#14: Versailles

I first came here in August 1999 as a single 22-year old with my friends.

So, it was fun to return here 26 years ago with my family!

The triumphant entry to Versailles!

And the gilded gate surrounding it's entrance and courtyard.

Inside the courtyard - it's massive!

The Royal Chapel

Can you imagine having a home big enough to house a Chapel??!

And of course..... the ornate Hall of Mirrors!

Every square inch of this place from floor to painted ceiling is a sight to behold!

It's official.... we've kissed in a palace!

And just when you think you've seen all the opulence you can imagine..... head out to the immaculately landscaped gardens which go on as far as the eye can see!

Versailles is a Must Do.  There's just nothing like it.  And if you get the Museum Pass, then it's "free" in the sense that it's included in that!  But make sure to reserve your entry time in advance.  If you fail to do this, then depending on the time of year you go, you will either wait in line a LONG time or not be able to go at all.  So this is one you definitely want to plan for in advance!

And with that..... here's a little look at my original visit here in 1999.....

Sept. 4, 1999. Versailles, more formally known as "Chateau de Versailles" is just a hop skip and a jump away from Paris (13 miles to be exact). We spent the afternoon walking all around the gorgeous gardens of this beautiful palace, built by the French monarchy in the 1600's. It is France's most-visited chateau and for good reason! I wrote in my book that the grounds were so amazing that I would have been satisfied without even going inside. But, of course, you must go inside! And the most famous room is the Hall of Mirrors, 236 feet long and the site of where Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette as well as location of where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.
Verdict: Unbelievable. A must do in your lifetime! Page 122 in 1000 Places to See Before you Die.

#341: Giverny (pg 113); 2nd Ed: Impressionist Normandy (pg 109)

 

April 2025

The tulip gardens in front of Monet's home.

The famous Japanese bridge.

Stop and smell the roses.... or the tulips as the case may be.

After visiting Monet's home and gardens, it's worth the trip to walk a mile or so through the quaint village to Monet's church, where he is buried, along with his family.

VERDICT:  Monet's home and gardens were lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed this day-trip from Paris (although I recommend driving if you're able - public transportation is a bit of a pain as it's a long train ride that only gets you to Vernon, and then you have to shuttle from Vernon to Giverny; much easier just to drive directly there if able.  Parking is plentiful and free) but I don't necessarily think it's something you have to do before you die unless you're passionate about Art/Impressionism.  

Cost: This is not included in the Paris Museum pass, but cost is reasonable.  It was $57 for our family of six and this included the house and gardens.  You don't have to get tickets in advance; anyone can just show up and wait in line to get in.  But it's advisable to get tickets in advance so that you don't have to wait in line.  We didn't get tickets in line and waited in line for about an hour. 

Admission:  

Adult: 12 Euros

Child >7: 6.50 Euros

Child < 7: Free

#340: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Chartres (pg 121)

 

April 2025

Chartres is a doable day-trip from Paris or from the Loire Valley.  And definitely worth the stop in order to see this Gothic masterpiece, the Cathedrale Notre Dame.  It's the third largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, only behind Rome's St. Peter's and the Canterbury Cathedral (both of which I've been to!).

The windows were created by 12th and 13th century master glass artists and were saved from both World Wars by people painstakingly removing each piece and hiding them for safe keeping.  I love hearing the stories of what the citizens  of European towns did to protect their treasures and culture and history during those dark and destructive times.

The nave, 427 feet long, 20 feet wide and 120 feet high, is the widest of any church in Europe. 

It's main "claim to fame" is this relic, a birthing gown supposedly worn by Mary when she gave birth to Jesus, which the church acquired in 876.

Easter Mass

The cathedral is beautiful by day and by night!

VERDICT:  The town of Chartres is charming and seemed like it came right out of a set for Beauty and the Beast. But this cathedral is certainly the main attraction.  If I had to choose just 1000 things in the entire world to see before I died, I'm not sure this would make the list (of note, it was removed from the 2011 2nd edition), but Paris is a "must do" and the Loire Valley is a "must do" and this is close enough to both, that it's absolutely worth the stop on your way to/from Paris or the Loire Valley!

