Visiting the Château de Versailles was truly a dream come true. The architecture is absolutely…read morestunning--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!

I've been to Versailles twice in my life, and honestly, it's a place you only need to visit once…read more It's worth checking off, though, that first time, and I was happy to go back on our family trip this month, as my brothers and kids had never been before. I booked tickets online about a month in advance, and it was easy to do--not always a given, as I found when booking the Eiffel Tower and London Eye this same trip. Tickets were €35 each for eight adults and €15 for my six-year-old, with my younger son and niece getting in for free. We set aside a whole day for our excursion from Paris, and we definitely needed it. We were there for over five hours and covered what felt like very little ground. It was kind of a grueling day for everyone, most of all my older son, who got nauseous in the cab ride over and immediately threw up on the sidewalk leading up to the castle. We were lucky enough to miss the heat wave, but it was still brutally hot, and the grounds were so massive and sprawling that no one had the will to really explore them. We did spend a couple hours at the actual castle, though, the infamous, guillotine-worthy Château de Versailles. (My grumpy sick son had some questions about what happened to the people who lived there, and I entertained him with a little history lesson. My husband later reported that another mom was listening in and judging me for my frank description of the French Revolution.) I remembered it from my first visit almost twenty years ago and had the same general reaction, which is that the opulence was impressive and repetitive. You get the idea pretty quickly, and understand immediately why heads had to roll. The private chapel kind of said it all on its own. We didn't go to every room, but we saw plenty and made sure to hit the Hall of Mirrors with its gaudy profusion of chandeliers and gold sculpture. There were a few spaces that incorporated modern artwork, which was pretty cool. When everyone was tired and hungry, we found our way to an Angelina cart and a back room with tables and fans where we were able to sit and eat. There are a number of restaurants on the grounds where you can make reservations, but this worked better for us (and also nothing was available for our huge party by the time I got around to looking). We spent a couple more hours wandering around the garden, but we didn't get particularly far. The garden was beautiful but enormous and short on shade, and it seemed impossible to cross the distance to get to whatever points of interest might be waiting a quarter mile in the sun-scorched distance. The fountains were cool and we did get to see them turn on briefly, though we missed whatever musical fountain show we were supposed to catch. We could not figure out where or when it was happening. We wasted half an hour waiting in line for golf carts before giving up and buying tickets for the train instead, to take us to the Trianon side. It was so hot, all we did was take the train and then start leaving. The train was surprisingly shitty, just a rickety train-shaped conveyance that went around the grounds, making stops at a few noteworthy places. We hopped off at Petit Trianon and walked out, taking a long, pleasant path lined with trees. It was cooler and less crowded on this side of Versailles, and if I were ever to come back, I would spend my time checking out the areas away from the palace. I remember enjoying the Queen's Hamlet on my first visit, and I noticed a lot of family's on bicycles enjoying all the charmingly landscaped open spaces. Versailles is well worth a visit at some point in your life, though I'd recommend against going in summer with small, irritable children. I don't need to see the palace again, but I wouldn't mind another go at the grounds.

From the owner: Galerie d'antiquaire à versailles. Un lieu unique pour les amateurs, collectionneurs et…read moreprofessionnels d'antiquités asiatiques. Découvrez une sélection d'antiquités chinoises et japonaise dans une galerie d'art située au centre du quartier des antiquaires du bailliage et de la geôle à versailles.

The coach gallery at the Royal Stables of Château de Versailles is impressive ... because the…read morehorse-drawn carriages are impressive (extravagant, pretentious, gaudy, or pick a word) ... just as they were 200 years ago, 100 years ago, and today. French Royalty (like Louis XIV), Emperors (like Napoleon I), and state visitors (like Czar Nicolas II) all rode in pimped out traveling thrones designed to impress with so much attention-grabbing bling that even Liberace would of been embarrassed. The stables were built from 1679 to 1682 and manned by up to 1,500 people during the Louis XIV era to house 2,000 horses. This setting on the ground floor of the Great Stables is a perfect home for the carriage museum. The coaches are works of art ... blending gold decorations, wood carvings, metal work, upholstery, and other decorative elements in creative, ostentatious, and luxurious ways to show the splendor of the sovereign. * Open 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. (6:30 in summer) * Closed Mondays * Admission is free / No ticket required * It's about 5 minute walk from the Château * Plan about 1 hour or less * There is no tour nor is it needed * Photography (without flash) is allowed * No food or drink allowed La Galerie des Carrosses at Les Écurie Royales is impressive. If your visit to Château de Versailles permits an hour excursion, I recommend taking the time to see the museum ... because the carriages were crafted to impress ... and their ornate flamboyance continues to impress.

