Paris & Versailles

If, like us you decide to stay out at the Disneyland Paris Resort, it is worth remembering that one of Europe's most beautiful cities is only a 45 minute train ride away. On both our trips to Disneyland Paris we have taken the opportunity to spend a day in Paris. We would not suggest that one day is long enough to explore this lovely city but at least you can view some of its more famous landmarks.

Getting to the city is very easy. The RER train station (Marne-la-Vallee) is located right at the entrance to the Theme Park. We purchased our day returns and discovered that they entitled us to unlimited travel for the whole day within an area which included Versailles. We decided to include a trip to the Royal Palace of Louis XIV after a trip down the Seine on a Bateau Mouche.

We took the train to Les Halles - a large railway station and Metro (underground railway) interchange near the Seine. The cathedral of Notre Dame and The Louvre are also close by (though in opposite directions!!) The exit leads you into a large shopping mall. From here it was only a short walk to Pont Neuf where we boarded a bateau mouche for a glorious 1 hour guided trip down the River Seine as far as the Eiffle Tower.

A bateau mouche cruises past Notre Dame

After a quick lunch back at Les Halles we boarded a train to Versailles. (By the way a word of advice if you want to stock up on food in Paris. The only department store which has a food outlet is "Samaritaine" beside Pont Nuef. On our first trip it took us ages to find this out but we eventually were able to re-stock with large bottles of water etc. On our second trip we headed straight for "Samaritaine" to discover that the food hall was closed for refurbishment. No one could tell us when it would re-open or where else to find a supermarket in central Paris)

The Chateau of Versailles

The Palace of Loius XIV is only a short walk from the RER train station and certainly worth visiting. A modest entrance fee (children and students are admitted free) permits you to explore both the palace and the gardens. We only had time for a whistle stop tour but it was long enough to appreciate the splendour of the royal apartments.

The Galerie de Glaces	Room after room containing magnificent portraits, crystal chandeliers, furnishings and ornate ceilings delight the visitor. The most famous of all the rooms is the 73m (270 ft) long Galerie de Glaces. Here one entire wall is arrayed with mirror after mirror facing arched windows which look out onto the formal gardens.

Outside a little motorised train tours the grounds (additional charge) but if you have the time and stamina you can explore the gardens on foot.

We spent 2-3 hours at Versailles before heading back to Les Halles to catch the RER home to Marne-la-Vallee in time for dinner.

The Bassin d'Apollon with the Grand Canal in the distance