We almost bypassed Versailles in favor of visiting the Loire Valley that surrounds itself with twenty lovely castles. But after we saw some photos of Versailles, we couldn't pass up the opulent quarters of King Louis XIV and his successors.

The sheer immensity of the Versailles Palace grounds amazed us. We walked and walked before we reached the front gate to the palace entrance over a large cobblestone entryway. The gardens behind one side wing extended about two miles. Thousands of tourists jabbered in their native languages. Tour groups clogged the passageways from room to room. Flash cameras clicked away, and people with video cams were busy filming. The crowded rooms made it warm inside, although the weather outside was rather cold and rainy. The wall and ceiling paintings were amazingly bright and colorful. Beautiful sculptures made of stone and gold leaf can be seen throughout. One of the highlights was sauntering down the Hall of Mirrors, a long and wide corridor with mirror panels, elegant chandeliers, and beautiful sculptured busts.