The Palace of Versailles, located approximately 20 km (12,4 mi) South-West of Paris, is one of Europe’s most spectacular palaces. A visit to Versailles is a great day trip from Paris, and along with the Eiffel Tower, it’s one of France’s most popular tourist attractions.
Versailles has a rich history and it’s considered one of the most beautiful achievements of 18th-century French Art. Because of this, this palace is one of the things France is most famous for.
With its majestic gardens, the beautiful Hall of Mirrors, and Marie Antoinette’s charming estate, Versailles is an enchanting place. If you have more than 2 days in Paris or would like to escape the city for a while, this stunning palace is a must!
I’ve visited Versailles twice and bundled everything you should know if you’re planning a trip to the palace in this complete guide.
How to Visit the Palace of Versailles in France
A little history
It might be hard to believe now, but Versailles started out as a modest hunting lodge that was built by King Louis XIII in 1624. It wasn’t until Louis XIV became king, that Versailles was transformed into the palace we know today.
Its construction started in 1661 and took almost 20 years to complete. Three generations of French kings and queens would then live here. They all made some improvements to the palace in order to make it even more ravishing. This came to an abrupt end during the French Revolution when the palace was besieged and emptied from its furniture.
After the revolution, the palace was neglected for years. The first restorations were initiated by Napoleon but the monarchy would never return to Versailles.
What was life like in the Palace of Versailles?
During its heyday, Versailles was not only inhabited by the royal family. Nobles, state officials, and servants lived here too, and the palace was inhabited by 3.000 people at any given time.
Being seen by the king was very important, and the closer someone lived to the king’s apartments, the higher their status was. An additional honour for royal residents was that they could attend the king’s rising in the morning, his mealtimes and bedtime. Although the royal family had a lot of luxury, swapped clothes several times a day and ate the most exclusive dishes, they had no privacy whatsoever.
Despite Versailles being luxurious, the palace lacked sanitation. There weren’t enough toilets, and as a result, its residents and guests had to occasionally relieve themselves in corners or behind pillars and curtains. Can you imagine the stench? Visitors started complaining about the awful smell, and it didn’t last long before the palace became known as one of the filthiest in the world – not exactly what the king had in mind.
What to see in Versailles
Versailles is probably much bigger than you think, and it would be impossible to explore every corner of it in one day. But don’t worry, if you take some time to consider what parts you find the most interesting and plan accordingly, you’ll have a wonderful time here.
There are several areas of the palace you really shouldn’t miss:
- The main palace: There’s a lot to see at the main palace. Make sure to plan at least 2-3 hours here. There are 2.300 rooms in the palace. Some of the most famous ones are the Hall of Mirrors, the King’s Chamber, the Queen’s Chamber and the Royal Chapel.
- The gardens: The gardens of the palace are quite impressive, and there are plenty of sculptures and fountains to discover too. Note that the sculptures will be covered if you’re visiting during the winter.
- The Grand and the Petit Trianon: These were my favourite places to visit in Versailles. The Grand and the Petit Trianon are less crowded than the main palace, and even though they’re much smaller, they’re stunning. Make sure to visit them if you have an entire day to spend in Versailles.
- The Queen’s hamlet: This is a rustic getaway that was built for Marie Antoinette in 1783. She came here to escape life at the palace, walk and spend time with her friends. Several people, including Marie Antoinette’s guard, lived here, and most buildings were used for agricultural purposes.
Visiting the Palace of Versailles
I started my visit with the palace both of the times that I visited Versailles, as the Trianons only open at 12 am. It took me about 3 hours of wandering through its stunningly beautiful hallways and chambers before needing a break from the big masses of people making their way through the palace. I decided to head to the gardens, where I picked out a nice spot to eat lunch.
Grand Trianon
After lunch, I walked to the Grand Trianon, which took me about 20 minutes. The Grand Trianon is my favourite place in Versailles. It’s a little palace made of pink marble and with a stunning garden.
The Grand Trianon was used mainly to host visitors of the palace, some of its most famous visitors were Napoleon Bonaparte and Peter the Great of Russia. The king and his official mistress would also stay here from time to time. This palace has a slightly less formal feel to it, and I found it incredibly charming.
Petit Trianon
My next stop was the Petit Trianon, which is just a short walk from the Grand Trianon. This was Marie Antoinette’s estate, a gift she received from King Louis XVI when he became king. Marie Antoinette soon began transforming its gardens so that they would reflect the fashionable English style. The interior of the château also reflects the personal taste of the queen. It’s a beautiful, small palace that doesn’t take too much time to visit.
I really enjoyed the walk from the Petit Trianon to the queen’s hamlet. There’s a stunning pavilion on the way, which is called the Temple of Love. I also made a quick stop at the Grotto of Appolo. It was nice but not essential if you don’t have the time.
Queen’s Hamlet
The queen’s hamlet was a rustic retreat that was built for Marie-Antoinette. The queen had a desire to escape the formality at the palace. At the hamlet, she could pretend to lead a more simple life. The hamlet contained some cottages, a pond, a mill and a working farm that produced milk and eggs for the queen. It’s a lovely place and a nice change of setting after having visited all these palaces.
When to visit Versailles
Versailles can be visited all year round but the summer months are particularly crowded, especially July and August. I visited Versailles in April the first time and in February the second time. I enjoyed both of my visits as both months had their charm. February was less crowded though, but the statues in the gardens were covered.
If you’re concerned about the weather, you might want to check the best time to visit France before planning your visit to Versailles.
How to get to Versailles
The easiest way to get to the Palace of Versailles is by train. The journey takes about an hour from central Paris. The train station (Versailles Château Rive Gauche) is just a 10-minute walk from the palace. A round trip will cost you about €7, making it the cheapest way to get to the palace.
Tips for a visit to Versailles
- Buy your tickets in advance online so that you can skip the lines.
- Arrive early: ideally when the palace opens because there really is a lot to see.
- Versailles is huge. It’s possible to visit everything on foot, but if you get tired, there’s a tram that goes from one place to another. A single ride costs €4. Another option is renting a bike.
- Bring enough water and snacks and also bring lunch if this is something you want to save some money on. You might want to separate the food from your other bag as this cannot be brought inside the main palace (you can leave it in a locker at the entrance for free).
- Avoid visiting Versailles on Tuesdays, this is the day that the rest of the museums in Paris are closed, and there will be massive crowds.
Make sure to visit the official website of Versailles to check the most recent opening hours and other useful information.
Read more about France:
– 23 Famous Paintings in the Louvre You Cannot Miss
– Visiting the Paris Catacombs: A Guide to the Parisian Underworld
– What is France Famous for? 26 Interesting Facts
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