France is rich in elegant royal castles, but they are all dimmer than Versailles.

This greatest of the Baroque palaces served as the residence of French kings from 1682 until the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. Today, the palace is open to both rich and poor, who get here by a convenient train from central Paris in one hour.

Start with a walk through the magnificent gardens of Versailles, and then take a look at the rest of the pink marble palace – the Great Trianon.

When you are ready, take the inevitably long but time-consuming queue for the most famous charm of the palace – the Mirror Gallery. This 73-meter hall is decorated with 17 huge mirrors on one side, 17 equally impressive windows on the other, which offer a magnificent view of the gardens, and luxurious frescoes on the ceiling, which depict the chronology of the achievements of the royal family.