Independence Day 2015 was definitely one for the books. While my friends and family back home were enjoying hamburgers and fireworks, I was enjoying one of the most beautiful places France has to offer. Although I was told beforehand to prepare myself for the overwhelming beauty and ornateness of Versailles, I was still left speechless even just seeing the front entrance.
The audio tour and process of visiting the chateau reminded me of visiting the mansions of Newport, Rhode Island. However, this particular structure was that on steroids. No detail was left untouched and no decoration was too lavish. Experiencing places like this can really make you wonder about the people behind it all. What’s equally interesting is the amount of people who come from all over the world to visit this baroque symbol of wealth and extravagance.
I was mostly excited to see the gardens because of its importance to urban planning. Not only was this type of garden revolutionary for its time, but we can still see some of the same elements in cities today. I found the correlation to Kevin Lynch’s five elements of an environment particularly interesting. Paths, edges, nodes, and landmarks are all prevalent within the garden. Entering the grounds of Versailles is like entering a mini city.