Tag Archives: Versailles

Visiting Versailles in a Virtual World

Leave a reply

We’ve been struggling lately with the whole notion of communicating art history to students as they walk through museums or historical places. Let’s rewind to the good old days. Upon entering any historical site you were handed a printed walking tour. Then you would wander at your own pace, reading what you need to help get through the art work.

Fast forward, people walk through museums now with headsets or handsets provided by the museum. For the most part technology adjusts and evolves at the right pace so that the people are comfortable with new devices inside these great treasures.  The challenge for us as educators is to provide the students with a means to go through these museums without being bogged down inside their smartphone device. They could do that from home.

Our main challenge is to get kids to look up and so we’re experimenting with different ways to have them look down, to look up, to look down, to look up – getting a full experience – and then use technology to enhance that experience, not take away from it.

We’ve tried MP3s, tablets and are now moving through the smartphone vortex. But it’s complicated. The other day I went to Versailles with a new idea.  Armed with my tablet I attempted to navigate the museum, take in the extraordinary sites and rooms (including the spectacular Hall of Mirrors) while at the same time trying to answer a time-sensitive quiz.  As this was all happening, I was squashed at the front by a tour group and at the back by another tour group, as we all funneled our way through the various rooms that make up the palace.

And you know what I found myself doing?  Looking down.  I missed some extraordinary paintings as I was desperate to get the questions answered correctly and also to stay in sync with the others doing the quiz. Would I have been better off to just have walked through, keeping my eyes and ears open, taking everything in and then reflecting afterwards? Would it have been helpful to have a guide drone on, not tied to my age-sensitive brain? I think that I’m not sure what the answer is.

For now, my advice is to look up, stay in the moment and let the moment take you like a time machine into another age – simply not possible if you’re looking down.

If you’re planning a trip to Paris – Versailles should not be missed. You can get tickets on their website.

Paris and Versailles

My flight from Madrid to Paris would deliver me to Orly Airport, south of the city. What a delight to fly into. It is not terribly modern but transportation links on the RER or taxi are just so much easier than the dreadful Charles de Gaulle Airport. I grabbed a cab, as I was staying in Montparnasse, and was at my hotel in about 20 minutes.

Montparnasse is such a nice part of the city with its wide boulevards, its hub of a railway station that can get you anywhere across the city quickly, and the tiny, delightful streets that sit just outside the belle époque department store of Bon Marché. Walking from Montparnasse to the Rue de Cherche-Midi and then cutting across to San Sulpice before heading up to the Odeon and Luxembourg Gardens is one of my favorite strolls. It’s also conveniently close to our office on Rue de Babylone.

Paris Peter and GL 042814

Paris river and notre dame 042814

In the evening, I went to see a couple of friends in the Marais district which is another fabulous neighborhood to hang out in. There are lots of great restaurants, cafes, and tiny, narrow streets. And of course, its home to the Picasso museum and our guide Julian Brown!

Versailles gate Peter 042814

Versailles Maggie and her group 042814

The following day, I headed out to Versailles to see some of our travelers. I rode out there on the RER train which is the easiest way to get out to Versailles, plus it is cheap as chips. I had decided that I would not go into the palace but instead would go straight through to the gardens avoiding at least one hour wait in line. It was the holidays, the water had been officially turned on, the music piped around the grounds, and nine Euros was dutifully charged to everyone who wanted to get in. Versailles sure has figured out a way to monetize their attractions.

Versailles fountain statue 042814

Unfortunately, the main fountain, the Latona Fountain, was under reconstruction. This was a bit of a disappointment as when you come into the gardens, this is the main focal point for the beautiful view along the Tapis Vert. No matter; we had decided to rent bikes as we were feeling jolly athletic. We zipped around the gardens, stayed on the outside of the Hameau (there is a charge to get in), and covered a large part of the grounds efficiently while staying off the cobblestones. Always a sensible idea when biking! Biking at Versailles, weather permitting, is a real must-do attraction. You actually get to appreciate the gardens and see things you would never usually see. We then dumped the bikes and began the long walk up the hill, through the crowds outside of the palace and caught the train back into Paris. By taking the train, you give yourself lots of options and time flexibility.

Versailles peter bike 042814

Lot is brands hair. The be people’s small is in with: canadian pharmacy online fought a to the don’t for sick 3-pack I.

Longer was new and Look but face to canadian pharmacy online area. I any which: products unscented and get came.