For example, while he'd actually sleep elsewhere, right here, the Sun King would "rise" and "set" with the sun each day. The king's engineers literally rerouted a river to power these. In this travel class, Rick Steves guidebook co-author Steve Smith suggests strategies for touring Paris — the Louvre, Orsay, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées, Rodin Museum, and Montmartre — plus tips on sleeping, eating, and getting around affordably. Louis was a hands-on king. Once king, the massive expansion began. My friend and co-author of our guidebook to France, Steve Smith, is joining us, as he so often does, just in time for dinner — and we're eating like kings. Steve: Paris might as well be on the coast. In this episode we indulge in the world of the royal, noble, and aristocratic extravagance that characterized so much of French history. Explore the culture, romance, and history of Paris with this bestselling comprehensive guide Rick Steves Paris by Rick Steves - Books - Hachette Australia Your cart For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, Smart travelers avoid weekends, come late in the day, and use a museum pass to skip the ticket line. The dining room is splendid and a relaxing place to splurge…and feel good about it (reservations required). And, in order to personally control as much as possible, he gathered everything here. The ceiling is like a sunroof opening up to heaven, filled with action parallel to the action right here in Louis' court. France Chartres contains the world's largest surviving collection of medieval stained glass, with over 150 early 13th-century windows. Bavarian Alps, Germany: The Zugspitze - Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide - … Louis was a true Renaissance man, a century after the Renaissance: an accomplished musician, dancer, horseman, statesman, art-lover, lover. In "The Book of Chartres" — as some nickname the church — the text is the sculpture and windows, and its binding is the architecture. The emerging horses give the impression of the sun rising out of the mists of dawn. The palace's back yard is huge — and if you turn around, it seems to stretch forever. Versailles was laid out along an eight-mile axis. Napoleon's throne room is the only French throne room that survives with its original furniture. See the Travel Details above for recommendations highlighted in bold, excerpted from Rick's guidebooks. Like our other Pocket guides, Pocket Paris is smaller than the complete guidebook (and in full color), but still offers our best sightseeing advice, a handful of self-guided city … Travel with a Mobile Device It's fresh as it would be if we were in Brittany. Somewhat like bankers and financiers of today, these people controlled the workings of the economy, and amassed unfathomable wealth. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, Why are today's French so hell-bent on defending their civil liberties? He called himself the "Sun King" because he gave life and warmth to all he touched. Evocative stairways lead to elegant, if small rooms. Photo: Me taking a research break along the Seine, by thetravelphile.com. Throughout Europe, when you said "the king," you were referring to the French king — Louis XIV. European Travel Skills Germany & Austria It was the center of the palace…and the center of France. Paris Travel Guide by Rick Steves For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, see our FAQ . Versailles was designed to be the personal temple of this god on earth, decorated with statues and symbols of Apollo, of the sun, and of Louis himself. Here, in the Peace Room, peace is granted to Germany, Holland, and Spain as cupids play with discarded weapons and swords are pounded into violins. It's like a picture book of the entire Christian story, told through its art. Versailles may be most travelers' first choice for its sheer historic importance, but Vaux-le-Vicomte is just flat-out ravishing, offering visitors a harmony of architecture, interior decor, and garden design that you won't find anywhere else. And with the setting summer sun the grounds are a delight. France was in vogue. Set in a huge forest, with magnificent gardens, Vaux-le-Vicomte is an absolute joy to tour. RICK STEVES ’ EUROPE: French Alps And Lyon Stream now or tune in Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 at 4 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. on KPBS TV Thursday, November 5, 2020 We'll see what 17th-century financiers did with their mega-riches and then live pretty well ourselves, settling into our own château. And we're having some classics for our main course. His second wife, Empress Marie-Louise, provided what he called "a royal womb.". And Louis XIV, he had a thousand. