• Handout Exhibition Brochure cover Madame de Maintenon
    Museum exhibitions,  Versailles

    The Extraordinary Madame de Maintenon at Versailles

    Until July 21, Versailles currently has two exhibitions about Queens of France. The one, Madame de Maintenon, was never declared queen; the other Marie Leszczynska, reigned for 42 years and is little known.  The anonymous illustrator of "Le Camp de Compiègne" places Madame de Maintenon sitting in the center of the illustration. As the center of attention, viewed by the nobles and soldiers, she is treated as a queen. Madame de Maintenon was the secret wife of Louis XIV. The announcement of her official marriage to Louis XIV is still only a whisper at court. This scene is part of the exhibition "Madame de Maintenon, In the Corridors of Power".

  • Tree-lined boulevard leading the Palace of Versailles
    Let's Explore,  Versailles

    Visiting Versailles – Forget Tuesday!

    When asked, a Versailles guard standing at the front gate, responded, "Tuesday is the worst day; all the museums in Paris are closed. The tourists all come to Versailles instead."While exiting Versailles after a 15-minute visit, I asked the guard a question, "When is the best day to visit Versailles to avoid the crowds?". I had thought for sure Wednesday would be the worst day since many school children are off half the day.