A hand-woven tapestry panel at Versailles dating from the chateau's origins as a country hunting lodge.
Gilt hunting instruments - including bows and arrows and knives - decorate a marble panel.
An ornate chandelier with heavy crystal drops accents the decorative ceiling.
Brocade draperies shot through with gold thread surround the Sun King's bed. Note the ornate gilt carvings above the canopy, as well as the plumed feathers.
A red marble and gold gilt bust wears a laurel leaf crown in the antechamber of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
Another ornately-dressed and drapery-lined bed in the public area of the chateau. The gold gilt headboard is centered by an image of the Sun King.
A view of the canopy of the bed pictured above, with an oil painting above the bed and a crystal chandelier completing the luxurious look.
A velvet and gilt bench in the same chambre as the bed above. Portions of the walls are covered with silk, and edged with silver dentelle interspersed with large gold beads.
The canopy of the elaborately-dressed bed where Marie-Antoinette publicly gave birth to each of her children.
Marble sculptures trimmed with gilt adorn a reception area at Versailles.
A gilt wood chair upholstered in silk in the council room at Versailles.
A decorative stool covered with aqua silk and trimmed with passamenterie in the king's bedroom.
Gilt trim on marble fireplaces is typical throughout the chateau.
A gold lion's head adorns a mottled-marble fireplace in a large reception room.
Most fireplaces at Versaille contain gold gilt andirons similar to these urn-shaped ones.
fantastic photos!!
Can I used them for a class presentation here at CCNY?
Posted by: jennifer | 27 February 2008 at 01:53
Lovely. It has been years since I was at Versailles. You can understand why the revolutionaries resented the Monarchy.
Posted by: sarala | 24 May 2007 at 21:07
Such grandeur! Beautiful photos, and "virtual tour!"
Posted by: Becca | 22 May 2007 at 13:58
Great shots Tara! Worth its weight in gold!
Posted by: My Melange | 22 May 2007 at 13:34
I remember walking through Versailles and thinking that the French Revolution was justified. It was nauseatingly excessive. I can't imagine being surrounded by such gawdiness, especially knowing what the bulk of the French peasantry was waking up to every day. I guess I just don't have an appreciation for this kind of decor!
Posted by: RD | 22 May 2007 at 12:39
Wouldn't have been something to have lived there?-before the revolution years, of course. Hard to imagine such everyday splendor.
Posted by: Linda | 22 May 2007 at 12:22
What wonderful photos. I couldnt help buy wonder what Donald Trump must think.
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | 22 May 2007 at 11:38
Thank you for boosting our memories of this beautiful place!! xx, JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 22 May 2007 at 05:49
It's been years since I visited Versailles! Such an amazing chateau!! Thanks for bringing back some good memories!
Posted by: Javacurls | 22 May 2007 at 00:36
Just what I needed to see today! I could look at your photos for hours....this tour was especially beautiful!
Andrea
Posted by: Southern Heart | 21 May 2007 at 23:27
How do you and Carol Gillot (Paris Breakfasts) do it? Everytime I try to take a picture anywhere like this in or around Paris some French person jumps on me. I could never get them to look as good as this though. Beautiful!
By the way - You will LOVE York - that Cathederal is something else.
Posted by: Di Overton | 21 May 2007 at 21:03
Miss Tara, did you ask them if I could move in??? Did you tell them that I belong there? That my soul lives within those walls???? Pppplease. Make them let me live there....Although, they'd probably want my head after 5 years...I can live there for five years, then straight to the guillotine.....YIKES! Thank you for the abundance of lovely images...xxo,V
Posted by: Vanessa V | 21 May 2007 at 18:57
Marvelous excess!!!!
Posted by: AnnieElf | 21 May 2007 at 18:11
I love Versailles. Thank you for sharing these - I can pretend I'm there for a tour.
Posted by: kristen | 21 May 2007 at 14:48
I love Versailles. Thank you for sharing these - I can pretend I'm there for a tour.
Posted by: kristen | 21 May 2007 at 14:48
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Jeanne | 21 May 2007 at 14:27