Vacancy at Versailles

Visiting Château de Versailles is a magical yet exhausting experience.  You can't possibly see it all in one day, as much as you may try.  While there are lovely hotels in the town to extend your visit, there is none that will be as conveniently located as the proposed Hôtel du Grand Contrôle which is actually part of the Versailles complex.  The mansion was built in 1684 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and traditionally housed the treasury.  It will be renovated by the Belgian company Ivy International SA who has a lot of work to do on the deteriorated building.  Once open in 2011, the 23 room hotel will overlook the Orangerie and ornamental lake and might just make you feel like Marie Antoinette.  Just don't tell the staff to eat cake!

Le Petit Trianon Park

Visiting Versailles is exhausting. We managed to see the Belvedere and the Temple of Love which are part of the park of Le Petit Trianon but did not have the energy for the Hamlet. That just means we have to plan a return trip to see the places we missed. I absolutely loved the Belvedere but my favorite part was the lone swan who made for a perfect photo opportunity. Even the animals in France are perfect! Enjoy!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Le Petit Trianon

After visiting Le Petit Trianon on the grounds of Versailles, it's easy to see why Marie Antoinette would have wanted to escape the formality of court life at this small chateau. While the interiors are as gorgeous as you would expect, it's the surrounding park and gardens that really steal the show. Enjoy!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Joyeux Bastille Day!

One of the main reasons that Stefan and I visited Paris last year was to make a pilgrimage to Versailles. It is one of the most gorgeous places on earth and definitely worth the trip. Although I posted many photos of Paris, I never actually posted any of my photos from Versailles. It was so special that part of me wanted to save them for myself and since I took over 1000 photos that day, organizing them was a bit overwhelming. But seeing as it's Bastille Day, I thought it might be a good time to post some of them. All of these photos were taken outside of the chateau and illustrate the breathtaking beauty of the architecture. One of the things I missed after returning to New York were all of the amazing sculptures and carvings on the buildings. Everywhere you look is something special and unique. Hope you enjoy them!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic