I have only been to Versailles once and it was a very full day. Of course we spent a lot of time touring the Château and the gardens immediately surrounding the Mansion. Then we went down a garden path and were in another world. Louis XIII’s purchased the lands around Versailles in the 1630s and formal gardens were laid out west of the château. The garden was expanded to its present size of 800 hectares (1800 acres) by Louis XIV in the 1660s.

The good thing about visiting Versailles is when we return we will not have to tour the Château and can take a picnic in the garden. You have to have a ticket to visit the château but the gardens are free to the people. I can’t wait to return. This is a statue in a small garden pond.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Jardins du Château de Versailles