Château de Versailleo
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Recommended Reviews - Château de Versailleo
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Easily, my favorite day activity away from the city. This was my 4th time doing the all day bike tour around the chateau that ends with a visit inside the museum. I love this place so much. And it's only 30 mins away by train from the city center. In my opinion, the best way to see the grounds is by bike. On foot would be crazy. Our bike tour took us all over the party. Every stop came with a history lesson. Our day ended with our guide dropping us off at the entrance. We were on our own to explore the museum and garden. Much like all my previous visits, the grounds were perfectly trimmed and mowed. Lots of people were walking around the property getting their exercise on. We also passed lots of bikers and young kids on a field trip. The garden was looking a little sad since there weren't too many colorful flowers. It was more green than anything. My favorite area is Marie Antoinette's grounds. I could easily spend a whole day just chillin. There were a few couples having a picnic. It was so nice to see all the vegetables growing in one area. We also appreciated the vendors selling fresh orange juice. It was such a treat. I can't wait to be back, hopefully during spring.
This massive and spectacular Palace and its equally massive Gardens is a must see if you're in Paris. It was the royal residence for long lived King Louis XIV and it took about 30,000 workers about 40 years to complete its construction. History is also in the air here as you're walking on the same grounds where the historic Treaty of Versailles was signed ending World War I. We visited on a slightly overcast and coolish April day and though it was crowded, it wasn't overbearing by any means and the weather was perfect for all the walking involved here. The most crowded location in the Palace was the huge and ornate Hall of Mirrors. Some people thought it was too crowded, but nothing feels crowded to me any more after once visiting the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel in the summer time. The Palace with its multiple colored and ornate rooms feels very similar to England's Windsor Castle, but then there is also the Palace Gardens and that is a big difference. After being in the Palace the wide open-ness of the Gardens is also refreshing. Just remember as you walk here or there that the only entrance and exit to the Gardens are at the same location, so be ready for a lot of walking and keep track of your time, and enjoy!
An incredibly gorgeous palace, rich with French history. We enjoyed walking through and learning about each room with the FREE English audio guide available in the Versailles app. Definitely make a reservation online in advance (at least 2 weeks) as same week reservations have less desirable entry time slots. The palace and Trianon (but not musical gardens) were included in the Paris Museum Pass! We unfortunately had an afternoon entry time and the palace was very crowded, your experience would be better going first thing in the morning before the crowds.
Took a trip to Versailles today from Paris, only 9 miles away/ ~15-20 min, to visit Château de Versailleo! Originally we planned to purchase tickets to the fountain night show that they offer almost every Saturday + Sunday from June-September 14th, but we figured to just hold off on buying the tickets. Instead, we walked around the outside area of the palace. Very beautiful structures... LOVE THE GOLD! Wish we had more time to explore the inside, but it was a last minute plan to visit Palace of Versailles & by the time we got here, it was too late. Overall, still had a very nice time here. We were still here until 8:15pm, 15 min before the fountain show started, however, we all felt too tired & exhausted from walking around to see all the historical sites Paris has to offer.
We arrived in Versailles on our second day in France. We got a taxi from our hotel in Paris to Versailles without issue. Knowing we'd spend at least a 1/2 day at the chateau, we booked the earliest timed entry possible, which was 10am. Remember to book your tickets in advance and online. This ticket also included the garden and a return train. The "return train" isn't really useful, but if you are lucky enough to splurge and rent a golf cart.... That might be fun. Anyhow, the palace itself is marvelous. So much history and grandeur. There were some things we saw from the Louvre, but we learned a lot. Even in the morning, there were so many tourists so be warned that it'll get crowded fast. Yes, pickpocketing could happen, but I never felt in fear while inside. We decided not to book a tour guide. Maybe it wasn't the best decision, but we found there was enough information in the official app (which is clutch!) to keep us educated. The main beauty, however, is once you exit the palace and enter the Gardens. We spent the absolute most time in here. This is also where the app came handy as it helped us navigate the gardens easily. So many cool fountains and, if you come at the right time, you may even catch a fountain show. It is quite the walk within the gardens. Sometimes, we wished we could even get some water at various points inside. But it's nothing to prevent us from coming back again if the opportunity presents itself. The Chateau is a nice respite from the bustle of Paris and it should be a must see for anyone visiting Paris.
This review's focus is the gardens, though the expansive Palace is also a feast for the eyes. If you have about 4 hours and you are in the area (Paris), pop on a comfy pair of tennis shoes (sneakers) and treat yourself to a stroll around this vast property. I loved ...the classical music (my favorite genre) playing from speakers throughout the property ...Waiting to snag a spot at the ledge for the perfect selfie, ...the symmetrically- manicured gardens ...the peddle-boats ...watching golf carts whiz by ...and all the quiet paths lined with the tallest tree where you can get lost and found. Bring/wear a comfy pair of shoes. Rent a golf cart or include the grounds tram in your schedule. Purchase your ticket online for the best rate. Bring a snack and a beverage (onsite restaurant has WiFi if you'd rather purchase refreshments on-site). Take your time and enjoy the views.