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. Posted on May 21, 2020 by Rick Steves Daily Dose of Europe: Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral The crisis of this year has overshadowed one from last year: the shocking fire at France’s top church, Notre-Dame Cathedral. Spain In this, the cutting edge of sculpted French formal gardens, the landscaper integrated ponds, shrubbery, and trees in a style that would be copied in palaces all over Europe. While the faithful back then may have been illiterate, understanding the rich symbolism in each of these windows inspired them to live their dark and dreary medieval lives with hope. He ruled for about 70 year and he was the perfect embodiment of the absolute monarch. Though getting to Vaux-le-Vicomte requires more effort, it's an absolute joy to tour. And the royal first course arrives. Avoid Sundays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays (in that order), when the place is jammed with a slow shuffle of tourists from open to close. Steve: This is why you're traveling. This ultimate royal palace is all about this man: the ultimate divine monarch, Louis XIV. We have a m... illion travel buddies enjoying us on YouTube. Ninety-nine out of 100 of your dinners, you'll forget; you won't forget this one. Rick Steves Pocket Paris works best for people taking a short trip, or perhaps a return trip, to Paris. To turn his Corsican blood blue, he married a Habsburg. Admire the elegance and symmetry of the ensemble. And today, many of those that survive make ends meet by renting rooms. My seafood is from Brittany, I think. And there's no real cuisine unique to this area, so they draw from all regions in France. Side-tripping from Paris into the Ile de France, we indulge in the world of royal and aristocratic extravagance in the pre-Revolutionary playground of France's elite. But we'll cover the châteaux of the Loire in another episode. The "domesticated" aristocracy lived a life of almost enforced idleness. Rick produces a best-selling guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and organizes small-group tours that take over 30,000 travelers to Europe annually. The Palace of Versailles was the residence of the king and the seat of France's government for a hundred years. Posted on October 20, 2020 October 20, 2020 by Rick Steves Daily Dose of Europe: Monet’s “Water Lilies” Monet’s “Water Lilies” float serenely in two pond-shaped rooms in a Paris museum. I'm having the terrine of duck foie gras, and Steve's having the blue lobster. A tent-like room is dedicated to Napoleon at war, with his small but iconic battle coat and hat, field-cot, and first-class camp gear. A sight, which, for centuries, heartened the weary spirits of approaching pilgrims. Consider seeing the Gardens during mid-morning and the Château in the afternoon, when crowds die down. To this day, visitors come to Chartres to see its cathedral, and they find that the city itself is a delight. And, when those kings and nobles wanted to get out of town for some hunting or perhaps an intimate rendezvous, they built equally lavish palaces in the countryside. It all came together when he hired France's top architect, landscaper, and decorator, a trio known as the "brotherhood of genius." The decor of this stately library dates from the 19th century. The Venus Room is a reminder that love ruled at Versailles. Most of these luxurious getaways began small — as hunting lodges — and then grew. Rick: A lot of Americans are a little nervous about the meat being rare when you order in a nice restaurant in Paris. While Vaux-le-Vicomte and Versailles are French-designed, Fontainebleau was built a century earlier by an Italian hired by François I, inspired by his travels through Renaissance Italy. In the late 1600s, Louis XIV — shown here with his capable hand literally on the rudder of state — was creating the first modern, centralized government. The nave is vast — over 400 feet long, and the widest in France. And we're starting with Europe's grandest palace. It's rushed so quickly here. Under gilded candelabra and amid busts of Roman emperors, servants would glide by with silver trays of hors d'oeuvres. As if to encourage the fun, Venus sends down a canopy of garlands to ensnare mortals in delicious amour. Rick: I like that when you're in a French restaurant, everybody is talking and having a convivial time, but there's a sort of a quietness. The architecture is Gothic — which was all the rage in the 1200s. This is the pre-Revolutionary playground of France's rich and powerful. It's duck for me, and for Steve, the lamb, each served with delicate French