Louis XIV

Gardens at Versailles October 2009

Versailles La Cour from wikipedi:

A picture of Marie Mancini from wikipedia:

An engraving of Vaux-le-Vicomte,

an inspiration for the Chateau of Versailles

Louis XIV holds a special place in history and also for me,

a favourite person to enjoy reading about. His time on the

throne spanned many years and he certainly is remembered

today for the wonderful achievement of the Chateau of Versailles and

the magnificent gardens which hark back to a more structured time in

society. A time of magnificence and grandeur, respect and admiration for

the young king, who became king at such an early age, when his father Louis XIII passed away and

Louis XIV was still at a young and at an impressionable age.

He was brought up by his mother, Anne of Austria, and Cardinal Mazarin,

who in turn brought his three nieces to the court of Versailles, where at

one stage, Louis XIV wished to marry Marie Mancini and Charles II of

England wished to marry her sister, Hortense Manicini. Unfortunately,

at the time, both kings being young, though for very different reasons

these marriages were not approved.

Marie Mancini was considered not a suitable prospect for the king of France.

This situation caused great distress for the young king. There was a musical

play on the stage in Paris “Le Roi Soleil” which was wonderful to watch on

you tube where the king

invites Marie Mancini to dance with him. At the end of the scene Marie

Mancini appears to be seated on a throne.

Had not Louis XIV been a king,

with the prospects of marrying a royal princess not been expected of him,

and perhaps if he had been Louis de Bourbon and not a king, his life would have been

very different. Louis XIV married Infanta Maria Theresa from Spain and

Marie Mancini was sent away from the court.

It was from the time spent with Marie Mancini and the influences of Cardinal

Mazarin that Louis XIV developed a love of Italian culture and art which

later was reflected in the beauty of the artistic designs of the chateau of

Versailles and its surroundings and landscape.

Unfortunately for Charles II of England, although his mother and sister,

Princess Henriette of England, (popularly known as Minette who subsequently

married the king's brother, Monsieur) were welcome at the court, Charles II for

political reasons was expected to move on. Louis XIV was young at this

stage and not in control.

Charles II spent many years in exile in Europe in

poverty, though with many loyal followers, who had also left England during

the Cromwell years. As Charles II was a king without a throne, his prospects

were suitably diminished and Cardinal Mazarin declined the marriage proposal

on behalf of his niece, Hortense Mancini.

Later, in years to come, when Charles II

was restored to the throne of England, Cardinal Mazarin broached the subject of

marriage again with the king regarding Hortense Mancini. By this time,

Charles II would have experienced many adventures during his travels and time

on the Continent and by this stage he did not wish to marry Hortense, probably for

various other reasons as well. Charles II, because of his experiences so different

from those of Louis XIV, may have had a different outlook on life, perhaps

more understanding of poverty and its consequences. Charles II married Katherine

of Braganza.

Charles II had started to build a palace at Winchester of which the plans were drawn by Sir

Christopher Wren, designer and architect of St Paul's Cathedral in London. He viewed the

beginnings of the building works with Nell Gwynn. Unfortunately, even though this palace

was to be built on a similar design of Versailles, surrounded by town houses, this plan did

not come into fruition and the palace was not completed due to the death of Charles II.

Versailles is a magnificent wonder of beauty and is a favourite place to visit. A real showpiece

of seventeenth century endeavour. The Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte may also have been an

inspiration for the young king with its wonderful gardens, fountains and outdoor entertainment

venues. Quite modern in concepts and design for the seventeenth century. Previously, many of the

older chateaux may have been more of a gothic design and built for defense purposes. Louis XIV

and his family lived at the Louvre in Paris and St Germain-en-Laye where he was born. When he first visited Vaux-le-Vicomte for the entertainments provided there,

he travelled with his family by carriage from the renaissance palace of Fontainebleau.

Castle of Fontainebleu from wikipedia:  a beautiful and serene place to visit;

Louis XIV by Le Brun

Magical Splendours of Paris and France

Magical Splendours of Paris and France

 Pictures of Chateau of Chantilly
from wikipedia:

I often wonder what it is which draws me back

to France, as a beautiful drawing on the other side

of the world.

One time in Paris I remember thinking I had forgotten

how beautiful France really is, as it had been seven years since

I had last been in Paris. This was as the sun was setting over the banks

of the River Seine. It was a beautiful scene. A golden delight with the reflecting

light glimmering in the distance over the architectural landscape of Paris;

I remember often watching the pigeons by Notre Dame, watching by the river bank,

wandering around the narrow streets, noticing cobbles and unusual signs, lamposts

enhancing the scenery. I loved the little book stalls selling water colour prints of images

of Paris, the River Seine and Notre Dame. I have seen the artists drawings at Montparnasse and the colourful scenes of Montmartre, the windmill a land mark picture post card scene. Little restaurants and tables and chairs,

it is all a flowery theme. Very beautiful in many ways. There are also sellers of flowers

on the streets, also selling orchids.

There were also colourful scarves being sold on a street corner for only one euro. This stall seemed to attract many customers.

Charming, exotic, different. I loved the waffles in the park of

the Luxembourg Palace and gardens, the way the leaves would fall to the ground,

loved the colour of the trees in autumn, golden and scarlet, painting colours on the scene.

