Quick Answer
Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) — UNESCO 1979, 30,000+ visitors/day, 8 million/year — Louis XIV’s Sun King palace 1682-1789. 20 km southwest of Paris. Top sections of guided tour: 1. King’s State Apartments (7 rooms named after planets, ceremonial functions), 2. Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) (73m, 357 mirrors, Louis XIV’s throne room — Treaty of Versailles signed here 1919), 3. Queen’s Apartments (Marie-Thérèse + Marie Antoinette lived here), 4. Royal Chapel (1710), 5. Royal Opera (1770 wedding gift to Marie Antoinette), 6. Gardens (800 hectares) (by André Le Nôtre — fountains, parterres, Grand Canal), 7. Grand Trianon (Louis XIV’s escape), 8. Petit Trianon + Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet (her playful village). Tour duration: 4-6h minimum, full day ideal. Tickets: Passport (palace + Trianons + gardens) €27. Skip-line tour €69+. Best time: opens 9am Tue-Sun, closed Mondays. Fountain shows weekends April-October. Avoid summer noon (crowds + 30°C+).
Versailles history
- 1631: Louis XIII built hunting lodge.
- 1661-1715: Louis XIV (Sun King) transformed into world’s grandest palace. 36,000 workers + 6,000 horses peak construction. 100M livres = €100B today.
- 1682: Louis XIV moved court permanently from Paris. Made Versailles official seat of French monarchy.
- 1715-1774: Louis XV. Built Petit Trianon (1768) for Madame de Pompadour, then Madame du Barry.
- 1774-1789: Louis XVI + Marie Antoinette. Hamlet built (1783) for queen’s pastoral retreats.
- October 5, 1789: Women’s March on Versailles forced royal family back to Paris. End of Versailles as royal residence.
- 1837: King Louis-Philippe converted into “Museum of History of France.”
- June 28, 1919: Treaty of Versailles signed in Hall of Mirrors — ended WWI.
- 1979: UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tour part 1 — King’s State Apartments
- Salon de Vénus: Louis XIV statue. First room — pink marble, mythology paintings.
- Salon de Diane: Bernini’s bust of Louis XIV. Billiard room when Sun King played.
- Salon de Mars: Christianity replacing pagan mythology. Concert + ball room.
- Salon de Mercure: court ceremonial bedchamber. Mausoleum-bedroom for Sun King’s body 1715.
- Salon d’Apollon: Throne Room with 9-foot-high silver throne (melted down for war 1689). God of Sun = Louis XIV identity.
- Salon de la Guerre: Hall of War. Marble + bronze Louis XIV equestrian relief.
- Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces): 73m corridor. 17 mirrored arcades + 17 windows facing gardens. 357 mirrors. Most photographed room in palace.
- Salon de la Paix: Hall of Peace at opposite end. Marie Antoinette’s music room.
Tour part 2 — Queen’s Apartments
- Salon de l’Œil-de-Boeuf: “bull’s eye window” — antechamber to King’s bedroom.
- King’s Bedchamber (Chambre du Roi): Louis XIV ritual ceremonies of “lever” (rising) + “coucher” (going to bed) — court witnessed Sun King’s most private moments.
- Council Chamber: Louis XV’s strategic decisions. Sèvres porcelain.
- Queen’s Bedchamber: birthplace of 19 royal children. Marie-Thérèse + Marie Leszczyńska + Marie Antoinette slept here.
- Queen’s Salon des Nobles: formal salon for high-ranking ladies’ visits.
- Queen’s Antechamber (Grand Couvert): public dined here while watched.
- Queen’s Guard Room: last queen’s room. October 6, 1789 invading mob killed guards here.
Tour part 3 — Royal Chapel + Opera
- Royal Chapel (Chapelle Royale): 1710 by Hardouin-Mansart + Robert de Cotte. Two stories — King + court above, others below. Marie Antoinette married Louis XVI here 1770.
- Royal Opera (Opéra Royal): 1770 by Gabriel. Wood + paint imitating marble (saved budget). Wedding gift Marie Antoinette + future Louis XVI.