Cool place to learn about the history of the kings in France. We did get to see the whole thing because they had a b@mb threat so everyone was evacuated. If I make it back to France it will definitely be on the list of places to go. You need to put this on your bucket list and recommend getting a tour guide.
We were on an excursion from a river cruise, so I had no control over what time of day we visited Versailles. We were there in the afternoon, and lines were definitely long. We went straight to the gardens, and got to walk through a small portion of them before entering the building. Keep in mind that the garden paths are primarily gravel and can be tricky to navigate for some. The chateau of course is beautiful, but it can be tricky to see everything when you've got a lot of people surrounding you. To me the best part was the series of rooms dedicated to the various gods,Diana, Venus, Mars, etc. There are beautiful paintings everywhere, including the ceiling! When we were done, we had some time to kill before our bus left, so we walked about two blocks into town, where there is a small ice cream shop, right next to a souvenir shop. It was a great pick me up to have some ice cream, and to look at the variety of souvenirs. Later in the week, my son returned to visit with a friend, and they spent the majority of their time in the gardens. They took their time and went way into the gardens and said that there were a lot of amazing things to see, and I was disappointed that we had missed them on our visit. However, they did point out that there are very little opportunities to get anything to drink in the gardens, so be sure to bring your own bottled water or you'll get very thirsty!
This is definitely one of those tourist attractions you only need to visit once. We had the Museum Pass and pre-booked a 2:30 pm timeslot for a Tuesday. We arrived early at around 1:50. Luckily, we didn't have to wait around because they let us enter early. The actual chateau is beautiful and there are plenty of photo ops outside. But once you get inside, it's a bunch of tour groups. It's also not like a regular museum. Because the hallways are narrow, the traffic flow pretty much just goes in one direction, so most of the time, tour groups are blocking the pathway. This was pretty much the entire chateau, so we tried to just go through it quickly and get out of there. The Hall of Mirrors was kind of unimpressive but again, probably due to all of the tourists. It's nothing like what you see in Instagram. We probably spent a little under two hours inside and taking pics outside. We skipped the garden. Overall, the chateau is crowded and far from the city centre (an hour minimum ride, depending on where in the city you are coming from). So if your time is limited in Paris, I would say you can skip this because you can expect to spend at least half a day here. Otherwise, try to book early so that you can get the first time slot and maybe you can avoid at least some of the groups (we booked maybe 2 weeks prior and all the early time slots were already taken).
Bring comfortable walking shoes! As well as an umbrella If it's not the rain, it's the Sun! You will need the entire day to look around. Even then, there still won't be enough time. Ride bikes or pay for the go cart tour. The line is ridiculously long so I'd advise a tour group to skip the line. Parking sucks. Incredibly beautiful grounds.
A train ride away from Paris. Home of many Louis. Mind-blowing wealth collected by this royalty regime. The ability to view these time worn antique galleries up close is amazing; very upsetting to see so many visitors have the nerve to touch the artwork and antiques with their grimy paws. Whatever wing you start from, it will be a lazy river pace sliding your feet every couple feet with the flow of overflowing tourists. Air-conditioning was not invented yet during these past centuries so body odor is unavoidable in the sardined packed stroll through the chateau. Save your energy for the garden; weather was perfect on this day and hours can be spent simply outside through this horticulture heaven. A full sun-filled day to tour the Chateau de Versailles highly recommended.
Ostentatious, opulent, and over-the-top, this monumental palace glorified the French royalty's ascendance. They flexed their wealth, privilege, and power through this palace of propaganda. Well worth arrange a tour guide to get the full experience of the Palace's political and social context. The Hall of Mirrors is, of course, stunning, but so are the grounds and gardens, particularly the anal-retentive precision of the Orangerie. And the fountains! Even though the off-season and water wasn't running, the fountains are still a marvel of artistry, sculpture, and symbolism. Definitely try to get a timed entry early in the day and plump for the "skip the line" fee. The Palace itself was still pretty crowded even in late October- God knows what the crowds are like at the height of summer! But once you get out onto the grounds you can take a nice leisurely stroll through these beautiful parks and gardens.
We visited the palace during our trip to paris. I got passport level tickets, which included access to the gardens. We visited here on the last week of june on a very hot day. I have booked the tickets on their official website and reserved a time slot, which came out cheaper. We also got the audio guides. The check-in process was simple with a security check at a couple of places. You can also purchase the audio guides as you enter the palace , and the garden tickets and palace tickets can be purchased on site. The palace of overall is beautiful. It contains a lot of artifacts, paintings, and decorations that will impress you. We spent closer to a couple of hours inside the palace using the audio guide, and it was brilliant. In certain rooms, the crowd was overwhelming, but in overall it's a great experience. We toured the garden for an hour, There were cart rental options, and also a small shuttle service available, which runs every thirty minutes for a forty minute tour. I would recommend taking a shuttle like that, but it won't stop inside the garden. But you will get a good overview of the garden. We watched a couple of fountain shows inside the garden. And everything was magical and wonderful. I strongly recommend this place if you like history and palaces. They do have a lot of eating places inside the palace and the rest rooms are maintained very well. Get a lot of water and, if possible, an umbrella if you plan to walk in the gardens.
