Versailles: the most beautiful palace in all of France
Ever since I was a young girl, I loved the palace of Versailles when I learned the history of how the palace was built. Then, in 2006 Sophia Copolla wrote/directed the film Marie Antoinette; which was a feast for the eyes with the fashion and food she had in the movie. The palace is truly breathtaking to see, and as you walk through the massive estate, you can close your eyes and imagine the palace bustling with French nobility in the time of Marie Antoinette. So, spend the whole day enjoying this fantastic palace. But, try not to stay behind your camera the whole time. I plan to have two other blog post on the gardens and Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon. Taking a day trip to Versailles is a must.
History
Versailles was built as a hunting lodge by King Louis XIII, but it was his son King Louis XIV who had turned it into a royal palace that millions visit today. With a big vision in mind, King Louis XIV started his expansion of Versailles in 1666; which took fifty years to complete. King Louis XIV moved his whole court and government from Paris to Versailles in 1682. The palace of Versailles was basically a small city that was filled with not only the King’s royal family but the French nobility.
The palace is full of hundreds of lavish rooms( 700 rooms!), and each one has it’s own theme. At the time of King Louie XIV, there were about 10,000 people living at Versailles which included all the servants. Louis XIV called himself the “Sun King” who gave light to all he touched. And, Louis XIV saw himself as the God Apollo. He put all his heart in soul in building up the Palace of Versailles from the inside to the beautiful gardens. And, to strive to build a palace of this grandeur took someone who was a dreamer.
How to Get to Versailles
For me, the best and easiest way to get to Versailles is to take the train. I would recommend leaving early in the morning to arrive at Versailles right when it opens. Plan to spend the whole day. Versailles is around a twenty-five-minute train ride from the center of Paris. If you are coming from Paris, you can take the metro to the RER C line at Javel station to Versailles Chateau River Gauche station.
In the above pictures, you can see a sample itinerary of how to get to Versailles on the metro from Paris. The cost of going to Versailles is around 7€ round trip. When you exit the station, it is around a 10-minute walk to the palace. If you are taking the train there, I would recommend using the https://www.ratp.fr/en website to plan your journey. And, I would recommend for you to download the app so you can get up to date train times and delays.
Getting Your Ticket
If you are a super prepared person and know for 100% that you will go to Versailles on a specific day, you can go ahead and buy your tickets online and bypass the ticket line( be sure to bring the print out confirmation or have it on your phone). Or, if you like the millions of others you can get your ticket at the palace. When you enter the central courtyard the ticket office is on the left side of the palace. If you are with another person have them wait in the entrance line to the palace while you run off to get your ticket ( I waited once in the entrance line for 40 minutes!).
Which ticket do I purchase?
If you are interested in only seeing the palace, you can buy a ticket to see only the palace. But, if you go all the way to Versailles, I would recommend you see everything! It’s is one of the world’s beautiful palaces. So, I would say go ahead and buy the Passport pass. Other purchase options include: 2-day passport, only the Estate of Trianon ticket, or a year long pass. Below I have three different options for comparison. If you qualify for free admission make sure to bring the proper documentation they mention on their website ( on days when there’s musical fountain shows/musical gardens shows you must pay a fee for entrance into the gardens). For more information on ticket options visit http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices
What to See
You can use an audio guide which is free with your entrance ticket. Or, if you like you can pay to have a tour led by Versailles staff. I personally like audio guides as you can move at your own pace, and hear things clearly as opposed to being near your tour guide in masses of people. Inside the palace, you get to view the: King’s State Apartments, King Louis XV’s daughter’s apartments, Gallery of Great Battles, and the Queen’s apartments.
The jewel of the palace, of course, is the famous Hall of Mirrors; which is beautiful to walk through. Mirrors at the time of King Louis XIV were a luxury of the time. The average person didn’t have mirrors.
The Royal Chapel of Versailles is another space in which I loved seeing. But, unless you are on a special private tour, you can’t walk inside the chapel.
Marie’ Antoinette’s Petit Trianon & The Queen’s Hamlet/ The Gardens
The Palace of Versailles is massive. I feel like the main Palace, The Gardens, and Marie-Antoinette’s Petit Trianon ( also the Grand Trianon) are three main places that need their own blog post. Check out my post on the gardens at https://ceciliasluxelife.comday-trip-to-versailles-gardens-of-versailles-part-2/ and on the Petit Trianon at https://ceciliasluxelife.comday-trip-to-versailles-part-3-marie-antoinettes-petit-trianon-and-hamlet/
Eating at Versailles
Walking around the massive palace will build up an appetite. Luckily, there are nine places to eat at the palace spread out all over. The food options range from all price varies from takeaway stands that offer sandwiches and sweets to a nice sit-down meal that is more upscale.
Shopping
Listen, ever since I was little my favorite part of a field trip was going to the gift store at the end of the tour. I have not changed much since being little in that regard. Versailles has it’s main gift shop located in the palace that you can visit right before you exit the palace. But, there are other gift shops located at different buildings on the estate where you can buy things. My other favorite gift shop beside the one at the palace is the one found inside Marie’s Antoinette’s Petit Trianon which has items to buy related directly to Marie Antoinette.
Ending You Day at Versailles
The park and the gardens are two separate entrances. The garden’s of Versailles is a specific huge area of the estate. Make sure you know what time the gardens close. If you are not inside the gardens by closing time, then you will not be able to exit the palace by the front of it. What happens if you outside the entrance of the gardens? Well, if you are not inside the garden’s by closing time, they will not let you in to exit by the main palace entrance, and you will have to walk about two miles around the palace to go to the front of it. ( from the picture you can see I had to walk from the end of the gardens around the park to go towards the front of the palace).
When I was visiting will my friends we were ending the day visiting Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet and were not allowed inside the gardens to exit towards the front of the palace. So, they told us we had to walk around which took a very long time after we had been on our feet for the whole day.
For the most update information including opening/closing times visit Versailles website directly at http://en.chateauversailles.fr
Download the App
I would recommend downloading the app Versailles has for apple/android iPhones ;https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/palace-of-versailles/id948642447?mt=8 .a . The app has audio guides, and maps to help you navigate your way around the palace.
Have a fun trip!