#339: Loire Valley and Domaine Des Hauts De Loire (pg 126); 2nd Ed: Loire Valley (pg 122)

 

April 2025

We rented a car to explore the Loire Valley, which has the highest concentration of castles anywhere in the world.  We decided to head to Chambord, the largest of all the castles, boasting 440 rooms and 365 fireplaces! 

One of our favorite things was to climb to the rooftop and see the views from up there.

Views for days!

We also loved learning the history of this chateau, including the fact that it was used to store many pieces of the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa during WWII!  This was especially meaningful to us, since we had just been to the Louvre a few days before.

Frncois I's bedroom

More exploring.

Verdict: Yes!!!  We absolutely loved the Loire Valley and left wanting to see more and wishing we had more time to spend here.  That's always a mark of something that truly deserves to be in the book!  My husband and I always discuss the "verdict" after we experience something from the 1000 Places book together.  Sometimes we're in agreement and sometimes we aren't, but in this we were both in agreement that this is absolutely something to see before you die and hope we're lucky enough to see it again before we die - and more of it next time!!

#164: Taillevent (pg 120)

Yes, we took a motorcycle to Le Teaillevent.  I'm pretty sure we might be the only people to ever do that.

The menu

The entrance

I love their symbol.  

The Trianon Room

Another view of the Trianon Room

Beautiful staircase that you pass by when walking from the Trianon Room to the Lamennais Room.

There are a total of two dining rooms.  

Here I am with the menu, that the lovely Assistant Manager, Claire Chloe gave me to keep as a souvineer.  

Prices:  If you want the experience without selling the shirt off your back, try coming here for lunch.  The lunch menu is 88 Euros/person (104 Euros including drinks).  For dinner, bring your wallet.... it is 218 Euros/person for the Tasting and Discovery Menu or 278 Euros for the Seasonal Menu.  These prices include service and taxes but not drinks.

Verdict:  No.  I am not a foodie so unlikely any of these gourmet over the top restaurants listed in this book will actually make my "Yes" list.  It's hard for me to ever justify spending hundreds of dollars on one meal.  BUT, if you are a foodie and you are in Paris, then by all means, call a couple months ahead and make a reservation here.  You won't be disappointed.  Especially if you're a wine lover.... they boast a wine list with thousands of options.  

#163: Normandy's D-Day Beaches (pg 114) (pg 111 2nd Ed)

May 25, 2015

Memorial Day

What a perfect, appropriate place to be....... the beaches of Normandy.

The ENTIRE area at Pointe du Hoc is COVERED with massive craters leftover from the incessant bombing in June of 1944.

The names of the U.S. Rangers killed here

The original barbed wire is still present.

You can go down into these bunkers and just picture the Germans from their fortified positions shooting at the troops as they approached.

As we all now know, the Allied forces sustained heavy losses.  Nearly 30,000 Americans alone were killed in just a matter of days.  Such courage.  Such bravery. Such sacrifice.

But it was not in vain.  France was liberated.  Freedom prevailed.  And the end of World War II had begun.

Operation Overlord was the largest military operation in history with more than 5,000 ships and landing craft, 50,000 vehicles and 11,000 planes set to land on the beaches of Normandy, taking the Nazis by surprise.

The monument at Colleville-sur-Mer's American Cemetery, located on a cliff above Omaha Beach.

9,386 American soldiers are buried here.

Hallowed ground.

Omaha Beach

A small chapel lies at the far end of the cemetery.  

VERDICT:  YES!  This was such a moving experience.  I was there on Memorial Day and I am writing this blog post on June 6th, the 71st Anniversay of D-Day.  The cemetery is beautiful.  So well done.  Peaceful.  Serene.   Hallowed.  The museum is very well done.  Absolutely worth going inside (and free) before walking among the nearly 10,000 graves.  When you think about what these men did, how they did it and why they did it and look around picturing all of that happening right where you are standing, it is something that absolutely all freedom-loving people should experience.