Visiting the Château de Versailles was truly a dream come true. The architecture is absolutely stunning--every detail, from the grand halls to the intricate ceilings, is a testament to the opulence of the French monarchy. The grounds are just as impressive: beautifully kept gardens, sparkling fountains, and perfectly restored landscapes that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. As someone who loves history, I was in heaven. The palace is filled with artifacts from the Sun King himself, Louis XIV, and the stories about his many mistresses add an extra layer of intrigue. I could have spent hours just wandering the Hall of Mirrors and imagining the lavish parties that once took place there. Marie Antoinette's area, with its charming hamlet and gorgeous gardens, was a highlight for me--so peaceful and picturesque. We spent an entire day exploring and still barely scratched the surface. There's just so much to see and experience! I also have to mention the restaurants on the grounds. The food was surprisingly good--fresh, flavorful, and honestly better than most of what I get back home in America. If you love history, art, or just want to be wowed by breathtaking beauty, Versailles is an absolute must-see. I loved every minute and can't wait to go back! read more
6 months ago
Of everything we did in Paris, this was top five for sure. I booked tickets in advance and we took the RER C train right to the Versailles station. From there it is a 7 or 10 minute walk to the entrance. You do need to plan for several hours if not the majority of a day to explore the chateau and the gardens. Also, it is very, very crowded, so expect to be shuffled along in a current of people, especially in popular areas like the Hall of Mirrors. We had kids with us that were not impressed by the gilded treasures, so we spent probably more time in the gardens than the palace. Let me tell you - the expanse of these gardens is impressive. At one point it looked like they go on for eternity. Just take your time strolling through and exploring all of the different little alcoves. We did do a boat ride in the Grand Canal lake and enjoyed some snacks and drinks in one of the cafes tucked into one of the gardens. One thing we did not know, is that if you want to book a ride on the train, you will have to do that when you are still at the chateau and they do sell out. You can also rent a golf cart in the same way. Overall I greatly enjoyed all the splendor and grandeur of this magical place. Worth the time and the travel. read more
The Hall of Mirrors has seen so much. It was where the Treaty of Versailles, that ended WWI and arguably started WWII was signed. It was where the German Empire started in 1871. It was where Kim and Kanye hosted their rehearsal dinner here back in 2014, arguably the most important historical event that took place here to date. The thing that stuck with me the most though on the tour here, was when the mob of peasants marched on the Palace of Versailles in 1789 and saw themselves for the first time in these mirrors. Obviously they had seen their reflections in bodies of water here and there, but this had to be the first time they'd really got a good look at themselves. That just completely blew my mind. It sent me into a full existential crisis. It got me thinking about life back then compared to now. What would life be like if we could never see ourselves? Probably much better. We'd never really worry about whether we look good or not. I'd get so much time back in the day. Could be way more productive. But then I realized I'd more than likely be a peasant, getting shafted by the French government left and right. You'd only know what they want you to know. You'd just be busting your ass on the farm all day, giving loot to the government and getting damn near nothing in return. But maybe I'd be happier? Life was so much simpler... and I am happiest in the simple times, when I'm not worried about what I could be doing to push my tech sales career forward. Who knows. I go back and forth all day. I'm eternally grateful to be born at the time I am, but maybe I'd be happier with life being so much simpler? Everything involves some sort of sacrifice. See what the Hall of Mirrors did to me? Sent me down this crazy spiral smh. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo read more
Easily, my favorite day activity away from the city. This was my 4th time doing the all day bike tour around the chateau that ends with a visit inside the museum. I love this place so much. And it's only 30 mins away by train from the city center. In my opinion, the best way to see the grounds is by bike. On foot would be crazy. Our bike tour took us all over the party. Every stop came with a history lesson. Our day ended with our guide dropping us off at the entrance. We were on our own to explore the museum and garden. Much like all my previous visits, the grounds were perfectly trimmed and mowed. Lots of people were walking around the property getting their exercise on. We also passed lots of bikers and young kids on a field trip. The garden was looking a little sad since there weren't too many colorful flowers. It was more green than anything. My favorite area is Marie Antoinette's grounds. I could easily spend a whole day just chillin. There were a few couples having a picnic. It was so nice to see all the vegetables growing in one area. We also appreciated the vendors selling fresh orange juice. It was such a treat. I can't wait to be back, hopefully during spring. read more
This massive and spectacular Palace and its equally massive Gardens is a must see if you're in Paris. It was the royal residence for long lived King Louis XIV and it took about 30,000 workers about 40 years to complete its construction. History is also in the air here as you're walking on the same grounds where the historic Treaty of Versailles was signed ending World War I. We visited on a slightly overcast and coolish April day and though it was crowded, it wasn't overbearing by any means and the weather was perfect for all the walking involved here. The most crowded location in the Palace was the huge and ornate Hall of Mirrors. Some people thought it was too crowded, but nothing feels crowded to me any more after once visiting the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel in the summer time. The Palace with its multiple colored and ornate rooms feels very similar to England's Windsor Castle, but then there is also the Palace Gardens and that is a big difference. After being in the Palace the wide open-ness of the Gardens is also refreshing. Just remember as you walk here or there that the only entrance and exit to the Gardens are at the same location, so be ready for a lot of walking and keep track of your time, and enjoy! read more
