Fairy Tales [redefined]

There is a photo contest that IES conducts at the end of every year, and I. am. going. to. win.  You take a poster that says ______ [redefined] and you fill in the blank and take a picture in front of something that helps explain whatever it is you put in the blank.  I put the words "fairy tales" in the blank and took pictures in front of the châteaux Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte when I visited this past weekend with CIJP.  Here is the photo I submitted:

Winner.

In front of the château Vaux-le-Vicomte which inspired Versailles.  

Louis XIV took such a liking to this château when he visited that he stole the gardener (the famous Le Nôtre) and the architect, had the owner (Nicolas Fouquet) imprisoned for life, and built Versailles.  Ta-da! The origins of Versailles!

The prize is $200 for the contest, but I've already been told by IES that they want to use the photo for catalogues and other publicity.  Exciting!

I took several other pictures that day, but only a few of them are without the sign haha!

Fontainebleau is also full of history that spans the ages--it was the vacation home (essentially) for all of the kings of France and each added his own little (or big) something.  We saw a room where Marie Antoinette slept (and the fabrics were clearly picked by her!) and the room where Napoleon I abdicated (I made sure to mention seeing this in my history exam on Tuesday).

Both of these château were beautiful and historically rich, but I must say, I understand why Louis XIV loved Vaux-le-Vicomte so much.  Also, turns out that my host father is related to a marquis who stayed in that château! I don't think I saw his room though because my ticket was only for the abbreviated tour.  I did get to see the immense kitchens though! They had every cooking apparatus one could imagine, and even some that you can't!

I leave you now to enjoy the pictures from that day:

Fontainebleau

Gallerie de Fontainebleau

Châteaux always have beautiful ceilings.

Diane de Poitiers' gallerie, later turned into a library by Napoleon.

Marie Antoinette's room.  I know, right?

Napoleon's receiving room, complete with throne.

Fontainebleau chapel

In front of the famous stairs "du fer à cheval".

Fontainebleau gardens

From the back you can really tell that Fontainebleau is 

a melange of different eras and architectural styles.

Vaux-le-Vicomte

Gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte

The château from the gardens.

Truly redefining fairy tales.