- Mass schedule: chapel still active. Sunday Mass 5pm. Concerts in Royal Opera season.
- Acoustics: Opera one of world’s best — sound projects without amplification. Restored 2009.
Tour part 4 — Gardens (André Le Nôtre)
- 800 hectares: world’s largest formal garden. Designed 1661-1700 by André Le Nôtre.
- Parterres: formal flower beds. Latona Fountain, Apollo Fountain.
- Grand Canal: 1.6 km cross. Boats Louis XIV used for Venetian gondoliers.
- Bosquets (groves): 14 themed gardens — Ballroom, Encelade, Three Fountains, Apollo Baths.
- 1,400 fountains: only some still working. Saturday-Sunday April-October at 11am-12pm + 3:30pm-5:30pm.
- Musical Fountain Show: baroque music + fountain choreography. €11.50 garden entry.
- Walking time: minimum 2-3 hours just gardens. Bicycle/cart/electric vehicle rentals available.
- Free entry to gardens: except show days. €11.50 fountain show days.
Tour part 5 — Trianons + Marie Antoinette
- Grand Trianon: 1687 by Hardouin-Mansart for Louis XIV (escape from court). Pink marble. Smaller, intimate. Charles de Gaulle hosted heads of state here.
- Petit Trianon: 1768 by Gabriel for Madame de Pompadour. Louis XV. Marie Antoinette inherited 1774. Her private retreat.
- Queen’s Hamlet (Le Hameau de la Reine): 1783 mock farm village by Marie Antoinette. Working farm + dairy. Played peasant. 12 buildings around lake.
- French Pavilion + Belvedere: Marie Antoinette’s gardens within Trianon park.
- Theatre of Marie Antoinette: private theatre. 250 seats.
- Distance from main palace: 2 km. Walk 30 min or shuttle €8.
Practical info — booking + visiting
- Tickets: Palace €21. Trianons €12. Passport €27 (palace + Trianons + gardens). Skip-line guided tours €69+.
- Pre-book online: chateauversailles.fr. Avoid 1-2 hour queues at gate.
- Hours: Tue-Sun 9am-6:30pm (last entry 5:30pm). Closed Mondays.
- Best time: arrive 9am opening or 3pm afternoon. Avoid noon-2pm crowds.
- Days needed: 1 full day minimum. 2 days for Trianons + Marie Antoinette.
- Getting there from Paris: RER C train 35 min from St-Michel/Champ-de-Mars to Versailles Château Rive Gauche. €3.65. Bus + RER also possible.
- Audio guide: €5, 11 languages. Free with skip-line tour.
- Photography: allowed without flash inside. Outside any.
- Avoid: Tuesday morning (cruise ship groups), Saturday in summer (peak tourism).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long for Versailles tour?
Full day minimum (4-6 hours). Half-day rushes Hall of Mirrors + State Apartments only. 2 full days for proper Trianons + Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet. Don’t underestimate gardens — 800 hectares.
Versailles vs Louvre time?
Versailles full day. Louvre half day or full. Don’t try to do both in one day — too tiring. Visit Louvre + day trip Versailles separately.
Best time avoid Versailles crowds?
Arrive at 9am opening or after 3pm. Wednesday-Friday less crowded than weekend. Avoid summer noon-2pm + Tuesday morning (cruise tour groups). Off-season Nov-March quietest.
Tickets Versailles online?
Yes — chateauversailles.fr. Saves 1-2 hour gate queues. Passport €27 includes everything. Skip-line guided tours €69+ via Get Your Guide / Viator.
Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet worth?
Yes if interested in her story. 12 buildings — working farm + dairy where she played peasant. 1783 escape from Versailles court constraints. 2 km from main palace, 30-min walk via gardens.
Versailles or Fontainebleau?
Versailles much grander, more iconic, busier. Fontainebleau (1h from Paris) more atmospheric, less crowded, equally historic but smaller. First-timers go Versailles. Repeat visitors Fontainebleau.
Recommended on Amazon
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- Lonely Planet France — comprehensive guide.
- Versailles guidebook — detailed palace guide.
- French phrasebook — travel essentials.