1 year ago
An incredibly gorgeous palace, rich with French history. We enjoyed walking through and learning about each room with the FREE English audio guide available in the Versailles app. Definitely make a reservation online in advance (at least 2 weeks) as same week reservations have less desirable entry time slots. The palace and Trianon (but not musical gardens) were included in the Paris Museum Pass! We unfortunately had an afternoon entry time and the palace was very crowded, your experience would be better going first thing in the morning before the crowds. read more
Took a trip to Versailles today from Paris, only 9 miles away/ ~15-20 min, to visit Château de Versailleo! Originally we planned to purchase tickets to the fountain night show that they offer almost every Saturday + Sunday from June-September 14th, but we figured to just hold off on buying the tickets. Instead, we walked around the outside area of the palace. Very beautiful structures... LOVE THE GOLD! Wish we had more time to explore the inside, but it was a last minute plan to visit Palace of Versailles & by the time we got here, it was too late. Overall, still had a very nice time here. We were still here until 8:15pm, 15 min before the fountain show started, however, we all felt too tired & exhausted from walking around to see all the historical sites Paris has to offer. read more
We arrived in Versailles on our second day in France. We got a taxi from our hotel in Paris to Versailles without issue. Knowing we'd spend at least a 1/2 day at the chateau, we booked the earliest timed entry possible, which was 10am. Remember to book your tickets in advance and online. This ticket also included the garden and a return train. The "return train" isn't really useful, but if you are lucky enough to splurge and rent a golf cart.... That might be fun. Anyhow, the palace itself is marvelous. So much history and grandeur. There were some things we saw from the Louvre, but we learned a lot. Even in the morning, there were so many tourists so be warned that it'll get crowded fast. Yes, pickpocketing could happen, but I never felt in fear while inside. We decided not to book a tour guide. Maybe it wasn't the best decision, but we found there was enough information in the official app (which is clutch!) to keep us educated. The main beauty, however, is once you exit the palace and enter the Gardens. We spent the absolute most time in here. This is also where the app came handy as it helped us navigate the gardens easily. So many cool fountains and, if you come at the right time, you may even catch a fountain show. It is quite the walk within the gardens. Sometimes, we wished we could even get some water at various points inside. But it's nothing to prevent us from coming back again if the opportunity presents itself. The Chateau is a nice respite from the bustle of Paris and it should be a must see for anyone visiting Paris. read more
This review's focus is the gardens, though the expansive Palace is also a feast for the eyes. If you have about 4 hours and you are in the area (Paris), pop on a comfy pair of tennis shoes (sneakers) and treat yourself to a stroll around this vast property. I loved ...the classical music (my favorite genre) playing from speakers throughout the property ...Waiting to snag a spot at the ledge for the perfect selfie, ...the symmetrically- manicured gardens ...the peddle-boats ...watching golf carts whiz by ...and all the quiet paths lined with the tallest tree where you can get lost and found. Bring/wear a comfy pair of shoes. Rent a golf cart or include the grounds tram in your schedule. Purchase your ticket online for the best rate. Bring a snack and a beverage (onsite restaurant has WiFi if you'd rather purchase refreshments on-site). Take your time and enjoy the views. read more
Cool place to learn about the history of the kings in France. We did get to see the whole thing because they had a b@mb threat so everyone was evacuated. If I make it back to France it will definitely be on the list of places to go. You need to put this on your bucket list and recommend getting a tour guide. read more
5 months ago
We were on an excursion from a river cruise, so I had no control over what time of day we visited Versailles. We were there in the afternoon, and lines were definitely long. We went straight to the gardens, and got to walk through a small portion of them before entering the building. Keep in mind that the garden paths are primarily gravel and can be tricky to navigate for some. The chateau of course is beautiful, but it can be tricky to see everything when you've got a lot of people surrounding you. To me the best part was the series of rooms dedicated to the various gods,Diana, Venus, Mars, etc. There are beautiful paintings everywhere, including the ceiling! When we were done, we had some time to kill before our bus left, so we walked about two blocks into town, where there is a small ice cream shop, right next to a souvenir shop. It was a great pick me up to have some ice cream, and to look at the variety of souvenirs. Later in the week, my son returned to visit with a friend, and they spent the majority of their time in the gardens. They took their time and went way into the gardens and said that there were a lot of amazing things to see, and I was disappointed that we had missed them on our visit. However, they did point out that there are very little opportunities to get anything to drink in the gardens, so be sure to bring your own bottled water or you'll get very thirsty! read more
This is definitely one of those tourist attractions you only need to visit once. We had the Museum Pass and pre-booked a 2:30 pm timeslot for a Tuesday. We arrived early at around 1:50. Luckily, we didn't have to wait around because they let us enter early. The actual chateau is beautiful and there are plenty of photo ops outside. But once you get inside, it's a bunch of tour groups. It's also not like a regular museum. Because the hallways are narrow, the traffic flow pretty much just goes in one direction, so most of the time, tour groups are blocking the pathway. This was pretty much the entire chateau, so we tried to just go through it quickly and get out of there. The Hall of Mirrors was kind of unimpressive but again, probably due to all of the tourists. It's nothing like what you see in Instagram. We probably spent a little under two hours inside and taking pics outside. We skipped the garden. Overall, the chateau is crowded and far from the city centre (an hour minimum ride, depending on where in the city you are coming from). So if your time is limited in Paris, I would say you can skip this because you can expect to spend at least half a day here. Otherwise, try to book early so that you can get the first time slot and maybe you can avoid at least some of the groups (we booked maybe 2 weeks prior and all the early time slots were already taken). read more
