Versailles
is regal splendour
Welcome to Versailles
Louis XIV transformed his father’s hunting lodge into the monumental Château de Versailles in the mid-17th century, and it remains France’s most famous and grand palace. Situated in the leafy, bourgeois suburb of Versailles, 22km southwest of central Paris, the Baroque château was the kingdom’s political capital and the seat of the royal court from 1682 up until the fateful events of 1789 when revolutionaries massacred the palace guard. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were ultimately dragged back to Paris, where they were ingloriously guillotined.
Top experiences in Versailles
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Versailles activities
Versailles by Bike Day Tour
Together with your guide, you'll walk to the RER train station to make the 30-minute trip by train to Versailles. Once in Versailles, you will pick up your bike at at an office just 5 minutes from the Palace of Versailles. The first of many highlights on this active day out is a visit to Versailles' village market to buy baguettes, cheese, ham, wine and whatever else you desire for your delicious picnic lunch in Versailles' gardens. These picnic provisions are purchased at your own expense.The next highlight today is a bike ride through the gardens behind Versailles palace. You'll leave foot visitors behind on your tour of the palace by bicycle, as visitors on foot can visit only a small fraction of the palace gardens. Versailles' gardens and forests are crisscrossed by a network of fantastic trails and tree-lined paths, so bring your camera for picture-perfect views in every direction.Arriving at the far end of the Grand Canal, you'll settle down for a picnic in the exact spot where Louis XIV, XV and XVI ate in order to marvel at their palace. Relax on the grass in peace where only your cycling group will be able to easily reach this end of the Grand Canal.After lunch, pedal back towards the palace itself for an unforgettable view into the lives of the French monarchy before their removal from power by the Revolution in 1789. You'll visit the Hall of Mirrors (site of the treaty ending World War I), the King's State Apartments and the amazing King's Chapel (audio guide available). After your visit to Versailles you'll return to Paris via RER train.
Paris to Versailles and Giverny Day Trip with Epte River Lunch
Monet lived at Giverny from 1883 to 1926, and it was here that he created such paintings as his famous "Nympheas" water lily sequence. Monet was the master of Impressionism, inspiring many visiting American Impressionist artists who walked through the gardens you'll visit on your Giverny tour. The Japanese bridge crossing the famous water-lily pond also featured in Monet's paintings. Your tour continues to Versailles, on the way you will stop for lunch at the Moulin de Fourges, a picturesque mill on the banks of the Epte River. After lunch it's time for the glory and splendor of Versailles when you enter the gilded world of King Louis XIV. You'll visit the opulent Grand Apartments, the stunning chandelier-lit Hall of Mirrors and the Queen's Apartments. Along the way your expert guide brings the past alive with illuminating details of courtly life in the palace. While visiting Versailles you have free time to visit the formal gardens "a la Francaise". Versailles Fountain Show Special Program:April 2nd to October 30th (Saturdays & Sundays), May 5th, May 24th to June 28th (Tuesdays) and July 14th. For a selected time you have the option to see the magnificent fountain displays, which reveal the skill and artistry of 3 centuries of French garden design and engineering. The display is accompanied by music composed at the time of Louis XIV's court. Entrance fees are included in the cost of the tour.
Versailles Skip-the-Line Tour with 3-Course Lunch from Paris
Leave central Paris and head southwest by luxury minibus to the historic town of Versailles, roughly 25 miles (40km) away. Famous as the home of King Louis XIV, the town’s palace, gardens and memorials all attest to the sheer grandeur of his ruling era. First stop is the Palace of Versailles, the town’s sprawling palatial compound where Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, once lived. At the center of French royal power throughout 17th and 18th centuries, the building oozes royal elegance and, as such, draws visitors from all around the world. Head straight past the long lines of visitors outside the palace with your skip-the-line ticket, and head inside to experience the history and opulence of it. On a tour led by your expert guide, discover the stunning State Apartments that comprise the Hall of Mirrors and Queen’s Apartments. While walking, your guide will enthrall you with tales of the kings who lived there. After an hour of touring Versailles Palace, stroll out into the gardens to explore them at your leisure. Every bit as grand as the palace, the French Baroque-style gardens took nearly 40 years to complete with magnificent features like the Versailles fountains and the Orangery. After strolling around, meet your guide for lunch at a restaurant, close to Versailles' Grand Canal. Please see the Itinerary below for your sample menu. Your afternoon is spent at the estate of Trianon, which "is perhaps most closely associated with Queen Marie-Antoinette", where you will visit the Petit Trianon, the place where "The wife of Louis XVI regularly sought refuge." Marie Antionette’s Queen’s Hamlet is nearby, and this is the last Versailles sight to be seen before your journey back to Paris. Designed by the popular French architect Richard Mique, the retreat features a charming thatched-roof cottage, lakes, streams and even a little farmhouse. After exploring the Queen’s Hamlet, head back to your luxury minibus for the return journey to Paris.
