We took another private tour down to Foutainebleu which is about an hour away. The countryside was so beautiful!! Green rolling hills, ruins, peaceful towns. I could explore here forever. We also munched on a few bags of the most amazing pastries.
I picked to see Fountainbleu since it is probably the most historic of the royal palaces dating back to Francois I in the 1500's. This was also Napoleons choice of residence, whom Ive been reading about a ton lately. Leonardo da Vinci spent his last few years of his life painting here.
I thought that was a pretty cool crib for a baby
Napoleon dictating something...
Bust of Josephine- Napoleans great love. My mom and I love her after reading all the Josephine B. books. She had the most incredible and tragic life.
Kings bedroom
listening to our audio tour guides, my favorite thing ever!
Chads favorite statue apparantly
The great staircase where Napoleon gave his last farewell speech before being exiled to Elba.
I do regret that we didn't stay longer to explore the grounds.
This section of the estate was taken down by Napoleon so his troops could easily enter. The town of Fountainebleu was so quaint and charming.
Now onto the beautiful private residence of Vaux le Vicomte. This is the famous chateau that Versaille was modeled after. Nicolas Fouquet, King Louis XIV finance minister, built this masterpiece in 5 years with the top architect and landscaper of the times. King Louis came to his house warming party, took one look and decided that he deserved this, not him. He had Fouquet arrested under fabricated charges only a few months after he moved into his dream home. He died 19 years later in prison. Meanwhile the King took all of his furnishings and his building team over to Versaille to make himself a little palace.
Now the Vogue family owns the chateau and keeps it open to the public. You can go in the evening where they do fireworks and light the whole estate with candles. Next time!!
The Muses's room painted by Le Brun
The Kings bedchamber--according to customs, the house of a powerful lord had to include a state apartment that could be offered to the king. Too bad King Louis never stayed here.
you can rent costumes like these little kids and walk around like you own the joint.
This is the massive room of marble that is underneath the large dome. Basically his entry way. Fouquet was arrested before he ever saw the dome finished.
Ever see Man in the Iron Mask with Leonardo Dicaprio? Well this is where it was filmed. and here his still is...locked up forever! ;)
The first "official" dining room. People used to bring in a table whenever they were hungry. This was the first time a whole room was made just for dining.
Pictures don't describe how massive this backyard was.
Man made river
We bought Brenna's princess unicorn and Jace and Chad's sword letter openers here. Reed and Chad having a bit too much fun!
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