This was a planned excursion from our river cruise. It's located in a beautiful section of Paris,…read morebut from the windows of the bus, it looked like parking was definitely at a premium. The house is beautifully furnished and had some incredibly unique pieces that were amazing to see up close. At one point in the tour I wasn't feeling well, so I left the tour and went and sat in the gardens. The gardens are beautiful and were well worth taking the time to go through. Around the back of the building, you can also go see their black swans, which was very cool.

Very historic residence of former wife Napoleon. One needs a guide to take a tour of house to…read moreexplain what one is seeming and it's significance. Most of the interior descriptions are in French so one needs a bit of translation if you are like me and only speak Texan. Renovation were going on when we visited but not enough to spoil tour. Work was being done on windows as house was sinking so the windows were going off a bit off. Include time to tour the grounds. I include photos of house layout and overall site. If there are multiple tours groups inside it can become very crowded.

Visiting the Château de Versailles was truly a dream come true. The architecture is absolutely…read morestunning--every detail, from the grand halls to the intricate ceilings, is a testament to the opulence of the French monarchy. The grounds are just as impressive: beautifully kept gardens, sparkling fountains, and perfectly restored landscapes that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. As someone who loves history, I was in heaven. The palace is filled with artifacts from the Sun King himself, Louis XIV, and the stories about his many mistresses add an extra layer of intrigue. I could have spent hours just wandering the Hall of Mirrors and imagining the lavish parties that once took place there. Marie Antoinette's area, with its charming hamlet and gorgeous gardens, was a highlight for me--so peaceful and picturesque. We spent an entire day exploring and still barely scratched the surface. There's just so much to see and experience! I also have to mention the restaurants on the grounds. The food was surprisingly good--fresh, flavorful, and honestly better than most of what I get back home in America. If you love history, art, or just want to be wowed by breathtaking beauty, Versailles is an absolute must-see. I loved every minute and can't wait to go back!

Of everything we did in Paris, this was top five for sure. I booked tickets in advance and we took…read morethe RER C train right to the Versailles station. From there it is a 7 or 10 minute walk to the entrance. You do need to plan for several hours if not the majority of a day to explore the chateau and the gardens. Also, it is very, very crowded, so expect to be shuffled along in a current of people, especially in popular areas like the Hall of Mirrors. We had kids with us that were not impressed by the gilded treasures, so we spent probably more time in the gardens than the palace. Let me tell you - the expanse of these gardens is impressive. At one point it looked like they go on for eternity. Just take your time strolling through and exploring all of the different little alcoves. We did do a boat ride in the Grand Canal lake and enjoyed some snacks and drinks in one of the cafes tucked into one of the gardens. One thing we did not know, is that if you want to book a ride on the train, you will have to do that when you are still at the chateau and they do sell out. You can also rent a golf cart in the same way. Overall I greatly enjoyed all the splendor and grandeur of this magical place. Worth the time and the travel.

I'm not a history buff I rather enjoyed my visit here. As is the case with most French museums, go…read moreEARLY - go too late in the day you'll be elbowing your way just to get a view of anything. For me, the gardens were the real standout. Unfortunately, we were there just before the spring bloom so it had a wintry feel to it but they were still amazingly impressive. At my urging, we toured the gardens via golf cart and I'm so glad we did. (You're likely to be doing a lot of walking on a France trip so save your feet when you can.) We were able to see more in less time this way and it's a bit easier to get away from the crowd.

Wonderful place to visit. The art and scenery was very nice here…read more Would return if back in France. Recommendation

Neptune's Fountains are located to the right of the palace and are free to visit. There are two…read morelarge fountains. Both fountains could use some maintenance work to shine up the sculptures and removed fallen leaves and debris from the water. Very large space enter from Blvd de la trine and make first left once you pass gate.

From the owner: Bassin royal En retrait à l'Est du château, sur le chemin qui mène au hameau de la reine et au…read moreGrand Trianon, le bassin en demi cercle jaillit avec une statue de Neptune, dressé, avec son trident pour tout étendard.

Certainly one of the more amazing sites in Paris. A great example of the new modern Paris. I love…read morethe idea behind this arch, unfortunately it's not being applied at all around the world today.

Grande Arche de la Défense is a beautiful, modern monument in La Défense, Paris…read more Although it isn't the most well-known or widely recognised monument in Paris, it is kind of an unsung hero of the city which is truly one of my favourite cities in the world, it's a modern arch which consists of government offices, in a really nice square which separates Westfield and CNIT, right by the metro station which is underneath. At 360 ft tall, it is a little taller than the Tour Eiffel and also forms part of the Axe Historique. It's magnificent structure really adds grace and elegance into the La Defense area and makes the view from the Starbucks nearby a little better, especially in the outdoor patio area. It does have multiple steps which lead up the monument which is popular for people to sit and relax, while it might not have the international fame or wow-factor as the Arc de Triomph (of which it is 4km away from) or the Tour Eiffel, it's a pretty nice and underrated monument in a great city.

A poor nineteen year old student in Paris, I found a bedroom to rent in the grand salon of a…read morewidowed French government official's wife, who took in students to offset her own need for income. Once wealthy and the daughter of Polish nobility, but now living on a pension and what little she had inherited from the former minister and governor of a colony in French Equitorial Africa, the most gracious Madame V took me under her wing and mentored me in the Parisian life that no longer existed except within her old world apartment and the vibrant galleries of her romanticist mind. She at 60 had more worldly experience than I would ever have, or at least so I believed then. Her fourth floor abode lie on Avenue Theophile Gautier, named for the 19th Century poet, novelist, critic and journalist, who was a strong influence on the Romantic and Aesthetic periods in French arts and literature. He was a contemporary of Balzac, Hugo, Flaubert, and Baudelaire, the giants of the period. He was a friend of Princess Mathilde, who found him a job as a librarian when his other work sank in popularity. I often wondered about this man as I walked the street to and from school and while shopping in the corner boulangerie. In those days I didn't believe in coincidence, and was certain he held a message for me about life. Of course, his extreme romantic reviews about art ("Art for art's sake."), two mistresses and close ties with ballerina Carlotta Grisi with whom he composed the ballet libretti Giselle, all led me to understand that only by complete emersion is creativity and writing about it as descriptively as possible, would ultimate truth be found. Of course, Gautier was far more excessive than I could be, but his influence on my psyche that year was all consuming. I returned to his street a few times after departing Paris, once to visit Madame V and another to impress someone with my knowledge of the city and this bit of arcane literati history. Although refined over the years to allow me to live in balance with my world, both Madame and Theo have had an outsized influence over me. I thank them both profoundly for that.