Unforgettable Versailles
Well, something big happened over spring break....
Gavin proposed to me at Versailles on Friday, March 16, 2012! It was our last full day in Paris and absolutely the most perfect day I could ever have imagined. We arrived at Versailles when the gates opened at 9:00am and took a special tour of the private apartments of Louis XV and Louis XVI. We even had the rare opportunity of seeing the royal opera which is often closed for performances. After the tour I wanted to view the rest of Versailles, but it was packed with tour groups who arrived via bus in droves for a quick morning visit. Instead I decided we would visit the Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet before the crowds shifted out into the gardens.
On our way to the Petit Trianon, out in the parterre near the Fountain of Latona, I noticed a couple trying to take a "long arm" picture of themselves and I offered to take a photo for them. Gavin then asked if they wouldn't mind taking a picture for us. Actually he said, "Could you take a couple of pictures?" Suddenly he got down on one knee and pulled out a white vintage ring box. He opened it and inside was a gorgeous vintage ring, sparkling away in the afternoon sunlight. I can't really remember what he said, I was too shocked. I'm pretty sure I said YES though!
We spent the next 20 minutes walking through the gardens leading to the Petit Trianon and I was really in shock. The ring looked so incredible in the sunlight. I don't wear much jewelry and I've never had a ring with a jewel or gem on it. I couldn't stop looking at it! Finally I got my senses together and we rented bikes and rode around the gardens, visited Marie Antoinette's hamlet and the Petit Trianon. We had lunch by the Grand Canal. It was just a magically perfect day with a warm breeze and not a cloud in the sky. The weather was perfect, especially for Paris in March.
As for details about the ring, it's an early art deco ring (1920's) with a .56ct old European cut center diamond, four smaller diamonds surrounding it, and two half moon emeralds on the sides. The ring has a low profile, which is something I really wanted in a ring as I didn't want it getting caught on everything. The mounting is platinum with really delicate filigree work. I absolutely adore it and could not think of anything more "me."
To spend such a magical day in Paris, at Versailles with the love of my life, and to get engaged in a place with so much history -- I really don't have any words for it. I was just 100% happy, through and through. I couldn't have asked for a better day. It's now filed away into my extremely happy, peaceful memories which I draw upon when work sucks or when I am frustrated with life. Which is stupid, because life is good.
All the information accompanying the photos here either came from the tour guide or from one of three books: Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser, Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution by Caroline Weber, or Versailles: A Biography of a Palace by Antony Spawforth. I read all three books before Paris and I highly recommend them all!
The front of Versailles right at opening, before tourists crowd the Marble Courtyard. The king's bedroom is located on the second story below the clock where you see the balcony railing. They sometimes have tours of the third story "attic" rooms, otherwise visitors are not allowed there. I would love to see them someday! The "U" shape you see here is the original hunting lodge that belonged to Louis XIV's father (Louis XIII), which Louis XIV then renovated throughout his reign. If you see the palace from the back, the style and architecture is completely different, because it was made to envelope the original U-shaped hunting lodge you see here.
Louis XV's bedroom -- he had this room created because he didn't like the giant, opulent official bedroom that his grandfather Louis XIV created. He used the "official" bedroom for ceremonies (like dressing of the king in the morning, and undressing at night), but actually slept in this room. They are having a replica of his bed made, but the rest of the furniture is from the 18th century, and was either bought back from museums around the world (after being sold to them during the revolution or afterwards) or was brought from other chateaus that the king had around France.
Another shot of Louis XV's private bedroom. I love that fabric and the colors!
The chandelier in the bedroom.
The new drapes in Louis XV's bedroom. These are replicas made at the same silk weaving factory in Lyon where the originals were made over 200 years ago. The design was from his summer fabric, which the guide told us were cheaper to recreate than the winter fabric. The originals were sold during the revolution, or torn up to get the gold thread which was then melted down. These drapes had just been finished and installed two weeks earlier so I felt really lucky to see them!
Lois XV's astronomical clock which shows the date (day, month, year), time, phases of the moon, and movement of the planets. You can watch a short French video about it here: http://youtu.be/L9DSiAILKsI
Louis XV's famous roll-top desk or Bureau du Roi. Since there were so many servants and courtiers about the palace (and even common people as well, so long as you were dressed appropriately), the king needed a secure place to store his documents. This desk was created for that purpose and allowed him to lock away important documents. Only the king had a key to the desk and that key now resides with Versailles' curator. This desk was kept safe at the Louvre during the revolution but was returned during the 20th century when Queen Elizabeth visited in the 1950's. Versailles never gave the desk back and now it sits where it originally stood in the Cabinet du Roi where it is said that Louis XVI made his decision to assist the Americans during our own revolution in 1777.
Detail of one of the candlesticks of the Bureau du Roi.
Some of the famous blue and gold royal Sèvres porcelain. These pieces were all dispersed during the Revolution but they are slowly making their way back to Versailles.
Such beautiful, delicate tendrils of gold detail on these pieces!
Love the morning glories here!
The opera at Versailles. This entire room is carved from wood which was then painted to look like marble (a trompe l'oeil or illusion). Wood was used because it cut down on construction time, costs, and is better acoustically for performances. Usually the opera is closed to the public because of performances, but it happened to be open during our private group tour. It was really amazing, but also very dark so I didn't get very good photos.
Detail of the carving above the stage.
My favorite portrait of Marie Antoinette that now hangs in the Petit Trianon. There was another similar portrait painted of the queen but she was wearing a muslin dress (later made fashionable by the queen and called chemise à la reine) that the public found inappropriate and unsuitable for the Queen of France. Thus the same artist painted this portrait with Marie Antoinette in a similar pose, but this time in the blue, more appropriate, dress
Now we're in the Petit Trianon, which is a smaller chateau behind Versailles (about a 20 minute walk away) which was originally built by Louis XV for his mistress Madame de Pompadour who died before it was finished so it was given to his next mistress, Madame du Barry. Later, it was given to Marie Antoinette by Louis XVI after he was crowned king. Sorry I didn't get a picture of the outside, but here is a photo of a door handle inside!
I love this room at the Petit Trianon, simply because of the beautiful pale blue and white walls and those beautiful chairs with hippogryphs. This room is actually really cool because it has a mechanism which covers the windows with mirrors that are raised and lowered from the floors. When the mirrors are in place, the room appears to have no windows. You can't even spot a hint of them. In fact, if you notice the wall directly behind the chair, you can see that it "disappears" beneath the floor. This is because the wall and mirror are only partially raised over the window in the room.
The music room at Versailles. Marie Antoinette was supposedly very good at playing the harp.
Famous Ladurée macarons! This is their latest spring box.
Ladurée with my engagement ring.
Macarons! So beautiful! So perfect! I think vanilla and orange blossom are my favorite flavors.
My perfect engagement ring! Here you can really see the side emeralds and the filigree work.
One of the quaint French village-style houses built in the Queen's Hamlet at Versailles (actually in the gardens behind the Petit Trianon). Marie Antoinette wanted to return to a more natural style of living, largely influenced by the works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (who also ironically inspired the Revolution), away from the extremely rigid, public lifestyle at Versailles. She had this replica village and farm created as her escape. It also has a mock Greek temple, man made streams, rivers, lakes, and even an artificial rock grotto with waterfalls. If you asked eight-year-old Erin to create a magical world, I'm pretty sure it would have greatly resembled the Queen's Hamlet and gardens, except maybe with more unicorns. It's the coolest place in the world, in my opinion.
One of my favorite pictures of Gavin from the trip. He looks so happy! And no, it's not because of the Ladurée bag next to him. :)
The Fishing Tower (also known as the Marlborough Tower) in the Queen's Hamlet. Tell me it wouldn't be a ton of fun to run around this little mock village all day? But ah, to go back in the summer and see the green leaves and the flowers!!
Love bunnies! In Marie Antoinette's time the farm was a functioning one where they got their eggs, meat, milk, and vegetables. They have returned it to a sort of living museum. I had no idea there would be animals at the farm and I was really excited! I saw pigs, sheep, goats, ponies, bunnies, chickens, ducks, geese, cows -- loved it all!
Feeding a bunny some grass!
The Temple of Love in the gardens of Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon.
The marble statue of Cupid at the Temple of Love in the gardens of Marie Antoinette's Petite Trianon. This is an 18th century replica of the original which is now housed in the Louvre. The original is much, much more beautiful. I saw it when we visited the Louvre earlier in the trip and I will post pictures of it later.
Another shot of the Temple of Love at Versailles. Again, this place must be amazing in the spring/summer.
The cathedral at Versailles where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were married.
Looking down at Versailles from the far end of the Grand Canal. We rented bikes and biked around the entire thing!
This is the famous statue of Apollo as he pulls the sun by chariot into the sky at dawn. It all goes back to Louis XIV's goal of becoming the center of the French universe, hence the reason they called him the "Sun King." Apollo is the god of light and sun in Greek mythology. Unfortunately, they only turn the fountains on on the weekends and my two visits have fallen on week days. :(
The famous Hall of Mirrors where William I was declared Emperor of Germany after the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 and later Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 which ended WWI. Lots of history in this room, not counting the events of Louis XIV - Louis XVI.
A beautifully embroidered fire screen in Marie Antoinette's bedroom.
