Paris Digest
Paris city guide since 1997
The Palace of Versailles is the most famous palace in the world. Sun King, the king of France, who commissioned it in 1668, had exceptional taste. Le Vau, Hardouin-Mansart, Lenotre, Lebrun made miracles. The Hall of Mirrors, the Petit and Grand Trianon, Versailles Gardens, the Grand Canal are marvels that were imitated many times. Paris monuments.
You come to Paris for at least two days. Visit the Palace of Versailles, a Unesco world heritage sight. It takes half a day to visit Versailles on a tour from the city with skip the line ticket. Versailles is crowded. Winter is best. Avoid Tuesdays and week-ends. If you have a full day, combine the visit of Palace of Versailles with Giverny, the house and gardens of Monet, near Versailles. Alternatively, take public transport from Paris to Versailles.
Detailed Versailles tour information.
The Palace is open every day except on Mondays and May 1. Opening times: 9am – 5.30pm. To access the Palace, booking a time slot online is mandatory for all. Avoid Tuesdays and holiday weekends as Versailles is then crowded. Come at 9am for less queuing. Ticket price: 19.50 euros. Versailles tickets.
The gardens are open every day from 8am to 6pm Last admission is at 7pm save exceptional weather such as snow and violent winds. The access is free except during the Musical Fountains Shows and Musical Gardens.
The Hall of Mirrors is the most celebrated room in the Palace. Setting for many of the ceremonies of the French court, it inspired many copies and renditions throughout Europe. The King’s apartments are a suite of rooms originally set aside for the use of Sun King in 1683. His successors used these rooms for such ceremonies as the lever and the coucher. The Queen’s Apartments are a suite of rooms that were reserved for the personal use of the queen. The chapel, which was the last major building project of Louis XIV, is one of the finest examples of French Baroque architecture. Ange-Jacques Gabriel's Royal Opera was the most ambitious building project of Louis XV for Versailles. Completed in 1770, it was inaugurated at the time of the wedding festivities of Louis XV's grandson, the Dauphin, the future Louis XVI, and Marie-Antoinette. Locate Palace of Versailles and its top sights on map of Versailles Palace and Gardens.
Designed by Andre Le Notre, the gardener of Sun King, the Grand Canal is the masterpiece of Versailles Gardens. The Grand Trianon was built to provide Sun King with the retreat he wanted in the gardens. Le Petit Trianon is associated with Marie-Antoinette who spent there many weeks with her closest relatives and friends. These marvels and the fountains turn Versailles Gardens into a spectacular sight. Spend as much time in Versailles Gardens as you can. Rent a boat on the Grand Canal (1 hour costs 16 euros) or a bicycle in the park (1 hour costs 8.50 euros). Check detailed rates and hours. Go to one of the two good restaurants: La Flottille or La Petite Venise. Lunch at La Petite Venise is included in Versailles Palace full day tour.
The Palace of Versailles, 16 kilometers West of Paris, was commissioned by Louis XIV in the 17th century. Louis XIV, the almighty King of France, was known as Sun King.
Louis XIV wanted to settle at a distance from Paris rebellious inhabitants and close to hunting forests.
In 1668, the King commissioned the Palace of Versailles and Versailles Park to the greatest French artists. The construction ended with the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace in 1684 and the Grand Trianon in the gardens in 1688. The Petit Trianon was inaugurated in 1762 by King Louis XVI.
The largest in Europe, the Palace of Versailles housed 20 000 nobles during one century. In 1789, at the outset of the French revolution, the Palace of Versailles was abandoned.
The Palace of Versailles was turned into a museum of French history in 1833. Repair work began in 1925, thanks to many generous donators including David Rockefeller from the US.
Thanks to overlay facilities, certain Paris 2024 events will be staged in Versailles Gardens. A temporary outdoor arena, flanked by several stands, will be set up on the Etoile Royale esplanade, to the west of the Grand Canal. This arena will stage two eventing disciplines (dressage test and jumping), as well as the jumping and dressage competitions (Olympic and Paralympic). The individual and team eventing cross-country section will be held alongside the Grand Canal, while the five modern pentathlon events will also be organised at the Château de Versailles.
Capacity: 15,000 or 40,000 spectators, depending on the event. Equestrian: Eventing Individual (mixed), Eventing Team (mixed), Dressage Individual (mixed), Dressage Team (mixed), Jumping Individual (mixed), Jumping Team (mixed), Modern pentathlon.
The opening ceremony on the Seine River will be spectacular. The first opening ceremony ever to take place in the city and not in a stadium. Some 160 boats will set off on July 26 from the Pont d’Austerlitz for a six-kilometre journey to the Pont d’Iena in an event Tony Estanguet, the head of the organising committee, described as "unique and spectacular". Detailed information
The classical music concerts are one of the best kept secrets of Versailles. Happy fews book tickets in advance and have the privilege to enter the palace in the evening after closing time. The concerts take place in the 18th century royal opera, in the royal chapel and in the hall of mirrors.
Most concerts are dedicated to classical music with an emphasis on French and barroco music. Versailles Palace is one of the top choices for a concert in or near Paris.