Bring comfortable walking shoes! As well as an umbrella If it's not the rain, it's the Sun! You will need the entire day to look around. Even then, there still won't be enough time. Ride bikes or pay for the go cart tour. The line is ridiculously long so I'd advise a tour group to skip the line. Parking sucks. Incredibly beautiful grounds. read more
7 months ago
A train ride away from Paris. Home of many Louis. Mind-blowing wealth collected by this royalty regime. The ability to view these time worn antique galleries up close is amazing; very upsetting to see so many visitors have the nerve to touch the artwork and antiques with their grimy paws. Whatever wing you start from, it will be a lazy river pace sliding your feet every couple feet with the flow of overflowing tourists. Air-conditioning was not invented yet during these past centuries so body odor is unavoidable in the sardined packed stroll through the chateau. Save your energy for the garden; weather was perfect on this day and hours can be spent simply outside through this horticulture heaven. A full sun-filled day to tour the Chateau de Versailles highly recommended. read more
Ostentatious, opulent, and over-the-top, this monumental palace glorified the French royalty's ascendance. They flexed their wealth, privilege, and power through this palace of propaganda. Well worth arrange a tour guide to get the full experience of the Palace's political and social context. The Hall of Mirrors is, of course, stunning, but so are the grounds and gardens, particularly the anal-retentive precision of the Orangerie. And the fountains! Even though the off-season and water wasn't running, the fountains are still a marvel of artistry, sculpture, and symbolism. Definitely try to get a timed entry early in the day and plump for the "skip the line" fee. The Palace itself was still pretty crowded even in late October- God knows what the crowds are like at the height of summer! But once you get out onto the grounds you can take a nice leisurely stroll through these beautiful parks and gardens. read more
We visited the palace during our trip to paris. I got passport level tickets, which included access to the gardens. We visited here on the last week of june on a very hot day. I have booked the tickets on their official website and reserved a time slot, which came out cheaper. We also got the audio guides. The check-in process was simple with a security check at a couple of places. You can also purchase the audio guides as you enter the palace , and the garden tickets and palace tickets can be purchased on site. The palace of overall is beautiful. It contains a lot of artifacts, paintings, and decorations that will impress you. We spent closer to a couple of hours inside the palace using the audio guide, and it was brilliant. In certain rooms, the crowd was overwhelming, but in overall it's a great experience. We toured the garden for an hour, There were cart rental options, and also a small shuttle service available, which runs every thirty minutes for a forty minute tour. I would recommend taking a shuttle like that, but it won't stop inside the garden. But you will get a good overview of the garden. We watched a couple of fountain shows inside the garden. And everything was magical and wonderful. I strongly recommend this place if you like history and palaces. They do have a lot of eating places inside the palace and the rest rooms are maintained very well. Get a lot of water and, if possible, an umbrella if you plan to walk in the gardens. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
Don't you ever wonder what people back then did when they lived in such a cool palace? I wonder if they ever boarded or we're they always doing something all the time. This place is a must-see if you ever go to Paris and you will be in amazement with the compound. There are gardens and boat rides outside so do that and also check out the inside and all the rooms that they have. The place is beautiful and even before you go, you can do somewhat a virtual tour around to plan out what what you want to do and see. Buy your tickets online and plan accordingly. I wanted to spend a few days in this area so I actually booked a hotel as well so I could relax and chill. I knew I was going to do a lot of walking. But it was beautiful to see. It just feels nice and happy here. I don't know why but to me this is what I like to do. read more
The palace is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, we took the train 12 miles west of Paris. About 15,000,000 people visit annually, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. The palace was largely completed by the death of Louis XIV in 1715. There are 2,143 windows, 1,252 chimneys, and 67 staircases. Initially, Louis XIII built a simple hunting lodge on the site of the Palace of Versailles in 1623 and replaced it with a small château in 1631-34. Louis XIV expanded the château into a palace in several phases from 1661 to 1715. It was a favorite residence for both kings, and in 1682, Louis XIV moved the seat of his court and government to Versailles, making it the capital of France. In1789 the royal family and capital of France returned to Paris. For the rest of the French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles was largely abandoned and emptied of its contents, and the population of the surrounding city plummeted. Napoleon Bonaparte, following his takeover of France, used Versailles as a summer residence from 1810 to 1814, but did not restore it. When the French Monarchy was restored, it remained in Paris. The palace and park were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its importance as the center of power, art, & science during the 17th & 18th centuries. The French Ministry of Culture has placed the palace, its gardens, and some of its subsidiary structures on its list of culturally significant monuments. Versailles huge park which features one of the most accomplished French gardens ever created. The garden was designed at the same time as the Palace with the aim of creating a harmonious ensemble to glorify the Sun King. Included is the Royal Forest where the King hunted. There are lovingly tended gardens, almost 300 sculptures and an endless array of shrubs & trees. The Palace is surrounded by gardens on 3 sides, made from parterres, dotted with fountains & alleyways that lead into groves where the effects of foliage and water create an enchanting spectacle. Louis XIV added the Great Trianon palace to the park, a summer retreat for he and his family and a refuge from the Royal Court. Louis XV used the Trianon as a home for his mistress, Madame de Pompadour. Later on, Louis XVI offered it to Marie Antoinette, who added English Gardens and a famous hamlet comprised of rustic cottages. read more