Marie Antoinette's bedroom.
Gavin proposed to me at Versailles on Friday, March 16, 2012! It was our last full day in Paris and absolutely the most perfect day I could ever have imagined. We arrived at Versailles when the gates opened at 9:00am and took a special tour of the private apartments of Louis XV and Louis XVI. We even had the rare opportunity of seeing the royal opera which is often closed for performances. After the tour I wanted to view the rest of Versailles, but it was packed with tour groups who arrived via bus in droves for a quick morning visit. Instead I decided we would visit the Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet before the crowds shifted out into the gardens.
On our way to the Petit Trianon, out in the parterre near the Fountain of Latona, I noticed a couple trying to take a "long arm" picture of themselves and I offered to take a photo for them. Gavin then asked if they wouldn't mind taking a picture for us. Actually he said, "Could you take a couple of pictures?" Suddenly he got down on one knee and pulled out a white vintage ring box. He opened it and inside was a gorgeous vintage ring, sparkling away in the afternoon sunlight. I can't really remember what he said, I was too shocked. I'm pretty sure I said YES though!
We spent the next 20 minutes walking through the gardens leading to the Petit Trianon and I was really in shock. The ring looked so incredible in the sunlight. I don't wear much jewelry and I've never had a ring with a jewel or gem on it. I couldn't stop looking at it! Finally I got my senses together and we rented bikes and rode around the gardens, visited Marie Antoinette's hamlet and the Petit Trianon. We had lunch by the Grand Canal. It was just a magically perfect day with a warm breeze and not a cloud in the sky. The weather was perfect, especially for Paris in March.
As for details about the ring, it's an early art deco ring (1920's) with a .56ct old European cut center diamond, four smaller diamonds surrounding it, and two half moon emeralds on the sides. The ring has a low profile, which is something I really wanted in a ring as I didn't want it getting caught on everything. The mounting is platinum with really delicate filigree work. I absolutely adore it and could not think of anything more "me."
To spend such a magical day in Paris, at Versailles with the love of my life, and to get engaged in a place with so much history -- I really don't have any words for it. I was just 100% happy, through and through. I couldn't have asked for a better day. It's now filed away into my extremely happy, peaceful memories which I draw upon when work sucks or when I am frustrated with life. Which is stupid, because life is good.
All the information accompanying the photos here either came from the tour guide or from one of three books: Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser, Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution by Caroline Weber, or Versailles: A Biography of a Palace by Antony Spawforth. I read all three books before Paris and I highly recommend them all!
The front of Versailles right at opening, before tourists crowd the Marble Courtyard. The king's bedroom is located on the second story below the clock where you see the balcony railing. They sometimes have tours of the third story "attic" rooms, otherwise visitors are not allowed there. I would love to see them someday! The "U" shape you see here is the original hunting lodge that belonged to Louis XIV's father (Louis XIII), which Louis XIV then renovated throughout his reign. If you see the palace from the back, the style and architecture is completely different, because it was made to envelope the original U-shaped hunting lodge you see here.
Louis XV's bedroom -- he had this room created because he didn't like the giant, opulent official bedroom that his grandfather Louis XIV created. He used the "official" bedroom for ceremonies (like dressing of the king in the morning, and undressing at night), but actually slept in this room. They are having a replica of his bed made, but the rest of the furniture is from the 18th century, and was either bought back from museums around the world (after being sold to them during the revolution or afterwards) or was brought from other chateaus that the king had around France.
Another shot of Louis XV's private bedroom. I love that fabric and the colors!
The chandelier in the bedroom.
The new drapes in Louis XV's bedroom. These are replicas made at the same silk weaving factory in Lyon where the originals were made over 200 years ago. The design was from his summer fabric, which the guide told us were cheaper to recreate than the winter fabric. The originals were sold during the revolution, or torn up to get the gold thread which was then melted down. These drapes had just been finished and installed two weeks earlier so I felt really lucky to see them!
Lois XV's astronomical clock which shows the date (day, month, year), time, phases of the moon, and movement of the planets. You can watch a short French video about it here: http://youtu.be/L9DSiAILKsI
Louis XV's famous roll-top desk or Bureau du Roi. Since there were so many servants and courtiers about the palace (and even common people as well, so long as you were dressed appropriately), the king needed a secure place to store his documents. This desk was created for that purpose and allowed him to lock away important documents. Only the king had a key to the desk and that key now resides with Versailles' curator. This desk was kept safe at the Louvre during the revolution but was returned during the 20th century when Queen Elizabeth visited in the 1950's. Versailles never gave the desk back and now it sits where it originally stood in the Cabinet du Roi where it is said that Louis XVI made his decision to assist the Americans during our own revolution in 1777.
