Versailles

Visiting the Palace of Versailles was one of my favorite parts of the trip. The Palace was originally a hunting lodge for King Louis VII, but was turned into a more ornate chateau by King Louis XIV during the 1600s. The town of Versailles is about a 45 minute train ride from Paris and the Palace is only a 10 minute walk from the Versailles station. When we got there, we saw the extensive gardens and then went inside to tour the rooms. Everything is beautiful and ornate with gold detail, and all of the windows have picturesque views of the gardens. We also saw the famous Hall of Mirrors where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 to end World War I. After leaving the Palace we wandered through the beautiful town of Versailles and shopped in an outdoor market.  It was a great opportunity to see what France looks like outside of Paris. I really enjoyed touring the Palace and town of Versailles and hope to return to France soon.

Stephanie Lizardi, Class of 2014