1 year ago
Been thinking about visiting this world famous Chateau for many years -- finally did visit yesterday -- October 3, 2024. Here are my thoughts and a few tips. It's more of an art museum than a gigantic home. You can better appreciate the vast scale of excess house construction in the Louvre, another former aristocratic home. Besides the two beds and a smattering of furnishings -- this building is mostly artworks and some design features. It'd be better to emphasize how the home functioned for the kings and queens and courtiers who lived here 300 years ago. Show us a kitchen -- how was their food prepared and how was it delivered through the vast building spaces? How was the plumbing achieved -- servants and chamber pots or some additional wealth related means? How did they bathe -- was any water delivered directly to their living spaces, and if so, how? the problem I think, began with the sudden decline and end of aristocracy wherein the building was converted into a museum-- it lost its way and its meaning as a symbol of magnificence in home building. The thesis should be returned to that focus. There are plenty of art museums in Paris, there is only one Versailles-- perhaps the opulence of it's residential status for merely 100 or so years in its final form, approximately still present today was wantonly diminished post-1789. To fully appreciate my point, the board should compare it to Hearst Castle, Biltmore, Falling Water, and even Warwick Castle -- for inspiration on what it could be-- instead of just a massive building with a few interesting rooms, lots of art, and a ginormous garden. Now for the practical part -- Be aware the most comprehensive available to purchase "Passport admission ticket" has several critical limitations: First, it's not an unlimited pass to the palace for the day -- if you leave the palace proper for the gardens or for lunch-- you cannot get back in... Second, the gardens can only be entered 2 separate times on your "passport" -- so, if you want to enter the gardens at 8 am before your 9 am Palace entry, that's 1x Or, if you enter the gardens AFTER visiting the palace, that's 1x, and if you should decide to go to the Italian restaurant just outside the west gate to enjoy lunch, and then re-enter the gardens because you mistakenly think the Trianon is within the gardens, that's 2x. So, after exiting the gardens to see the Trianon, your "Versailles passport" essentially expires. So, lesson learned the hard way, the Trianon (both petite and grande) are NOT inside the Gardens. So, If you then use your "passport" to go see the Trianon, you will NOT be able to re-enter the gardens to walk by the palace to get back to the train station-- you'll have to walk around the Versailles' massive property (miles long) to return to your train back to Paris, UNLESS you happen to learn the workaround-- pay 5 euro for the "train" bus to haul you from the Trianon to the castle which does not "stop" at the garden border for a "passport" check. This is an ~1-1/2 mile ride, just an FYI to save you some steps and a garden re-admission fee of 9 euros, if you've already used up your 2 entrances on your "comprehensive passport ticket" One final thought-- this may be the last remnant of French aristocracy and the place where the armistice was signed after WWI-- but, it's way overcrowded and way underwhelming-- in comparison to other sites in Paris and other famous home tours around the world. This is a one and done kind of place, a deceptive tourist trap, so -- get there at the start of the day and ration your garden entries carefully. Or skip it entirely. The Paris City Museum is actually a more impressive example of an 18th-century aristocratic residence and its free. Gardens abound in France. Art museums are better inside the Paris walls. read more
This is part of our stop when we were in Paris when we have our European vacation this past September. and I am so glad that we made this a stop because Versailles is one of the most amazing places I had been. We were staying at Trocadera and used train to go here, took us an hour to go here. We purchased our ticket online to ensure that we have tickets and it will not get sold out when we go there. First of all, there are lots of people visiting Versailles and I do not blame them at all lol. They have a line for the time frame that you chose and actually it wasn't too bad. The road is very rocky so make sure you have comfortable shoes and make sure to always check their schedule and purchase you tickets online to make your visit a little bit easier. Sometimes Versailles is closed due to some event just like when we went there we were trying to purchase tickets and they were closed for the whole day because King Charles was visiting Paris and they have dinner at Chateau de Versailles. Thankfully we looked before just going there. i highly recommend for you to have your whole day spent here, the inside was amazing! It is out of this world how beautiful this place is and the garden was absolutely gorgeous! I wish I have the energy to tour this whole place. This is a highly suggested place to visit! read more
Wasn't going to go. Nope, not going to do it. Tourist central, even in ways the Eiffel Tower isn't. We took a small group tour that had a excellent coach to get us there, and the guide did an excellent job covering the place. As you are going through the initial rooms, you feel like you could be in any of a number of huge castles. Hampton Court, same thing. When you get to the famous hall of mirrors the real decadence that led to the French Revolution becomes evident. The other thing that becomes evident is how much you don't want to be here in tourist season. It was still more crowded than I liked, and this is the very front end of the season. read more