Detail of one of the candlesticks of the Bureau du Roi.
Some of the famous blue and gold royal Sèvres porcelain. These pieces were all dispersed during the Revolution but they are slowly making their way back to Versailles.
Such beautiful, delicate tendrils of gold detail on these pieces!
Love the morning glories here!
The opera at Versailles. This entire room is carved from wood which was then painted to look like marble (a trompe l'oeil or illusion). Wood was used because it cut down on construction time, costs, and is better acoustically for performances. Usually the opera is closed to the public because of performances, but it happened to be open during our private group tour. It was really amazing, but also very dark so I didn't get very good photos.
Detail of the carving above the stage.
My favorite portrait of Marie Antoinette that now hangs in the Petit Trianon. There was another similar portrait painted of the queen but she was wearing a muslin dress (later made fashionable by the queen and called chemise à la reine) that the public found inappropriate and unsuitable for the Queen of France. Thus the same artist painted this portrait with Marie Antoinette in a similar pose, but this time in the blue, more appropriate, dress
Now we're in the Petit Trianon, which is a smaller chateau behind Versailles (about a 20 minute walk away) which was originally built by Louis XV for his mistress Madame de Pompadour who died before it was finished so it was given to his next mistress, Madame du Barry. Later, it was given to Marie Antoinette by Louis XVI after he was crowned king. Sorry I didn't get a picture of the outside, but here is a photo of a door handle inside!
I love this room at the Petit Trianon, simply because of the beautiful pale blue and white walls and those beautiful chairs with hippogryphs. This room is actually really cool because it has a mechanism which covers the windows with mirrors that are raised and lowered from the floors. When the mirrors are in place, the room appears to have no windows. You can't even spot a hint of them. In fact, if you notice the wall directly behind the chair, you can see that it "disappears" beneath the floor. This is because the wall and mirror are only partially raised over the window in the room.
The music room at Versailles. Marie Antoinette was supposedly very good at playing the harp.
Famous Ladurée macarons! This is their latest spring box.
Ladurée with my engagement ring.
Macarons! So beautiful! So perfect! I think vanilla and orange blossom are my favorite flavors.
My perfect engagement ring! Here you can really see the side emeralds and the filigree work.
One of the quaint French village-style houses built in the Queen's Hamlet at Versailles (actually in the gardens behind the Petit Trianon). Marie Antoinette wanted to return to a more natural style of living, largely influenced by the works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (who also ironically inspired the Revolution), away from the extremely rigid, public lifestyle at Versailles. She had this replica village and farm created as her escape. It also has a mock Greek temple, man made streams, rivers, lakes, and even an artificial rock grotto with waterfalls. If you asked eight-year-old Erin to create a magical world, I'm pretty sure it would have greatly resembled the Queen's Hamlet and gardens, except maybe with more unicorns. It's the coolest place in the world, in my opinion.
One of my favorite pictures of Gavin from the trip. He looks so happy! And no, it's not because of the Ladurée bag next to him. :)
The Fishing Tower (also known as the Marlborough Tower) in the Queen's Hamlet. Tell me it wouldn't be a ton of fun to run around this little mock village all day? But ah, to go back in the summer and see the green leaves and the flowers!!
Love bunnies! In Marie Antoinette's time the farm was a functioning one where they got their eggs, meat, milk, and vegetables. They have returned it to a sort of living museum. I had no idea there would be animals at the farm and I was really excited! I saw pigs, sheep, goats, ponies, bunnies, chickens, ducks, geese, cows -- loved it all!
Feeding a bunny some grass!
The Temple of Love in the gardens of Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon.
The marble statue of Cupid at the Temple of Love in the gardens of Marie Antoinette's Petite Trianon. This is an 18th century replica of the original which is now housed in the Louvre. The original is much, much more beautiful. I saw it when we visited the Louvre earlier in the trip and I will post pictures of it later.
Another shot of the Temple of Love at Versailles. Again, this place must be amazing in the spring/summer.
The cathedral at Versailles where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were married.
Looking down at Versailles from the far end of the Grand Canal. We rented bikes and biked around the entire thing!
This is the famous statue of Apollo as he pulls the sun by chariot into the sky at dawn. It all goes back to Louis XIV's goal of becoming the center of the French universe, hence the reason they called him the "Sun King." Apollo is the god of light and sun in Greek mythology. Unfortunately, they only turn the fountains on on the weekends and my two visits have fallen on week days. :(
The famous Hall of Mirrors where William I was declared Emperor of Germany after the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 and later Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 which ended WWI. Lots of history in this room, not counting the events of Louis XIV - Louis XVI.
A beautifully embroidered fire screen in Marie Antoinette's bedroom.
Marie Antoinette's bedroom.