The Grand Canal Versailles

... The kids aren't particularly impressed. They liked the grand golden gates at the entrance, and enjoyed the ducks and fish in the Grand Canal ... but the majesty and history of it all is lost on them. The most memorable thing about our trip to Versailles ...

... trees, plants and flowers from every corner of the earth were brought over to Versailles, costing the state thousands of francs. Past the Grand Canal was the reserved yet equally splendid Trianon, Louis's sanctuary from the strict protocol of ...

... a welcome relief. We enjoyed a sunny (and breezy) picnic lunch on a granite bench along the avenue leading to the Grand Canal. This was followed by a decadent ice cream cone as we continued to stroll through the shrubberies. A siesta by the water was ...

... There is also a great view from the Hall of Mirrors down the Grand Canal. From the palace to the end of the grand canal is 3.5 km, a little more than 2 miles, and you have a perfect view all the way across.   Each garden has its own display ...

... reflecting not only off of the large water pools (parterres) onto the glass windows of the palace, but also across the Grand Canal and its adjoining fountains and white marble elements.  This colorful end to my day at Versailles proved to likewise ...

... place to go on a nice day liked today. There are bikes to rent to go to all the little places around Versailles, row boats to take in the Grand Canal and eat your lunch on the water, and my favorite, Carriage rides through the park and the ones that take ...

... 400 statues and fountains are also beautiful, although there were too many to see them all.  At the end of the park is the Grand Canal, where you can rent rowing boats!  If we had had more time there, I think we definitely would have tried ...

... to walk around the gardens and see the little children running and playing, the ducks fighting with the mammoth carp in the Grand Canal, and the sunlight coming through the canopy of trees.  After wandering for a while, we made our way into the ...

... gardens, we looked at some fountains, marveled at a replica of a Roman colonnade in the middle of a forest, sat alongside the Grand Canal where people were out on rowboats (and where Louis XIV used to have actual Venetian gondoliers ready to take you ...

... enjoyed the beautiful weather.  We ate lunch at the outdoor cafe, and then James persuaded me to rent one of the rowboats on the Grand Canal.  I'm glad he did, because that was one of the most memorable parts of our trip.  We said goodbye ...