Pauses in the Palace

Beyond the crowded bustle of the palace and halls, Versailles has a thousand hidden corners. The grandeur of the place is remarkable, but the little places where light and shadow fall over marble, where the pastel frescoes are a little faded, or the morning sun glints over the chandelier are more beautiful still. I love spending moments by the fountains in the gardens, or in the quiet halls of the Grand or Petit Trianon. Rest by the water or against the cool columns of the Temple de l’Amour. Look up at the ceilings and out of the windows. Arrive early in the morning and spend the whole day lingering where no one else takes the time to pause—in Versailles, in your own home, anywhere.