This is a detail of the golden inner gate of the palace. The photo was taken at night, after the Water Nights. As is often the case in Europe, it depicts the scallop, symbol of the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.-------------------------------
Cette photo a été prise de nuit, après les Eaux Nocturnes. La coquille Saint-Jacques, symbole des pèlerins de Saint Jacques de Compostelle, y est moult fois représentée.
I am now away again, this time in Quimper. VDP continues automatically again. See you soon.
You're just hopping all over the world, my friend. But so long as you leave us beautiful photos like this to look at...
ReplyDeleteNicely done. I don't understand the historical reference, but I'm a bit ignorant of many things French or European I'm ashamed to say...
Have fun!
beautiful....Barb
ReplyDeleteJ'aime bien le fait que l'on voit le chateau derriere la grille. Une belle photo nocturne!
ReplyDeleteTres bon retour du Quebec!
Very royal, grand photo!
ReplyDeleteVery nice and very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow!
ReplyDeleteon dirait de l'or, superbe
ReplyDeleteThis is an intersting image, did they offer accomodation for the pilgrims there?
ReplyDeleteI have always been fascinated by Santiago de Compostela and the Way of St James, probably because my real name is the Italian version of it.
Wonderful golden art stuff!
ReplyDeleteI also loved the shadows and lights in this picture!
Léia
@ VP: I have no idea if they did, but I very much doubt it. To the best of my knowledge, the only accomodation available at Versailles was for the courtiers (is that what you call the royal followers?) who lived in small apartments (the brick parts outside the inner courtyard if you remember seeing that, visible here through the gate). I'm not sure about Italy, but the shell is found in many places in France, whether they were on the French St James'way or not.
ReplyDeleteNow I wonder: did your ancestors do the pilgrimage? Have you done it? Or at least been to Santiago?
@ Jacob: if you have a minute to spare, click on the links. The pilgrimage is still very much alive today, many people walk part of or the whole way to Santiago on what VP has appropriately named Saint James' way (in French, les chemins de Compostelle: the paths to Compostela). These ancient roads, mostly hiking paths nowadays, are intact and have been used for centuries. The scallop is one of the symbols, it is found in many places, when you're next in France, look for it in churches and castles!
ReplyDelete"Moult" ?
ReplyDeleteComment que tu causes toi depuis que tu es au Québec, tu jactes le vieux langage françois.
J'espère que tu n'es pas partie faire une année Erasmus là bas d'ailleurs, ça commence à durer...
Des coquilles dorées (bravo pour l'éclairage et le cadrage > des boîtes des petites boîtes, extérieur, intérieur) et des immeubles parallélépipédiques, c'est ça Versailles, une ville qui ne renie pas son passé et qui bouge toutefois...
Learn something interesting here everyday.
ReplyDeleteThe detail is gorgeous and the night lighting makes it even more so! Beautiful photo!
ReplyDeleteHello and good-bye again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for leaving us many beautiful photos to look at. MB
Hope you are having a great time in Quimper! Have a gallette or two for me.
ReplyDeleteNow that is gorgeous! I'm glad you pointed out the scallop. I've enjoyed seeing them around Paris. It's an interesting thing to have a theme like that, where we can see the evidence in so many places.
ReplyDeleteThe gold stands out at night! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAlors il est certain que les pèlerins reviendront toujours avec la coquille St Jacques pour ornement. Je préfère la déguster et cela fait longtemps je n'ai pas manger de la coquille St Jacques; ta photo très jolie comme la mer.
ReplyDelete