All the rooms looks the same after the third one. I've been to PARIS twice and finally got to see Versailles because they're always on strike here. The trains shuts down when they're on strike. I got smart and booked a tour instead. It runs when the city is on strike or not. The bus takes you to Versailles with a tour guide. It's about 30-45 mins from PARIS depends on traffic. It's something to do once but never again. The garden is much better than the palace but even then it was meh read more
Interesting palace to visit. Need entire day to complete. The chateau palace, garden, king collection, park musical fountain are the features of the estate. It has a lot to offer. Definitely huge place to visit. The palace- I like the most is the grand hall of mirror. This hallway is a spectacular place to take pictures. During the pandemic, the bouncers want you to wear mask. The other great place to take picture is the entrance with golden gate. The grand scale of palace is definitely the good place for awesome picture. The palace includes chapel, apartment, opera house, king rooms, museum and more. Garden- the most impressive is the water fountain. During our visit some of the fountains are under repair. They have three dancing musical garden. I like the mirror pool fountain has good musical water dancing show. The garden is really big. A lot space to explore, each different corner has some things to share. The give a guide route that you can follow. Estate- this include the Trianon estate, the park and grand canal. This place are very far away, I would said buy the bicycle tickets to bike around. You can enjoy more. read more
This is a must-see on your visit to Paris. The chateau is an all day event to see everything so plan accordingly. You can purchase tickets online ahead of your visit for your timed entrance to the palace. I recommend an early afternoon entrance to the palace but arrive when they open (9am) because the tickets also include the carriage house (front of the property) that doesn't require a timed entrance. Expect to wait in line for your entrance into the palace. They have staff everywhere who are happy to direct you. The gardens will take the rest of the day, especially if they are running the fountain water at full pressure, this is not the case everyday so check the website to see if they are doing fountain shows (they include music), it's great for videos. Off the property near the back is the Estate of Trianon that was gifted to Marie Antoinette, we didn't get to see all the buildings because they close early. Plan ahead for that if you are interested in seeing that property. Wish we'd had more time. One day was not enough. read more
My fiancé and I spent all day here today. The place is absolutely beautiful and real "must see". The grounds and gardens are absolutely stunning. I feel like I was teleported back on time 400 years. Why such a low rating? The place was absolutely packed with people. There were continual choke points at a dead stand still with masses of humanity. So many tours and people taking selfies and photographs that it's nearly impassable. Simply too many people are allowed in at any given and as such, the fun is simply voided. If anyone had covid in those hallways, it was perfect environment to spread the virus. read more
Château de Versailles was a must-see for me and my group of friends as we were going to France! It's a quick train ride from Paris and the walk from the train stop to Versailles is probably around a mile or so. I did not wear the best shoes for the walk to or around Versailles, so be warned - pick some good ones! And maybe pack an umbrella. You can see why there was rioting in the streets as you walk up to Versailles.. the amount of gold gilding is as opulent as it is excessive! Walking around the whole Summer Palace is amazing. The is so much to see from all the rooms to the Hall of Mirrors to the gardens in the back. I believe if you book online far enough in advance, you could buy tickets to the palace as well as to have lunch somewhere in the gardens. We were not able to score that this time but I can only imagine how amazing that would be. Check the website for details! If you are able to, definitely eat at Angelina. The food there was absolutely delicious! There is an Angelina by the Louvre where they sell drinking chocolate. I'm unsure if this location has that (get one cup to share with a couple of people if they do), but the food... We were unable to eat at the Angelina by the Louvre as reservations go QUICK. It was a nice reprieve (and serendipitous find) to be able to sit and eat after our long couple of hours of walking around. I would love to go back to Château de Versailles again. Next time around, I would make sure I have better shoes. The palace truly is massive but it is pretty doable to see it within a morning/afternoon. During Covid, they are pretty strict about not removing your masks for photos while inside. read more
3 years ago
Wowwww, just stunned by its beauty and majesticness. The Palace of Versailles- is one of the most beautiful and impressive palaces I have ever seen and its rich history makes it even more interesting. The massive garden, the beautiful architecture, and the highlighted spots are just breathtaking!! We visited the place on Sunday and it was very crowded. I guess it's the same every day, with more than 10 million people yearly coming to this place, I can't expect anything less. So glad that we opted for the guided tour, we booked it months in advance. It definitely helped us understand the importance and relevance of some of the highlighted attractions, and mainly with the tour you can skip the ticket waitline. It also helped us stay on track otherwise it's very easy to loose track of time and get lost in it's beauty! So if planning, I recommend going on a guided tour and don't forget to make the bookings in advance as it gets easily sold out. And please note, it's closed on Monday. Due to the time crunch, we couldn't explore the gardens much, just skimmed it quickly! A beautiful and spectacular place!! A must must must must place if you are in Paris! I wonder, back then how did they manage to maintain this place and how many house staff the royals must have had! read more
3 years ago