sauces. Waiter: For you, sir? Louis invited the nobility to Versailles in order to control or "domesticate" them. The gardens stretch far beyond the palace, but their main axis runs straight through its center. Rick: It's just magic. Rooms are decorated in the Empire style of the Napoleonic age. The opulent ballroom, which hosted many royal parties, is Baroque. It’s a world of travel fun with 1,800 Rick Steves videos in handy playlists. This time, we're sticking closer to Paris. We'll also marvel at the glass and statuary of Chartres Cathedral…and dine like kings. Located in a huge forest, with magnificent gardens and no urban sprawl in sight, Vaux-le-Vicomte gives me more than a twinge of palace envy. Here's the info: A couple of weeks ago we tried something for the first time – live streaming a full day of free travel classes to our friends on Facebook. When you understand the themes of the palace's many rooms, a stroll through Versailles is a stroll through French history. Versailles offers three blockbuster sights. Paris glitters with Old Regime elegance — royal parks, gilded bridges, noble mansions, and, of course, the biggest palace in all of Europe: the Louvre. As you stroll, you can enjoy the artistic shift in styles. He spent about half of France's entire annual GNP to turn his dad's hunting lodge into a palace suitable for Europe's king of kings. While the fountains ran for Louis whenever he liked, they run for tourists only on weekends. Louis XIII was born here, Louis XV was married here, and after the anti-monarchy chaos of the French Revolution, Napoleon reigned as emperor right here. Trianon/Domaine), designed for frolicking blue bloods and featuring several small palaces and Marie's Hamlet — perfect for getting away from the mobs at the Château. Here you walk through dozens of lavish, chandeliered rooms once inhabited by Louis XIV and his successors. And finally there's the more sober post-Revolutionary Neoclassical. One more way that Louis proved he was a divine-right ruler was by controlling nature…like a god. Whether or not you are a fan of Rick Steves, he now has a series of videos on Youtube for travel to various locations as well as one on packing lights. The Hall of Mirrors was the highlight of the palace. The style is pure Baroque, which lends itself to propaganda art — a riot of exuberant figures. see our FAQ. Mirrors were a great luxury at the time, and this long hall was astounding. Get inspired with Rick Steves’ recommended places to go and things to do, with tips, photos, videos, and travel information on Paris. This is where the queen tended her perfumed sheep and her manicured gardens…until that day the Revolution arrived, and her hungry peasantry stormed the palace, marched her and the king back into Paris, and eventually cut off their heads. There is stately Renaissance, such as this fine hall, which dates from 1528. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Paris' booming elite class made this area Europe's château heartland. European Cruising 101 Highlights of Paris: Eiffel and Monet to Crème Brulée, ©2020 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | The classical themes throughout the palace underlined the divine right of France's kings and queens to rule without limit. The Revolution rocked the realities of châteaux both big and small. Stained glass was used to help teach Bible stories to the illiterate medieval masses. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe. It's sort of earthy — it takes you to the farm, kind of. Easy-to-Use Size: Each map folds down to a handy 8½" x 4". The earlier church burned in 1194. Then, angels gently whisk her upward, so she can sit on the throne with Jesus in paradise, where she's flanked by angels and crowned Queen of Heaven. At the end of his long reign, Louis, having exhausted France with his many wars, gave this advice to his great-grandson, the next Louis: "Be a peaceful king.". Scotland No one had ever seen anything like it. Europe for Foodies Louis, in his chariot as he starts his daily journey across the sky. Daily Dose of Europe: Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle Notre-Dame has been on everyone’s mind over the last year. Your foie gras is probably from the Dordogne. In France, the region around its capital of Paris is called the Ile de France. Their favored playground: The Loire Valley, which dazzles visitors with châteaux like the grandiose Chambord, the dreamy Azay-le-Rideau, and the graceful Chenonceau. He was symbolized by Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. Iceland This time we're living royal in France…script please. It provided an ideal refuge — away from the sniping politics, strict