One of the symbols in this world that is irrevocably connected with royalty and wealth is the fabulous Château de Versailles near Paris. Under its former inhabitants are Louis XIV (The Sun King), the marquis de Lafayette and Marie-Antoinette. Come explore this place where history lingers in every small corner.

Louis XIII acquired the place in the 17th century, and it became the home of the royal family. After the French Revolution, their furniture and art collection was confiscated and the palace turned into a museum. Over the next centuries the purpose of Versailles changed various times, nowadays it is a museum but still serves some political functions.

There are about 700 rooms and more then 2000 windows in the Palace of Versailles. That doesn’t include the enormous gardens, the Estate of Marie Antoinette, the Grand Canal and the Swiss lake. Altogether, you’ll need a full day to see it all. Most famous is the Hall of Mirrors, which was used every day by Louis XIV to walk from his bedroom to the chapel. It was here that the treaty was signed that ended World War I and the room is still used for official receptions and visits. Put on your sunglasses before entering in the Queen’s Chamber or the amount of shining gold will blind you. On the left of the bed, there is the hidden door (which is pretty hard to find thanks to all that excessive decoration) through which Marie Antoinette escaped after rioters invaded the palace.

The laying out of the gardens should have been an enormous work, since all this area used to be forest. Take a map before you go since it’s about 800 ha. Most enchanting are the groves, especially the Rocaille Grove. The water pours down in a cascade, over shells that came from the coasts of Africa. Under Louis XIV it was used as an open-air ballroom.
The Estate of Marie- Antoinette reveals her private life. Here, she lived how she wanted and visitors were only allowed upon invitation. Except for the majestic marble staircase, the interior is rather sober.

From 20th of October until 7th of February there is a special exhibition about Louis XIV, with the purpose of discovering the man behind the myth. We remember him as the Sun King, and this exhibition brings together works appreciated by the king (Paintings, jewellery, sculpture…) in an attempt to discover more about his personality. He was an enthusiastic lover of art and this temporary exhibition is the first in its kind.

Are you fascinated by the tragic life of Marie-Antoinette? Would you like to stroll through the impressive halls and rooms, the same ones where the royals used to walk? Visit Versailles on your trip to Trip to Paris, and where better to stay then in your own little palace? Book the best Apartments in Paris and enjoy a royal stay.

Summer, the season of relaxation and leisure has left us and with the arrival of Autumn 2009 we get back into our daily routines and at the same time we prepare ourseleves for new challenges in our professional and personal lives. We should all agree that there is nothing better than feeling good with oneself: So why not to change our look? If you are not a great fashion expert or you’ve never read articles about what is fashionable, we will give you a little help in trying to summarize the latest trends for this Autumn 2009.

Let strart with the hair! It is time to change that sober hairstyle! Girls, get ready to take out the curlers and the hairspray because this Autumn/Winter season the bulky 80s hairstyles are back in fashion – full of waves and curls. There remains a classic style where the hair is tied back in a pony tail to reveal the face with an original touch, like double bows and pigtails. For the boys short hair is still predominante but using the imagination to create originality.

And what can be said about makeup? It should be striking of course: red lipstick is mandatory! Depending on your character you can choose different tones: hot red for the bold or softer and pink tones for the timid among us.

Also, regarding our clothes, it’s back to the 80’s. On the catwalks around the world bright colours prevail: orange, cobalt blue, green, yellow, violet, red or orange. Jackets with big shoulder pads have also made a reappearance. Another element that is gaining importance is leather, and not only for the accessories. Special skins such as crocodile skin predominate. Dare to buy a leather skirt, you will surely win in the sensuality stakes. Or maybe you prefer a pair of boots. These trends also apply to the guys: on the catwalks the male models wear boots that reach the knees over tight trousers. For those who prefer a more casual style, they should go with denim: not only jeans that are always in fashion, but also shirts and jackets.

Have you seen in your mind’s eye your new image? Take inspiration in the latest trends! It is time to go shopping! But we’re not talking about the same shops as always! Why not spend a few days in Paris? It is a European capital of fashion! Do not worry about the accommodation either: apartments in Paris is the best solution for every budget.

For the first time an exclusive women’s art collection is being shown in the Pompidou Centre in Paris. This is a presentation dedicated to female artists from the twentieth century up to the present day. The exhibition began on 18th September and it will end in May 2010. The Pompidou Centre thus brings together the most important female collections of modern and contemporary art in Europe.

The institution, which has been able to organize this first European exhibition of modern and contemporary art, has established a unique commitment with female artists of different nationalities and disciplines, making this high cultural level event possible. Thanks to this exhibition the world has the opportunity to discover these incredible women, their way of life and especially their art.

There are emblematic figures such as Sonia Delaunay, Frida Kahlo, Dorothea Tanning, Joan Mitchell and Maria-Helena Vieira da Silva, that are great contemporary artists. You can also enjoy works by Sophie Calle, Annette Messager and Louise Bourgeois.

The program highlights the cultural contexts of these women, their experience, and what they have described in a century of history through literature, the history of thought, dance and cinema. We start with the pioneering women who paved the way for art to women : they were primitives, functional, urban, surrealist, objective … Their works are presented in eight halls. They are women who have been at the forefront and the evolution: we’re talking about Shirley Jaffe, Joan Mitchell, Sonia Delaunay, Natalia S. Goncharova, Hannah Höch, Frida Kahlo, Judith Reigle, Suzanne Valadon, Diane Arbus and Dora Maar.

Then we follow on with Niki de Saint Phalle, Karen Knorr, Rosemarie Trocket, those who have dedicated themselves to the feminist struggle along with photographers that have a personal vision of reality. In a private room, along with Virginia Woolf’s book we find the works of artists who cover issues relating to the private areas, the links between mental projections and exhibition spaces. We’re talking about artists of the calibre of Dorothea Tanning, Tatiana Trouvé, Charlotte Perriand and Sophie Calle.

This is an event of great cultural value that leads to a charming and exciting landscape. They have the femininity, the sensitivity, the strength and the courage to express their views, culture, etc. And all this together in the same exposition. You can’t miss it ! Rent apartments in Paris, and enjoy this beautiful collection.