We finally managed to visit Versailles. Most famously home to Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI. And this palace is probably one of the worlds most visited places. And rightly so. We did book a ticket online several weeks in advance. From the train station it's a short walk. From Central Paris it's about a 45 minute train ride. In front of the palace you will find several lines. The ones on the very left are the queues to get the ticket. Before getting in line to get inside. If you booked and printed your ticket in advance you can skip that line and head right to the lines on the right. Small plates giving away the time window you booked. Be sure to get to the line inside your time window. After a checkpoint you'll find yourself finally inside the palace grounds. Backpacks and bags were no problem to bring in. There are several dining options and several souvenir shops. Also several toilets. The history is a long one. Here's just some parts of it: The future Louis XIV first came to Versailles in October 1641. He became so fond of the place that, in 1661 shortly after the death of his First Minister, he undertook major works on it. Thereafter, until the end of his life in 1715, the Palace and estate saw a constant stream of building projects, notably including the forecourt in 1662, the "Le Vau Envelope" in 1668-1670, the Pavilions of the Secretaries of State in 1670-1671, the South Wing in 1679-1681, the Grand Commun in 1681-1684, the North Wing in 1685-1689, and the Royal Chapel in 1699-1710. From 1682 it became the main residence of the French Court and government.When Louis XIV died his palace and estate were far from finished. Under Louis XVI he was failing to see clearly the social and economic situation. Louis XVI, who merely wanted to be loved, and Marie-Antoinette, who loved luxury, were undoubtedly at a loss to explain the events of 5 and 6 October 1789 which forced them to leave Versailles for a final journey to Paris. These surely were the most important and wildest years in Versailles. It stood ground to the Revolution and two world wars and still is here today in all its glory. And lucky for us visitors, open to the public. The paintings, the statues, the furniture, all the gold and accessories. The big park and gardens. It's just a massive place. And you only could image how much in todays money went into building it. Let alone the building maintenance and all the staff. Due to its size it's too much to list it all. And it's too much to see in one day. Definitely a place to come back to. But make sure to check out these highlights: - The Hall of Mirrors - King's State Apartement - Marie Antoinettes Private Chambers - King's and Queen's Apartement - Royal Chapel - Dauphins and Dauphines Rooms - Gallery of Battles - Crusades Room - Coronation Room There are guided tours, audio tours and of course free to roam visits like we did. There are lots of info plates all along the route through the palace with lots of interesting and informative texts. And then also of course a lot of staff standing by in case. An absolutely fantastic visit. Don't skip the gardens and park. Even though these are also to big to explore in one visit. Even with lots of visitors there was always enough room for everybody. And many seemed to rush through the palace. Take your time, enjoy this palace and its history. Plan a whole day. No need to rush. Pics and videos are allowed, as long as without flash. Highly recommended. read more
A chateau is a small French Castle, located in the countryside. And this one is really popular - the queue was probably as long as the one for Eiffel Tower. If you have the time - this is easily an all day affair. The building was built in the 1600s and originally owned by King Louis XIII. Although it's owned by the government now. Upon arriving and once inside - you'll immediately think how ornate and ostentatious this place really is. This place was truly for royalty and each and every room has its own grand showcase of paintings, sculptures and stories to tell. Once outside and away from the maddening crowd - enjoy the garden and fountain and grand canal!! Talk about grandiose, you could get a little lost in the labyrinth of hedges. While lost, I stumbled upon this little deli and had one of the best baguettes ever!! The synchronized water fountain and music left a lasting impression. I'd like to come back in the evening and experience this once more. Come on doctors and scientists - please find a cure and vaccine for Covid!! Because how will this palace ever accommodate the hordes, with the 6 feet restriction?! read more
After a long tour of the palace and the garden, we were ready to eat. We stood in line for about 20 minutes and then were seated. The dining room is pretty tight and has a small menu. I ordered a chicken sandwich with potatoes. The sandwich was ok, it had a fun shape. I tried to order it without tomato or eggs but they said the chef does not take requests. The potatoes were really good. The service was alright, they were nice but forgot several things and never refilled our waters. The prices were also very expensive. The bathrooms are co-ed and didn't have any water running in the sinks. :/ read more
Certainly worth a visit when traveling to France! The grounds and palace are breathtaking and unlike anything else I had ever seen. My boyfriend and I took the train from Paris to the Chateau and enjoyed the overall trip. The train station is about a 15 minute walk to the palace. Be sure to arrive within your ticket time. The staff may not let you enter if you're late during the busy season. For horse lovers, be sure to check out the King's Stables which are a short walk from the palace. read more
4 years ago
So we came five years ago and had no clue where to start, saw basically nothing. Came back with a private guide this time and had a truly amazing visit. Being a Marie Antoinette fan doing the separate tour of Petit Trianon was so worth it. We also did the behind the scenes tour getting to see places not open to the public including the theatre and the private quarters at the main palace. You're probably only going to come here once if you're a tourist so I recommend doing it all. Beautiful grounds, but massive place and lots of crowds, so plan for it. If you can do a private guide you will avoid a lot of the chaos. If you can't, I would still do it but plan to wait a lot and for large groups of people. It's overwhelming so pick what you want to focus on seeing. Loved it and so glad we came back this time. read more
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Place d'Armes
78000 Versailles
France
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http://www.chateauversailles.fr
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Château de Versailleo - landmarks - Updated May 2026
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