Page 126 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Appartements du Roi et join the D906 to Chartres. All
2 Versailles de la Reine (State Apart- told, it’s a journey of 76km.
Louis XIV transformed ments) and the famous
his father’s hunting Galerie des Glaces 3 Chartres
(Hall of Mirrors), a
lodge into the Château 75m-long ballroom filled You’ll know you’re near-
de Versailles (%01 30 83 with chandeliers and
78 00; www.chateauversailles. floor-to-ceiling mirrors. ing Chartres long before
you reach it thanks to
fr; place d’Armes; adult/child Outside, the vast park the twin spires of the
passport ticket incl estate-wide incorporates terraces,
access €18/free, with musical flower beds, paths and Cathédrale Notre Dame
events €25/free, palace €15/ fountains, as well as the (www.cathedrale-chartres.
free; h9am-6.30pm Tue-Sun Grand and Petit Canals. org; place de la Cathédrale;
Apr-Oct, to 5.30pm Tue-Sun Northwest of the main h8.30am-7.30pm daily year-
round, also to 10pm Tue, Fri &
Nov-Mar; mRER Versailles- palace is the Domaine
Château–Rive Gauche) in the de Marie-Antoinette Sun Jun-Aug), considered
to be one of the most
mid-17th century, and it
remains France’s most (Marie Antoinette’s Estate; www. important structures in
chateauversailles.fr; Château
Christendom.
majestic palace. The
royal court was based de Versailles; adult/child €10/ The present cathedral
free, with passport ticket free;
here from 1682 until hnoon-6.30pm Tue-Sun was built during the late
FRANCE 8 ESSENTIAL FRANCE
12th century after the
1789, when revolutionar-
ies massacred the palace Apr-Oct, to 5.30pm Tue-Sat original was destroyed
by fire. It’s survived
Nov-Mar), where the royal
guard and dragged
Louis XVI and Marie family would have taken wars and revolutions
refuge from the intrigue
Antoinette back to Paris, and etiquette of court life. remarkably intact, and
the brilliant-blue stained-
where they were inglori-
ously guillotined. The Drive » The N10 runs glass windows have
even inspired their own
The architecture is southwest from Versailles
truly eye-popping. High- through pleasant countryside shade of paint (Chartres
lights include the Grands and forest to Rambouillet. You’ll blue). The cathedral also
houses the Sainte Voile
(Holy Veil), supposedly
worn by the Virgin Mary
while giving birth to
VISITING VERSAILLES Jesus.
Versailles is one of the country’s most popular The best views are
destinations, so planning ahead will make your visit from the 112m-high
more enjoyable. Avoid the busiest days of Tuesday Clocher Neuf (New Bell
and Sunday, and remember that the château is Tower; Cathédrale Notre
closed on Monday. Save time by pre-purchasing Dame; adult/child €7.50/free;
tickets on the château’s website, or arrive early if h9.30am-12.30pm & 2-6pm
you’re buying at the door – by noon queues spiral Mon-Sat, 2-6pm Sun May-Aug,
out of control. 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-5pm Mon-
You can also access off-limits areas (such as Sat, 2-5pm Sun Sep-Apr).
the Private Apartments of Louis XV and Louis XVI, 54 p130
the Opera House and the Royal Chapel) by taking
a 90-minute guided tour (%01 30 83 77 88; www. The Drive » Follow the D939
chateauversailles.fr; tours €7, plus palace entry; hEnglish- northwest for 58km to Verneuil-
language tours 9.30pm Tue-Sun). sur-Avre, then take the D926
west for 78km to Argentan –
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