I can't answer for Dan, but I was interested to note that he wasn't crazy about Versailles. Until his message, I thought my husband and I were the only two people in the world who didn't love it. We spent the morning in Chartres (which we loved) and drove to Versailles in the afternoon. We wish now we had spent more time in Chartres. There's nothing wrong with Versailles, I just think it has to do with our particular interests. Your admission fee at Versailles only allows you to see a small part of the castle. To see more you must choose one of the guided tours, and we just don't enjoy guided tours in the least, so we didn't want to pay for one. We are very interested in artwork, and while there is some interesting art, it is, for the most part, not as interesting as the art from the period which is now at the Louvre. We found it interesting to walk around the grounds for a while, but that's not the type of thing we enjoy for any great length of time. The one reason we are still glad we went is for the Hall of Mirrors. My husband is an historian and he loved being in the place where so much history was made. To be fair, I've never met anyone else who didn't love Versailles, so chances are that you'll fall into the category of people who do!

Daniel: <BR> <BR>You've created such a dilemma! I'll only be in Paris a short time and originally, had thought Versaille was on my "must see" list. Now that I've read thru this topic, I'm re-evaluating that position. So much to see - so little time!!! <BR>

Hi Daniel, <BR> Thank you for your input about your trip. My friend and I are going to Paris in April and we have been searching everywhere for some information that I think you can give us! We read about the museum pass that you wrote about, and although it does sound like a good deal, we would like to get an idea of exactly which museums are included in the pass. We were just afraid it would not be worth our money if it included museums and monuments that we were not planning on seeing. Could you give us as much of a list as possible? Any information would be appreciated! Thank you!

Arc de Triomphe <BR>Napoleon's Tomb <BR>Musee Art Moderne <BR>Pompidou Centre <BR>Balzac's house <BR>Conciergerie <BR>Delacroix last home & studio <BR>Egouts de Paris (sewers) <BR>Victor Hugo's house <BR>Louvre <BR>Musee Cluny (lady & unicorn tapestries) <BR>Notre Dame <BR>l'Orangerie (Monet waterlillies) <BR>Musee d'Orsay (the best) <BR>Pantheon <BR>Musee Picasso <BR>Musee Rodin <BR>St. Chapelle <BR>Chateau de Chantilly <BR>Fontainebleau <BR>Versailles <BR>Straight off the brochure that comes with the pass. Not even the whole list. If you go to about 4 places, it's paid for.

As for "must sees" and Versailles. I did see it on my first trip more because I was with others who just had to go there. Personally, it was ok, but would not have been high on my list. I won't tell you how many other trips I made to Paris before finally seeing the Louvre. And I was somewhat disappointed when I did go and have never returned. There are just other musuems that I prefer. Probably the thing I enjoy most about Paris which some hint at and few seem to talk about is doing basically nothing more than just sitting outside at a cafe, relaxing, and having something to eat or drink and just absorbing the atmosphere and watching the people go by. Daniel talked about this which was something of a surprise to me especially for someone on his first visit. <BR> <BR>I wouldn't recommend running around crazy, constantly worrying, if you have or will see all the "must sees". Do see whatever it is you feel you must see, but also try to just relax and enjoy the essence of Paris, as Daniel pointed out. Grab a snack and sit in one of the parks. Watch the old men playing boule. Watch the small and sometimes not so small children sailing their toy sailboats. There is so much in Paris and it just can't be done in a one week or two week trip. Sure you can see a lot, but there is always something else to see. Resign to yourself that it will take many, many trips which really isn't such a bad idea.

OK GUYS: <BR> <BR>Let me establish my position on why I did not fully enjoy Versailles. <BR> <BR>1) All of the fountains were empty and turned off. Those must be really beautiful when they are on. The sculpture was amazing in them. <BR> <BR>2) Only a small portion of the chateau can be seen on your own. The rest of it you have to be in a tour group (paying additional money). I hate tour groups and I hate that commercialism limits what we see. I do undertand conservatory reasons though. <BR> <BR>3) More tour groups than I have ever seen in my life. And we got there when it opend, too. <BR> <BR>4) I don't appreciate that time period's rich lavishness of gold and stylized decor. Too much. Puke. <BR> <BR>5) I expected the town to be more rural, but it wasn't. If you are like me, though, DO check out the hamlet behind the petit trianon. It is marvelously charming. <BR> <BR>OK? <BR> <BR>daniel

Well, I just had to chime in too... <BR> <BR>In my never to be humble opinion, Hall of Mirrors and the palace chapel were my favorite parts of Versailles. I agree that I can't say Versailles was my favorite part of our trip, however, the Hall of Mirrors was one of the highlights for me because I had always wanted to see it. <BR> <BR>We leave Sunday with the kids and will definitely take them there. To me, it's a must see just for the history sake, if nothing else. We just won't spend all day there. <BR> <BR>And Daniel, as for your point #4 above, I cannot agree!! This is one of those times when you see just how different people's tastes are and how we have to agree, to disagree. I happen to love that gaudy, gold glitz!! As a matter of fact, I have two large oil paintings hanging in my living room right now(reproductions of famous works) with big huge carved, gold frames on them and a couple of Louis XV reproduction cabinets and bombe chests. I absolutely love them....and you would positively hate them !! <BR> <BR>To each his own. <BR> <BR>Have to agree about Montmartre. That was one of our favorite areas to walk around behind the Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur. On rue des Abbesses we found a little bakery with "to die for" chocolate mousse. I plan on going back and having more very soon! <BR> <BR>Have a great day. <BR>

Actually, Daniel, I like your description of the town of Versailles as "rural" (even though you wish it had been more that way). It always amazes me how a town 20 km from Paris can be so provincial and uptight !

Vincent: <BR> <BR>Actually, it's funny that you mentioned the town of Versailles as being uptight--I did find the atmosphere there less open and friendly. And it definitely is NOT rural. The only rural part I saw was the hamlet that I so dearly love. But I wish that it had been more so. Is Chartres in a rural, provincial area? <BR> <BR>Daniel

I agree with some of your opinions regarding Versailles. We drove into the city at the end of a very long day. Lots of traffic!! Searched out the tourist info spot and were treated unbelievably rudely. She said the entire city was sold out! (We think she just wanted to go home at 5:00) Back in the car with no place to stay, we watched all the tour busses leaving Versailles. It didn't look like something we would want to return to! Our stressful day ended wonderfully in a Chateaux recommended by a hotel owner who was booked. From there we took the train into Paris each day. It was great! <BR>