The Grand Ecurie just opened for tours a year or so ago, so many Versailles visitors may…read moreunknowingly pass it by. It's a good stop on the way back to the train station - it's right on the way. Best of all - it's FREE! The exhibit space isn't huge - maybe it will take 30 minutes to go through, but it's worth a short detour. You'll get to see inside the historic stables, which still have the old feeding troughs. The kings horses lived better than I do - the interior is beautiful. The carriages on display are from the reign of Napoleon and later with lots from Napoleon III. I was a little surprised there wasn't anything from the Ancien Regime but maybe none of that stuff survived? Anyway, it's a great detour to a day trip to Versailles and a fascinating look at the old stables. If you're lucky, you may see some of the resident horses being trained.

Wild party like it's the 1700s…read more Full review of the masquerade ball at the place of Versailles is up on my account. Cheers

Our day at the Palace of Versailles was one of the highlights of our trip to France. Despite the…read moreintense summer heat, it was an unforgettable experience. The sheer opulence of the palace is almost impossible to describe. Every room is more breathtaking than the last, and learning about the history and significance of Versailles made the visit even more inspiring. Standing in a place where so much history unfolded was truly awe-inspiring. We booked a private tour that included transportation to and from our hotel, making the day completely stress-free. Our guide was knowledgeable and shared fascinating stories and historical details that brought the palace to life. After touring the palace, we rented a golf cart to explore the grounds. With temperatures nearing 100 degrees, it was the perfect way to experience the magnificent gardens without having to walk for miles in the heat. The gardens are stunning and deserve just as much time as the palace itself. If you're visiting Paris, I highly recommend setting aside a full day for Versailles. Between the incredible history, spectacular architecture, and beautifully landscaped grounds, it's an experience you won't soon forget.

It's a really beautifully laid out veggie garden. I say veggie versus flower b/c when we were…read morethere it wasn't the right season. Got there early in the morning when it was dry. Found ourselves getting lost a few times trying to find the place, asked City street workers, retired grandpas, storekeepers- all gave us funky side street directions. Finally asked a young woman at cross walk who happened to be a worker in a nearby office, told us to follow her. She pointed out their ticket office. *NOTE: It's across the street from local nursing college. If you try to enter from other side of estate, you can't. Have to pay a nominal entrance fee. Ticket office is also where the garden's offerings are sold, very seasonal. (Yes, the stuff the former Kings of France dined on, you, too, can also buy it's veggie descendants and dine on, too!). Expensive, as it is organic and think prestige factor. Eg: spinach for $4/lb. Yikes! If you don't care for veggies, they had nougat candy made with honey gathered from beehives in the garden. Also, jars of honey for sale. Pleasant calming experience. Mostly disability friendly, too. Elderly people with canes and saw a woman in a wheelchair enjoying their walks.

From the owner: Une récolte royale chaque année Dans l'enceinte de l'école supérieure nationale de paysage, le…read morepotager du roi étale sur 4 ha ses vergers et ses rangs d'oignons. Aménagé par Jean Baptiste Quintinie pour Louis XIV en 1683, il s'articule sur un grand carré sur lesquels on récolte des fraises en juin et des asperges en septembre. Les pommiers et les poiriers, 200 variétés différentes, s'alignent méthodiquement dans des petits jardins tout autour du potager. Vous déambulez en plein air, en écoutant l'évolution historique du lieu, avant de passer à la dégustation des légumes rares, les crosnes, et des fruits. Vous pouvez faire le plein de soupes, jus de fruit et conserves qui approvisionnent la boutique et le marché de la place Saint Louis en saison. Le potager écoule pas moins de 50 tonnes de pommes et de poires et 20 tonnes de légumes par an.

I've probably been to Versailles 10-12 times and never grow tired of it…read more Sure there are political and historical lessons to learned ...perhaps no one listens There are aesthetic lessons which surely everyone can appreciate But mostly I marvel at the sheer skill, force, and brilliance it took to create this homage to Louis XIV the sun god I love mostly shopping the village for a 10£ Bordeaux, cheeses, pates, bread etc and taking friends and family to experience it If you have not gone take the train out C lline 35 minutes and go back250 years in time

Grand Trianon was absolutely stunning. Love the pink facade and all the marble. It is very grand…read moreand would be an attraction on its own. Don't forget to walk out the back to see the gardens and the lake. It's a lot less crowded here and you can really breathe and enjoy the scenery.