Versailles boasts three different train stations, which makes it easy to get to Paris, the southern suburbs of the capital and Paris' greater West. This here is inside the left bank station, people buying their train tickets at the automatic dispensers.
Saturday at the flower market: a fireman engaged in conversation with flower vendors. Firemen in France also act as ambulance for certain accidents and they do a fantastic job.
Yesterday at the flower market. I have a substitute camera until I get the real thing!
Who wants to play hide and seek in the palace grounds?
There are hundreds of statues in the palace gardens. I liked the way this lady looks in the direction of the man. I'm sorry, I have no idea who they represent.
I wonder what happened here! Is it modern art?
These are pictures I took last winter. I'm still not too happy walking lots, thankfully I have quite a few older photos up my sleeve! Look at all these parisian intruders in postcard paradise!
So... after the outside, here's the inside !
After yesterday's photo, here's the other side.
Neo-classical Saint-Symphorien church stands in the Montreuil part of town. It was built by architect Louis-François Trouard from 1764 to 1770, at the time, Montreuil was a suburb of Versailles.
Do you remember the orangerie? If not, you can have a peek by clicking here. In that post, I was telling you that the small lake in the background was the "Swiss Water". Here's a closer, and lower view of it. It was dug by a Swiss guards regiment between 1679 and 1682, hence its name. 
No permanent damage to the knee, time will heal it. The camera is another story. It was only a small Canon Ixus and it's almost cheaper to buy another one. I'll see to it when I can walk better. In the meantime, more photos taken in May. One of the busiest shopping streets in Versailles is this one, with what I think are lovely classical façades.
Beautiful roses everywhere, including on this pretty house Avenue de Paris! Thank you all for your kind comments. Doctor's appointment today for the knee and we'll see about the camera...
So, I'm back from Burgundy where I broke my camera and almost broke my knee. So until I get both fixed, I shall have to rely on older photographs. The French national heroine and saint Joan of Arc, a peasant girl who played an important military and political role during the Hundred Years War in the 15th century after having heard divine voices, stands inside Saint-Louis cathedral. I have always found her story fascinating. For those who are interested, more information this way. Maybe some of you have seen Victor Fleming's movie with Ingrid Bergman?
A florist in Saint-Louis neighbourhood brought a smile to the nun's face!
This lovely statue and fountain stands in the King's Vegetable Garden as a tribute to A. Hardy, former director of the National School of Landscaping, which is situated next to the garden. As from today until Monday, VDP will be on automatic mode as I will be in Burgundy. Have a great weekend!
A portion of the palace and its royal chapel on the right silhouetted against the setting sun.
During Molière month, many streets in Versailles are decorated. This here is the rue du Général Leclerc, ending in an 18th century building which is now a French Army venue on rue Royale.
One of the rare opportunities I will have to enjoy 2009 Molière month was last Saturday. I watched some pretty good and funny commedia dell'arte or improvisation acting by the Carlo Boso amateurs, just in front of Saint-Louis cathedral. Among the audience on the cathedral's steps were many young scouts, a favourite activity for youngsters in Versailles.
Again, an award. A golden one! Thank you, merci beaucoup Jacob at the wonderful Creative Confections that I have just discovered. I will not follow the rules though because there are far too many blogs that I enjoy every day so that choosing 8 of them to pass this on would be... well... too difficult.
June is Molière month in Versailles. A month of plays, concerts, exhibitions and conferences celebrating the great Jean-Baptiste Pocquelin, better known as Molière (1622 - 1673) , one of the world's best classic playwrights, whose plays were favoured at Louis the 14th's court. More about the fascinating Molière this way. Several events are held every day in June at over 40 venues, some are free, some aren't, there's street theatre, there are professional actors but also amateurs and acting students. It's usually fun but this year I won't have many opportunities to check out all the wonderful talents... Info about Molière month is here, albeit in French.
In February, I showed you the newsagent and sort of promised I would show you what the booths looks like from the outside...
All the seasonal produce -mostly organic- of the King' Vegetable garden are on sale in this quaint little shop where you can also find a good selection of gardening books. Best time to go? Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. When I took this photo, all that was left was some rhubarb (that ended up in my kitchen!), some lettuce and parsley.
Neptune basin in the palace grounds, with a view towards the city.
On Monday, I was telling you about the Versailles period costume ball. Here are a few more pictures I hope you will enjoy in... regal fashion!
Runner up to yesterday's theme day photo for feet were these. I caught them at the town hall which I showed you earlier on. This mosaic on the floor of the entrance shows the Versailles coat of arms: a shield with three gold fleurs de lis on a blue field in the base and a double-headed rooster in natural colours on a white field in the chief. The shield is crowned with a mural crown composed of alternating towers and fleurs de lis. It is commonly believed to have been adopted in 1789 at the beginning of the French Revolution. The double-headed rooster issuant symbolizes the burgeoning freedom. Fleurs-de-lis, symbol of the French monarchy, were logically added since Louis the 16th was still King of France when the arms were created. Blue and white were the colours of the National Guards in Versailles.
Yesterday evening, at 8:30 pm, in front of the palace gates. No, we don't dress like that anymore! A dance ball in period costumes was being organised and gave me the opportunity to go photograph some feet, for the Daily City Photo Blog Theme Day. More information about the ball event can be found in English here. Happy Theme Day!
