Besides immersing yourself in new, exciting culture, travel offers experiences that you will never forget and stories to forever tell. On a recent trip to Europe, I planned a visit to the Palace of Versailles after reading rave reviews on multiple platforms and with a little inspiration from friends who had traveled there before. Upon arriving at the Palace of Versailles, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this landmark had more than just a spectacular palace. It also had the Gardens of Versailles, a colossal work of botany art that can be viewed not only from the palace windows but also can be taken in by exploring the miles of trails. The word “garden” hardly seems fitting for the most famous garden in the world. The scale is monumental and appears to sprawl for miles to the human eye.

(Wikipedia)

In 19661, Louis IV commissioned André Le Nôtre with the design and layout of the Gardens of Versailles, a project that took forty years to complete. The layout of the gardens, as you can see even in photographs, required a tremendous amount of work. Vast amounts of earth had to be shifted to lay out the flower beds, the Orangerie, the fountains and the Grand Canal, where previously only woods, grasslands and marshes were (source). Back then, the earth was transported in wheelbarrows, the trees were conveyed by cart from all the provinces of France, and thousands of men, took part in the creation of this masterpiece.

Since its conception, the gardens have been gradually replanted, and after a devastating storm in December 1999, the work sped up to such an extent that a few sections have already been restored to their original appearance. While I was visiting the gorgeous Gardens of Versailles, even more construction was taking place which proves these gardens will forever be an ongoing work of art.

(Wikipedia)

The landscape was immaculate, rows of hedges were trimmed to perfection, and the eleven fountains were pristine.

Grand Canal

A Grand Canal sweeps through the garden grounds, spanning 1,500 meters long (approximately 1 mile) and 62 meters wide. The Grand Canal was constructed between 1668 and 1671, physically and visually prolonging the east-west axis to the walls of the Grand Parc. The Grand Canal used to serve as a venue for boating parties but now serves as a beautiful addition to the gardens.

Apollo Fountain (Wikipedia)

The Fountains

The Gardens of Versailles is home to 11 main water fountains. The design of the fountains epitomize French-style gardens with water cascading over bold statues, water sprays, and themes from Greek and Roman Mythology. In fact, one of two fountains in the main center walkway of the gardens, Latona sits in the middle of a circular Pond. The sculptures tell the story of Diana, mother of Apollo, protecting her children from the residents of Lycia by asking Jupiter for protection. Perhaps the most elaborate sculpture is the Apollo fountain, which depicts the god on a chariot pulled by four horses and three men blowing horns. Other mythological creatures of the past depicted in Versailles fountains include Bacchus, Saturn, Flora, Ceres, Neptune, Cupid and Diana’s nymphs.

Grotte des Bains d’Apollon (Wikipedia)

The Orangerie

In addition to the numerous residences and buildings scattered about the grounds of the Palace of Versailles is the orangerie, a large edifice for cultivating trees and protecting them in the winter months. The orangerie has large windows, a vaulted ceiling and covers nearly 7.5 acres. It houses more than 1,000 trees that are over 200 years old, originally imported from nearby countries such as Italy, Portugal and Spain. During the summer months, gardeners transport many of the plants in the orangerie to the gardens outside.

Gardens of Versailles Tips

Tip 1: The Gardens of Versailles is not included in the Museum Pass. You may receive false information from others indicating this but when we went in May 2015 it was an additional €8 to enter the gardens. The gardens are free of entrance in winter months (November to March). The Museum Pass also will not stop you from having to wait in line, but it will gain you entrance into the Palace.

Tip 2: Explore the Palace of Versailles before entering the gardens. The gardens can be seen through multiple windows during the tour of the palace and will get your adrenaline pumping beforehand.

Tip 3: Wear comfortable shoes. If your feet do get tired, there are golf carts you can rent to take around the gardens or you can also rent a bike. Alternately, a train can also transport you from the entrance of the gardens to the Marie Antoinette house.

Tip 4: The Palace of Versailles is closed on Mondays and the Trianon Palace and Marie Antoinette’s Estate are only open in the afternoons (except for Monday). Plan your trip accordingly.

Tip 5: Grab lunch or a crepe in a restaurant in one of the garden mazes, reminiscent of something you might see in Alice in Wonderland. There are bathrooms conveniently located by most restaurants.

Tip 6: Plan to spend a whole day in Versailles. If you will be catching the RER C train from Paris, the ride alone takes 45 minutes to an hour. To adequately explore the Palace, the Gardens of Versailles, the petite and grand Trianon, you will need at least 4-5 hours.

(Wikipedia)

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Trail Total Distance: Varies

Trailhead Address: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France

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The Champ de Mars is a large public walkway surrounded by impressively landscaped greenery in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower to the northwest and the École Militaire to the southeast. In 1780, the Parc du Champ de Mars opened and is now a hotspot for national events, accessed freely and offering stellar views of some of the capital’s most beautiful landmarks. Parisians and tourists alike flock to the lawns to picnic, play music, or watch the Eiffel Tower’s lights twinkle at night. For me, I took advantage of the impressively long walkways as an opportunity to explore more of the fabulous city of Paris.

Champ de Mars stretches all the way from the Seine River to École Militaire, which is still used today as a military academy. The most impressive feature you will come across however is the Eiffel Tower, Paris’s most iconic landmark. Along the stretch of grassland there are some exquisitely laid out gardens with scrubs and flower beds, which only add to the visual appeal of this popular landmark.

View from the second level of the Eiffel Tower of Champ de Mars.

The park is easily accessible by taking the Métro – the closest stations are La Motte-Picquet–Grenelle, École Militaire, and Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel. I got off at the Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel stop and it was about a five minute walk to reach the Parc du Champs de Mars. A basic Métro ticket, which is a small piece of cardboard with a magnetic strip, costs €1,80 – a relatively affordable fee to pay to see one of the greatest parks you will ever encounter!

The best way to get a full view of the Parc du Champs de Mars is to visit the Eiffel Tower. To get additional exercise in and avoid long lines, I opted to climb to the Eiffel Tower’s second level. The cost to do this was relatively cheaper than taking an elevator all the way to the top, at only €5 (as of May 1, 2015). Please note climbing these stairs isn’t for beginners. It was rigorous, and I passed many people who were out of breath but the views from the top made it worthwhile.

You will climb 300 steps to get to the first level and another 300 steps to the second observation level of the tower. If that’s high enough for you, then you can come back down or you may opt to hop on the elevator at the second level to take it all the way to the top. You can buy your Eiffel Tower tickets in advance by clicking here.

Champ de Mars Tips

Tip 1: Walk down Rue Cler and grab all the essentials for a picnic in the park: baguettes, cheese, charcuterie and cheap wine.

Tip 2: If you are not a fan of street peddlers, this park isn’t for you. You will be approached, likely multiple times with offerings of small Eiffel Tower replicas, selfie sticks, and even booze.

Tip 3: Plan a picnic for late afternoon, and then take a stroll through Champ de Mars. Then hike up the stairs of the Eiffel Tower to explore. Stay for the twinkling of the Eiffel Tower at night to get the full Eiffel Tower experience.

Tip 4: Pickpocketing is especially common in tourist areas such as the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars. Keep a close watch on your valuables.

Difficulty: Easy

Total Distance: Varies

Trailhead address: 2 Allée Adrienne Lecouvreur, 75007 Paris, France

Eiffel Tower view from Champ de Mars.

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