The autumn colours of the leaves of the trees and the fresh breezes by the banks of the River Seine are quite beautiful. This setting is quite magical, beautiful to look at from the windows of a bus,

driving along the banks of the river Seine.

Louis XVI mentioned the leaves when the royal family was held in captivity,

and they were walking amongst the colourful leaves in a park one day.

The Palace of Luxembourg gardens was a favourite place, families and people

would enjoy the day. Would go in grace and sail their boats upon the

little pond. A Sunday afternoon was a busy time.

On a recent visit to Paris last year I remember so clearly the moon shining over the hotel and

buildings at night in a narrow street. I could see this from my window and it looked

so magical shining its luminous orb, looking down on Paris from the night sky.

The left Bank of Saint-Germain

des Pres is also interesting to wander around. It was at a palace of St Germaine-en-Laye

that Louis XIV was born, and apparently now is a restaurant, as I was once informed on Louis XIV

group.

The Metro helps in getting from place to place and often is not too far away, distinctive

with a colourful Metro sign.

The shops of delicacies of fruit sweets and also mystical themes, as with crystals

and playing cards appealed also.

Paris, a city of light, a city of splendour. There is a saying that if one becomes bored with London,

they are tired of life. Paris is just as exciting. Many places of interest to visit.

The Louvre, which was once a palace, now a marvellous museum,

holds people in thrall with the famous painting of “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci.

It is here also that there is a portrait of the three dogs, Nonne, Pomme and Bonne, in a gilded frame. The artist, Desportes, was commissioned by the king, Louis XIV, to paint the portraits of the dogs,

often with a rustic beautiful background showing the beauties of nature.

It is nice to wander around the streets and along the banks of the River Seine. These are pleasures

not forgot. Timeless wonder with stories of the past, I recall The Thirty Nine Steps, which was

filmed in Paris.

The colours of the leaves, so sweet and fine, splendour of a marvellous time.

Autumn in Paris a thrilling time, the beauty and magic all around!

As I recall more thoughts and memories of Paris, I will write them down.

I once caught a train to Fontainebleau, a magical place with a garden view;

Trees shimmering in the distance, all clipped to a triangular shape, the tops of the trees a differing colour, of rusts and greens, from memory they seemed;

Fontainebleau is beautiful to see and I must return to this place again,

as on the day which I visited, the palace was not open. A palace which was given its name from a hunting dog named Bleu where he was found at a stream and also was seen the Nymph of Fontainebleau; This is the place where

Napoleon said farewell, the royal party, Queen Anne of Austria, Louis XIV, Princess Henriette, (Madame and

the king's brother, Monsieur) and the court set

out to visit Vaux-le-Vicomte; Nicholas Fouquet hosting his fantasy show

of magical enchantments at his new chateau; Creating amusements and setting the

scenes for an ultimate downfall; visions of wonder, but not a king,

he lived for beauty and a dream; A Minister of Finance, came to see the very best;

Did he also like La Valliere? This a question not really determined, but the king

may have seen him as competition. (Nicholas Fouquet's emblem was a squirrel and his motto was to what heights could he not ascend? His wife also had mirrors in her room, which would have been unusual for the time. )

In Margaret Irwin's book of “Royal Flush” Monsieur, the king's brother in the carriage

with the royal party returning to Fontainebleau taunted the king that Louise de la Vallierre's face appeared in

the decorations of the murals at the chateau!

The Prince de Conde also had a wonderful Chateau of Chantilly,

where the king visited and marvelled at the fountain displays, which he would imitate, though

Chantilly was different with the ability to acquire water more easily; Vatel, a famous chef,

was also resident at this chateau and there was a film made “Vatel.” This film was a splendour

for the magnificent decorative visual effects.

The seventeenth century, a Splendid century, full of hope and promise with

a new and vibrant king; the magnificence and splendour of the gardens

seemed to match the spirit of the times.

With plays and entertainments,

literature, the arts and tapestries , perhaps these were the best years of the king's

reign. The vibrant flowers of yesterday, today and tomorrow blossom still,

giving forth a radiant glow of what was past and is still hope for the future.

The world has moved on from the time of Louis XIV, but still the beauty of the time

lingers still, the Hallway of Mirrors, a showpiece resplendent with candlelabra,

glittering candle light overlooking a magnificent garden setting would have been quite magical,

a palace of dreams, a beautiful landscape of gardens

designed by Le Notre and decorative art works of the times.

Goodness about the king in all of his ways,

was beauty seen. He admired Nature and fell under its timely spell.

After the king's visit to Vaux-le-Vicomte, it did not take long for the king to start work on his own marvellous

vision of Versailles.

I will return to Versailles, in another post

and also Carcassonne, Lourdes and Nice,

and Azay-le-Rideau,

which I have also enjoyed visiting.

Something magical about France in the air.

It seems to me to be a kaleidosope of colours,

especially in the magic season of autumn.

Poetry seems only natural to describe some of the wonderful beauties to be seen

in Paris and France.

I think of the beautiful poetry of the early poets, the times of Eleanor of Aquitaine,

the colours and splendours of her court, the ancient rolls of the kings, the beauty of the arts and Book of Hours of the Duke de Berry,

and all manner of things.

My best wishes,

These pictures are from wikipedia of Notre Dame and of the Luxembourg Palace and

gardens.  Also Notre Dame illuminated by night.