16 juin 2008
Parc Meissonier - Poissy
Parc Meissonier
This public park is situated in Poissy - Yvelines.
It was a private property of Mr Ernest Meissonier.
After his death, it was handed over to the municipality of Poissy.
This public park is situated in Poissy - Yvelines.
It was a private property of Mr Ernest Meissonier.
After his death, it was handed over to the municipality of Poissy.
02 juin 2008
Auvers-sur-Oise, Vincent Van Gogh's town .
Chateau d'Auvers-sur-Oise
Auvers-sur-Oise is a charming tranquil village situated in the Regional Park of French Vexin.This is one of the cradles of impressionists. Famous painter Vincent Van Gogh spent his last days in this pretty village.Other notable impressionists who were inspired by this site were Cézanne, Monet & Daubigny.This Castle is famous for its magnificent French Garden & Iris flower beds. Every year in May, Iris fest (Fête de l'iris) is held here.
20 mars 2008
It's Spring
C'est le printemps !!!
19 novembre 2007
Couleur d'automne
30 juillet 2007
Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye 
Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is situated in the western suburbs of Paris. Louis XIV was born here.This Castle is surrounded by a park & 2.4 km terrace which was designed by André Le Nôtre.Today it's an archeological museum which houses prehistoric art & culture.
11 juillet 2007
Roseraie-L'Haÿ-les-Roses
Rose garden of Val-de-Marne, L'Haÿ-les-Roses
This Rose Garden was created by Jules Gravereaux in 1894.
Later in 1899, the garden was designed by Edouard André.
This garden is the living conservatory of more than 3200 species of roses.
03 juillet 2006
Le hameau de Marie-Antoinette
The Queen's Hamlet
After renovation "Le hameau de Marie-Antoinette" is opened to public. It's a Normandy-style play-village and farm built in 1783 for the Queen & her children. This Anglo-chinese garden was designed by Richard Mique. Around a Grand Lac there are 12 thatched cottages surrounded by flower and vegetable gardens. Queen's house is a tiled one. He also built the "Temple of Love" , "Grotto" and the "Belvedere".
Versailles.
Royal Palace of Versailles
A vast, extravagant castle with spectacular architecture. It's the royal residence of Louis XIV- the Sun King.The construction of the Palace began in 1664. Louis Le Vau was commissioned to renovate and extend an old hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1624. Andre Le Notre, landscape architect created the gardens from 37,000 acres of swamp land. Hardouin-Mansart masterminded the hydraulic display of 600 fountains. Charles Le Brun, was the painter and decorator During the reign of Louis XIV, Versailles was the headquarters of every arm of the state. The construction of Versailles was completed near the end of Louis XIV's life. Both Louis XIV & his wife Marie Antoinette were extremely lavish. In 1788 the French government went bankrupt. Louis XVI was forced to levy high taxes on the peasantry. In 1789 French revolution started. On October 6, 1789 a mob of angry Parisians, mostly women, marched to the Palace demanding bread. They stormed the Palace. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were taken to Paris as prisoners with their children. They never saw the Palace of Versailles again. Later both of them were convicted for treason & sentenced to be guillotined .
Today the Palace of Versailles is one among the most visited monuments in France.Altogether there are 700 rooms, 67 stairs , 352 chimneys, park with 600 fountains & 250,000 trees .10 million visitors for the garden & 3 million for the castle.The whole complex is a magnificent. Only a small portion of it is open to the public.
* The state apartments of the King andQueen.
* King's Private Bedroom
* The Royal Opera
* Galerie des Glaces - Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed to end World War 1.
* Italianate Grand Trianon, designed by Hardouin-Mansart in 1687 as a "country retreat" for Louis XIV.
* Greek Petit Trianon, built by Gabriel in the 1760s.
* Le hameau de Marie-Antoinette - a play-village and farm built in 1783 for the Queen.
The park is extremely large. A train shuttles between the terrace in front of the château and the Trianons.
Bare in mind. Visiting the whole complex is very expensive. Every wing must be separately paid. Above all there are long queues. Now the Palace is under renovation. When it's completed I'll try to add some more photos.
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