The Château de Versailles was constructed during the reign of King Louis XIV from his father's hunting grounds. According to a guidebook, Louis XIV was motivated to build the grandest château in Europe after seeing another palace that humbled his own residence. Louis XIV threw the palace owner in jail and promptly started building something more grandiose. He recruited the most talented architects, painters, and sculptors in Europe to complete his project. The result is the most spectacular château in France.

This is a must see. The level of decadence is mesmerizing and revolting at the same time. Wes found himself repeatedly saying, "Why would anyone need this much?"

See the main building which includes the State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, and Queen's Suite. Also walk through the gardens. If you have the time and energy, visit the Queen's Hamlet on the northeast side of the grounds, about 2km away from the main building. Skip the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, both of which have additional entry fees but pale in comparison to the main building.

Getting to the Château de Versailles:

• Take the C5 train from any station along the south bank of the Seine River in Paris to Versailles-Rive Gauche Station. Trains run frequently.
• The château is a short walk from Versailles-Rive Gauche Station.
• The ticket counter is difficult to find. It's at Entrance A which is off to the right from the equestrian statue of Louis XIV in the main court yard when you are facing the château.