Palace of Versailles, Gardens Skip the Line Tour from Paris
Meet your guide at a cafe in the 15th arrondissement in Paris, and then walk to the train station to hop on the RER train for a 30-minute ride to Versailles. The Palace and Gardens of Versailles are just a quick walk from the train station. Arriving at 10am, start with a 2-hour walking tour of the beautifully manicured Versailles Gardens as your guide explains the history of Versailles, the royal family, Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution.Your tour also includes the famous Versailles fountain display or musical gardens show on selected days in the summer. Versailles Fountain Display: See the magnificent Versailles fountain display, known as the Grand Eaux. It’s a wonderful live concert held in the groves, designed by André Le Nôtre, where you can watch the fountains explode to the sounds of music. The show runs on most Tuesdays in May and June and on Saturdays and Sundays from April to October. Musical Gardens Show: Be enchanted by the musical gardens show, known as Jardins Musicaux. Enjoy the simple beauty of classical music played in the lovely surroundings of the Versailles Gardens. This event runs on Tuesdays in April and May and from July to October. After your tour of the gardens, head to the Palace of Versailles, where your guide will leave you with your skip-the-line entrance ticket, audio guide and return train ticket. Bypass the entrance lines and enjoy immediate entry to explore the palace at your leisure!Learn about the palace's amazing history from your personal audio guide as you see famous rooms including the Hall of Mirrors, the King's State Apartments and the amazing King's Chapel. Take your time touring the palace -- there's so much to see and admire! You can walk back to the Versailles train station at any time to return to Paris with your provided train ticket.
Palace of Versailles VIP Tour, Royal Quarters Private Viewing
Your VIP experience begins as you board a luxurious, air-conditioned minivan in central Paris and head west to the Palace of Versailles. On arrival in Versailles enjoy a coffee and croissant in a cafe close to the Palace. Next, meet your knowledgeable guide at the palace’s reserved entrance, and go straight inside with your priority access ticket. Follow your guide to the State Apartments, where you’ll see two of the 17 rooms – the King’s Chamber and the Council Study. Then head to the fabulous Hall of Mirrors. Your group will be among the first of the general public to arrive at this famous room so you can enjoy the sumptuous setting in all its glory. Walk down the spectacular hall, lined with 357 mirrors that reflect the windows on the opposite wall. Next, the exclusive part of your tour truly begins as you leave the crowd behind and pass through the velvet ropes into the palace’s restricted area. See the following Royal Quarters of Louis XV and Louis XVI: The library of Louis XVI, said to be one of his favorite rooms The dining room where Louis XV held dinners for lords and ladies The clock room with its clock that has a crystal globe showing the planets revolving around the sun The ‘corner room,’ which contains a cylinder desk belonging to Louis XV that is considered one of the most outstanding pieces of furniture in the world You will then visit one of two additional royal sites, depending on daily availability: the Royal Opera House, built in 1770 to celebrate the wedding of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, or the Royal Chapel, where a series of paintings and sculptures depicts the notion that kings were chosen by God.The guided portion of your tour now ends, and your friendly guide will answer any questions you have. From here, you have a few options to complete your Versailles experience. You can explore the other 15 rooms that make up the public State Apartments independently. You can enjoy lunch at Angelina’s restaurant located inside the palace (own expense). Or you can head outside and enjoy the beautiful Gardens of Versailles – a 1,977-acre (800-hectare) oasis of groves, sculptures, labyrinths and fountains. Depending on the day of the week that you are at the palace, you may catch one of the summer musical events – either the Musical Gardens or the Musical Fountains Show (known as the Grandes Eaux musicales), both of which bring the gardens to life with classical music; see the Itinerary section below for more details. The gardens are also home to La Petite Venise, a popular restaurant with a lovely terrace, located in the former stables by the Grand Canal. It is your choice if you’d like to eat here, but you must make your way here to meet your guide for the drive back to Paris.
Paris To Versailles Small-Group Tour with Audio Guide
Half-day:Choose from a morning or afternoon departure from Paris. Your hostess will provide advice to help you plan your time at Versailles. An audio guide is available in 8 languages. Your tour of the Palace of Versailles will be independent without a tour guide. It includes free time to explore Louis XIV's fabulous suite of rooms, the grand Hall of Mirrors and the apartments of the Dauphin and Dauphine. (Approximate time spent at Versailles is two hours).Full-day: Your full day tour begins with a fully-guided tour of Versailles (1-hour) including the Royal Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Queen's Bedroom and the Gallery of Battles. Enjoy lunch at La Petite Venise Restaurant. After lunch, it's time to explore the palace gardens and take a visit to the Queen's Hamlet, where Marie-Antoinette played at being a shepherdess in the 1780s. You'll then take a guided tour of the Grand Trianon (1 hour), a mini palace where Louis XV and Louis XVI liked to lead a quiet life outside the court of Versailles.