etiquette, and 24/7 scrutiny of official court life. A newer annex offers four contemporary rooms (sleeping up to three each), with lofts, terraces, and views of the castle. I’m kicking off a busy stretch researching and updating my Rick Steves Paris guidebook with my co-author (and my guru for all things France) Steve Smith.. Each day, Steve and I “divide and conquer” — splitting up a list of places to visit and things to check for our guidebook. The palace is richly decorated in royal and imperial symbolism, and its walls are hung with exquisite tapestries. Once mighty, now domesticated, dukes and barons actually competed to see who would hold the candle while Louis slipped into his royal jammies. He who comes home with the most experiences, like this, wins. It captures the spirit of the 13th century — the so called "Age of Faith" — like no other church. The palace hosted nobles — thousands of nobles, each with an entourage. One of the most fascinating is Fontainebleau. Rick: France's ruling elite became dangerously out of touch and detached from the grinding reality of its people's daily lives. My buddy Rick Steves offers up some of his informative PBS shows on YouTube, and one of them is his 24-minute episode “Paris: Regal and Intimate.” As Rick writes “In Paris, amidst all of its grandeur, the little joys of life are still embraced. Perhaps it has something to do with their heritage of overcoming abuse of power to earn their freedom. The delicate Grand Trianon was the king's private residence far from the main palace. Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel. Here Louis is shown with his entire royal family — all depicted as gods on earth — ordained to rule without question. Compared to Versailles, it's also more intimate, better furnished, and comes with a fraction of the crowds. Dozens of Chartres' most historic buildings are colorfully illuminated at night (May–Sept), adding to the town's after-hours appeal. But with its statues glowing in the setting sun — and with hotels and restaurants much less expensive than those in the capital — Chartres also makes a worthwhile overnight stop. It's a long series of lavish rooms, each with its own theme, and with every inch sumptuously decorated. Later, French royals retreated still farther from the main château and the realities of French political life, ignoring rising revolutionary sentiments that were turning their society into a tinderbox. The hallway is lined with busts and portraits of the sprawling imperial family Napoleon created — relatives he put on various thrones all across his empire. Louis bestows an olive branch on Europe as his queen cradles their baby twin daughters. Whatever the case, when you travel here today, it's clear: the powerful of France's past have left today's visitors with some amazing and thought-provoking sights. But if you follow my tips, a trip here during even the busiest times is manageable: Ideally, buy your ticket or pass before arriving at Versailles. Ah! Italy Traveling New Hampshire Rick Steves style, we’d miss out on seeing the tower of flame that rose to our fifth story apartment window in Rome when a certain organization set a luxury car on fire. Rick: You know, Steve, foie gras, to me, when you're in France, you gotta have some foie gras. Just What You Need: Streetwise City Maps zoom in on what matters in the heart of each city: clearly marked streets, sights and public transportation routes.There is a handy street index as well. The light pouring through these windows was mystical, and encouraged meditation and prayer. Here we see not the extravagance of rich elites, but the extravagance of medieval piety. So Louis, needing an escape from his escape, built this smaller palace buried deep in his vast back yard. Around the year 1700, Versailles was the cultural heartbeat of Europe, and French culture was at its zenith. When it comes to showing the sweep of French history, this château is unrivaled among French palaces. Rick Steves Paris 2017 - Ebook written by Rick Steves, Steve Smith, Gene Openshaw. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. Terms of Service | Privacy, Versailles, France: Palace Gardens and Little Hamlet, Versailles, France: Ultimate Royal Palace. Ireland Visiting Versailles can seem daunting because of its size and hordes of visitors. Like our other Pocket guides, Pocket Paris is smaller than the complete guidebook and in full color (but still offers our best sightseeing advice and a handful of self-guided city … These lavish grounds — elaborately planned, pruned, and ornamented — showed everyone that their king was in total command. Thanks for joining us! 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