Honestly, if you think Versailles is just a name you know from history lessons, then you haven't experienced the little jewel in Johnson Township yet. The city was founded in 1819, named after the French splendour – a bit of self-iron from the founders who found corn fields rather than palaces here. I don't quite understand the hype about the old railway line, but the crunching track bed next to Main Street has some charm, especially when you drive over State Road 129 and see the sign “Welcome to Versailles” – a short stop before you enter the vast Indiana landscape.
A short trip to the heart of the city leads you to a small place where the old town hall stands; the building is not exactly an architectural miracle, but the history that is inside is almost tangible. If you still have a little time, take a look at the historic cemetery building – there are the founders who worked the country with bare hands. And yes, the word “Versailles Sights” appears here more often because I believe that what we have here offers more authenticity than any overflowing tourist trap.
A short note: The next bus to Batesville stops only every two hours, so better take the car if you don't want to stand in the rain. And when you sit in one of the local diners in the evening, you will realize that the real highlight is not the sights, but the feeling of being part of a story that is still written.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Versailles, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first place I put to each newbie is that Whitewater Canal State Historic Site. I once explored the old sluice with my old bike, while a few locals spoke loudly about the best fishing spots – a real spectacle. The water glistens almost too bright in summer, but this is exactly what makes the place so photogenic. Parking is usually easy on the main entrance, as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the cars are stacked like in a bad reality show.
A short detour to the north leads you to Brookville Lake, a huge reservoir attracting more visitors than a pop concert in Indianapolis. I spent a weekend fishing there and was surprised by an older gentleman with a 30-year old fishing hook that seemed to tell more stories than I did. The boat docks are well developed, and the bathing sails are almost obligatory here when the weather plays along – no joke, the water is surprisingly warm for Indiana.
If you have enough of crowds, look at this Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge on. I was there in the fall when the foliage was just right, and I watched a few rare birds of rapture that circled over the fields. The terrain is huge, so plan enough time; the visitor center is small, but the information there is surprisingly precise. And yes, parking is free – a rare comfort in this area.
A little further west lies Hoosier National Forest, a forest that has more paths than I have in excuses to not go jogging. I made a hike there that led me to a hidden waterfall that hardly anyone knows. The shields are sometimes somewhat confusing, but this makes the adventure really exciting. For those arriving by car, there are several well-marked parking spaces, but they can be filled quickly on holidays.
A short jump over the river takes you Madisona city proud of its historical river promenade. I have discovered a small café that serves the best apple cake wide and wide – a real secret tip I barely tell anyone. The city centre is full of restored 19th building. Century, and the Riverfront Museum provides a quick overview of the local history without having to whisk through dusty brochures.
For art lovers is a day trip to Brown County State Park A must. I spent a few hours admiring the sculptures in the Künstlerdorf, while I tried to explain to the local artists that their “rustic charm” does not necessarily mean that they do not have a Wi-Fi connection. The park itself is huge, with many hiking and cycling trails, and the visitor center often offers spontaneous workshops – a nice treat if you happen to be there at the right time.
Whether you're looking for quiet natural scenes, historic waterways or small art islands, the surroundings of Versailles have more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. My personal favorite places show that the region is full of surprising details that make every visit a small adventure. And that's exactly what makes Versailles sights to an indispensable part of any Indiana route.
I have to admit right at the beginning that I have Versailles Town Hall first discovered because I was looking for a place where I can place my letter cupboards – and then I suddenly stood in front of a brick building from the early 20th. Century, which sprays more charm than a whole quarter of hipster cafés. The town hall is not only the administrative heart of the city, but also a real eye-catcher: the original watch in the tower still strikes, and this is the only time I am in Versailles on time without checking my phone. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the annual “Versailles-Bierfest” will turn the car park into a battlefield.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Versailles Public Library, one of the few preserved Carnegie libraries in the state. I don't quite understand the hype about huge modern libraries, but here the old wooden shelf has an own life – I found almost a book that has never been borrowed, because it seems to have been dusting there since the 1920s. If you're lucky, an older man sits in the corner and tells you how he secretly borrows comics as a child. This is the true cultural capital you don't find in guidebooks.
Versailles sights can best be explored on foot, and that inevitably leads you to the Versailles Historic District. The street is lined with Victorian façades that tell more stories than any Instagram story. I once discovered a small shop selling handmade soaps – a real secret tip, because the owner told me that the soaps smell like the scent of freshly mowed hay, because this is their favorite smell from childhood. This is what I love in small towns: the unexpected, slightly scrupulous details that you only find when you open the card, but the heart.
If you're looking for a place to get rid of your excess energy, then this is Versailles Community Center & Park That's right. I once watched a basketball game with native teenagers who showed more passion than the professionals in the NBA – and that, although the field is overshaded a bit of cracks. The park itself has a small lake where ducks swim, and a few benches that are perfect to watch the drive while eating your fries. The garage next to the center is free, but only if you arrive early enough; otherwise you have to go around with the usual city park stand.
For those who prefer to relax with a racket than with a book, there is the Versailles Golf Course, a modest 9-hole place that has more character than some 18-hole resort. I made a hit there that was so sloping that the ball rolled right into the bunker next to the clubhouse – and that was the highlight of the day, because the placekeeper then gave me a cool beer and said: “Here not only is cleaned, here is lived.” This is the true promise of this place: no buckling, just honest fairways and a little village friendship.
Another jewel I almost missed is the Versailles Farmers Marketthat takes place every Saturday morning in the heart of the city. Here there are fresh strawberries, homemade jams and a stand where an older couple sells handmade wooden toys – each piece a unique one that took more time than an average Netflix marathon. I bought a small wooden horse that is now on my desk and reminds me that life can sometimes go slower if you allow it.
Last but not least, Versailles Train Depot Forget that today serves as a small museum and preserves the history of railways in this region. I discovered an old signalling light there that still works and wondered why I shouldn't just try a train driver costume and drive through the city. The depot is easy to find – just along the main road and then right where the old track bed is still visible. Parking here is a children's game because the terrain is hardly used, except for the one to two historians who maintain their collections there.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
