... and I am happiest in the simple times, when I'm not worried about what I could be doing to push my tech sales career forward. Who knows. I go back and forth all day. I'm eternally grateful to be born at the time I am, but maybe I'd be happier with life being so much simpler? Everything involves some sort of sacrifice. See what the Hall of Mirrors did to me? Sent me down this crazy spiral smh. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

It's a really beautifully laid out veggie garden. I say veggie versus flower b/c when we were…read morethere it wasn't the right season. Got there early in the morning when it was dry. Found ourselves getting lost a few times trying to find the place, asked City street workers, retired grandpas, storekeepers- all gave us funky side street directions. Finally asked a young woman at cross walk who happened to be a worker in a nearby office, told us to follow her. She pointed out their ticket office. *NOTE: It's across the street from local nursing college. If you try to enter from other side of estate, you can't. Have to pay a nominal entrance fee. Ticket office is also where the garden's offerings are sold, very seasonal. (Yes, the stuff the former Kings of France dined on, you, too, can also buy it's veggie descendants and dine on, too!). Expensive, as it is organic and think prestige factor. Eg: spinach for $4/lb. Yikes! If you don't care for veggies, they had nougat candy made with honey gathered from beehives in the garden. Also, jars of honey for sale. Pleasant calming experience. Mostly disability friendly, too. Elderly people with canes and saw a woman in a wheelchair enjoying their walks.

From the owner: Une récolte royale chaque année Dans l'enceinte de l'école supérieure nationale de paysage, le…read morepotager du roi étale sur 4 ha ses vergers et ses rangs d'oignons. Aménagé par Jean Baptiste Quintinie pour Louis XIV en 1683, il s'articule sur un grand carré sur lesquels on récolte des fraises en juin et des asperges en septembre. Les pommiers et les poiriers, 200 variétés différentes, s'alignent méthodiquement dans des petits jardins tout autour du potager. Vous déambulez en plein air, en écoutant l'évolution historique du lieu, avant de passer à la dégustation des légumes rares, les crosnes, et des fruits. Vous pouvez faire le plein de soupes, jus de fruit et conserves qui approvisionnent la boutique et le marché de la place Saint Louis en saison. Le potager écoule pas moins de 50 tonnes de pommes et de poires et 20 tonnes de légumes par an.

From the owner: Un château reconverti en musée archéologique Le château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye a été résidence…read moreroyale de Louis VI le Gros (XIIe siècle) à Louis XIV (XVIIe siècle), qui y séjourna jusqu'à son départ pour Versailles. C'est pour sauver le château de la ruine que Napoléon III décida sa restauration en 1862 afin d'y abriter le "futur" Musée des Antiquités Nationales. Aujourd'hui, le musée présente les collections archéologiques parmi les plus riches au monde. Elles retracent l'histoire des hommes de la préhistoire au début du Moyen-Age. Tout au long de l'année, le musée propose des évènements et des activités pour tous public.

IRON MAN! But…read morespeaking French lol Can we get Robert Downey Jr. to speak French for the Iron Man suit? That would make this even better lol There is a pre-show conversation between Iron Man and Captain Marvel before you go on the ride. It is pretty cool. The Iron MAn suit moves, lights up and everything. Very interactive!! It was super cool. I will post the couple of videos that I took of French Iron Man lol

There isn't a whole lot to see in the actual building here but it's really the gardens and…read moreeverything outside that is worth it. There's many walking trails and easy to get lost but don't give up. Going to the Queen's hamlet is definitely worth it as is the Temple de l'amour. There's some very large trees nearby that are just epic as well.

We enjoyed this part of Versailles better than the Palace. For one, it's much less crowded and…read morevisited so you're not constantly being jostled and shuffling along. Second, since it's not designed for flexing political propaganda, the scale of this little "country" home is more human, intimate, and comfortable. This is where Marie Antoinette let down her hair and kicked back, away from the artifices of power. The Queen's Hamlet (Hameau de la Reine) is simply delightful and puts any Disneyworld imagineer to shame. What an amazing artificial farm and country to see! Your kids will love this place, scooting around all the paths to check out all the charming nooks and crannies ... heck I'm well past childhood but it really bought out the kid in me! Understandable to see why the Queen loved this place and why she was happiest here.

From the owner: Galerie d'antiquaire à versailles. Un lieu unique pour les amateurs, collectionneurs et…read moreprofessionnels d'antiquités asiatiques. Découvrez une sélection d'antiquités chinoises et japonaise dans une galerie d'art située au centre du quartier des antiquaires du bailliage et de la geôle à versailles.