No Wonder There Was a Revolution

We all know the great chateaux of France:  Versailles, Fontainebleau, Chambord, Vaux le Vicomte, Chantilly, etcetera.   But it's truly astonishing how many grand houses dot the countryside within an hour's drive from central Paris alone.

Chateau d'Ambleville

Château de Sceaux

Chateau de St. Germain en Laye

Château de Dampierre 

Just another big "country house" behind a big gate

Personally, I'm thinking I'm pretty lucky not to be saddled with all that yard work.