Sprawling over 900 hectares, the monumental, 400-year-old Château de Versailles is France’s most famous and grand palace, drawing nearly 10 million visitors a year. It sits in the leafy, affluent suburb of Versailles, 22km southwest of central Paris. The estate is divided into three main sections: the 580m-long palace; the gardens, canals and pools to the west; and the Trianon Estate to the northwest.
The extravagant Château de Versailles, in a leafy, affluent suburb 22km southwest of central Paris, is a short train ride away from the capital. Sprawling over 900 hectares, the monumental complex is one of the most-visited attractions in France, receiving nearly 10 million visitors every year. Unsurprisingly, visiting is often a very crowded and slightly chaotic experience. But it is possible to see Versailles in a more intimate, magical way.
The estate is divided into three main sections – the 580m-long château is flanked by gardens, canals and pools to the west, and by the Trianon Estate to the northwest. Use the tips in this guide to get the most out of a visit to the palace and gardens at Versailles.
History
The estate began in 1623 as a modest hunting lodge for Louis XIII. Louis XIV then transformed it into a vast baroque château, with some 30,000 workers and soldiers toiling on the property – the bills all but emptied the kingdom’s coffers.
Versailles was the kingdom’s political capital and the seat of the royal court from 1682 until 1789, when thousands of civilians marched on the château. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were dragged back to Paris, where they were guillotined. In the 19th century Napoléon and Josephine lived on the estate, as did Charles de Gaulle in the 1940s.
The Palace
Work on the palace began in 1661 under architect Louis Le Vau (Jules Hardouin-Mansart took over in the mid-1670s), with painter and interior designer Charles Le Brun overseeing the interiors and landscape artist André Le Nôtre laying out the grounds. Le Nôtre’s workers flattened hills, drained marshes and relocated forests to create the seemingly endless gardens, ponds and fountains.
Le Brun and his hundreds of artisans decorated every moulding, cornice, ceiling and door with the most luxurious and ostentatious of appointments – frescoes, marble, gilt and woodcarvings, many with themes and symbols drawn from Greek and Roman mythology.
Few alterations have been made to the château since its construction, although most of the interior furnishings disappeared during the Revolution and many rooms were redecorated by Louis-Philippe (r 1830–48), who opened part of the château to the public in 1837.
Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces)
The palace’s opulence peaks in its shimmering Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors). This 75m-long ballroom shines with 17 sparkling mirrored arches comprising 357 individual mirrors on one side and an equal number of windows overlooking the gardens and the setting sun on the other.
King’s & Queen’s State Apartments
Luxurious, ostentatious appointments adorn every feature of the palace’s Grands Appartements du Roi et de la Reine (the King’s and Queen’s State Apartments). Lavishly styled rooms are dedicated to Hercules, Venus, Diana, Mars and Mercury.
Other Notable Rooms
The opulent excess is punctuated by various highlights worth seeking out. The Galerie des Batailles (Battle Gallery) is longer than the Hall of Mirrors and features 33 huge paintings that recall mostly forgotten French military victories. Take time to savor the thematic decor in the Salon de la Guerre (War Room) and the Salon de la Paix (Peace Room), which bookend the Hall of Mirrors.
Gardens, Grand Canal & Trianon Estate
Unwind after the palace with a wander through the sprawling, artful formal gardens and fountains, then make for the quieter green corners of the park – a favorite spot for a picnic lunch away from the crowds. The huge Grand Canal is the estate’s showpiece waterway.
The Trianon Estate, in the northwest of the park, is worth an hour or two. It’s home to the 17th-century Grand Trianon and 18th-century Petit Trianon palaces, the Hameau de la Reine (Queen’s Hamlet) – a mock village created for Marie Antoinette – and a variety of ornamental gardens. Trianon opens at noon, so it works well as an afternoon visit.
For something different, take in a horse show at the National Equestrian Academy of Versailles.
Best Time to Visit Versailles
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays are the best days to visit; Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest. The palace is closed on Mondays, as well as on December 25, January 1 and May 1.
The earlier you arrive, the fewer people you’ll share the experience with. The park and gardens open at 7am, the palace at 9am (closing at 6:30pm) and the Trianon Estate at noon. Strikes occasionally disrupt opening hours in France, so check the official website on the day of your visit.
Special events are worth timing a trip around, including the European Night of Museums in May and the Fêtes Galantes in June. Pricey but immersive, this 18th-century-style costume ball features live baroque music, period games, dancing lessons and a fireworks finale that guests watch through the windows of the Hall of Mirrors.
Ideally, spend a full day at Versailles to see the palace, gardens and Trianon Estate. There are several places to eat on the estate, or you can bring a picnic to enjoy in the park. Food and drink aren’t allowed inside the palace, and bags must be small.
Tickets, Prices & Free Entry
The Passport ticket is the best way to see it all, covering the palace (with a timed entry slot), the Trianon Estate, temporary exhibitions and the gardens. It costs €35 in the high season (April 1 to October 31) and €25 in the low season (November 1 to March 31), with a €3 discount for nationals and residents of European Economic Area countries who show proof of eligibility. Discounted late-entry Passports are available for entering the palace from 4pm in high season (€28) or 3pm in low season (€18). A standalone Trianon Estate ticket costs €15 year-round.
Entry to the gardens is free from November 1 to March 31. The palace and Trianon Estate are free for visitors under 18, and for EEA nationals and residents under 26. Check the official website for the full list of free-entry and reduced-rate eligibility.
Accessibility
The palace has accommodations for wheelchair users, and free entry is available for visitors with disabilities and their companions. A smooth walkway runs along the Honor Courtyard from the Honor Gate to the Royal Gate and on to Entrance A, the entrance for priority visitors.
Getting There & Away
Versailles is best reached by the RER C line, which ends at Versailles Château Rive Gauche (some trains go elsewhere, so check the destination board). The ride from central Paris takes around 40 minutes, followed by a 10-minute walk to the entrance gate. Other stations with Versailles in their names are a much longer walk from the château and town centre. Combined Paris bus and Versailles Passport tickets are also available.
Where to Stay
For a Marie Antoinette-style splurge, the 14-room Airelles Le Grand Contrôle sits beside the palace grounds. Designed in 18th-century style with inspiration drawn from Louis XVI’s personal apartments, it has a private Valmont spa and a restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse.
