Venetian masks are infamous but the tradition of masquerade apparently spawned such widespread hedonism in the opulent Venetian Republic that the Roman Catholic Church restricted the use of masks until this practice was constrained to certain festivals. Now the masks are reserved for Carnival and playful parties.

The magnificent Palace of Versailles is one of Paris' crowning jewels. This iconic monument to opulence is a mere 45 minutes by train from the heart of Paris but when you arrive, you enter another world. A brief history of Versailles and what to know before you go...