Château de Versailleo
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Recommended Reviews - Château de Versailleo
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Of everything we did in Paris, this was top five for sure. I booked tickets in advance and we took the RER C train right to the Versailles station. From there it is a 7 or 10 minute walk to the entrance. You do need to plan for several hours if not the majority of a day to explore the chateau and the gardens. Also, it is very, very crowded, so expect to be shuffled along in a current of people, especially in popular areas like the Hall of Mirrors. We had kids with us that were not impressed by the gilded treasures, so we spent probably more time in the gardens than the palace. Let me tell you - the expanse of these gardens is impressive. At one point it looked like they go on for eternity. Just take your time strolling through and exploring all of the different little alcoves. We did do a boat ride in the Grand Canal lake and enjoyed some snacks and drinks in one of the cafes tucked into one of the gardens. One thing we did not know, is that if you want to book a ride on the train, you will have to do that when you are still at the chateau and they do sell out. You can also rent a golf cart in the same way. Overall I greatly enjoyed all the splendor and grandeur of this magical place. Worth the time and the travel.
Easily, my favorite day activity away from the city. This was my 4th time doing the all day bike tour around the chateau that ends with a visit inside the museum. I love this place so much. And it's only 30 mins away by train from the city center. In my opinion, the best way to see the grounds is by bike. On foot would be crazy. Our bike tour took us all over the party. Every stop came with a history lesson. Our day ended with our guide dropping us off at the entrance. We were on our own to explore the museum and garden. Much like all my previous visits, the grounds were perfectly trimmed and mowed. Lots of people were walking around the property getting their exercise on. We also passed lots of bikers and young kids on a field trip. The garden was looking a little sad since there weren't too many colorful flowers. It was more green than anything. My favorite area is Marie Antoinette's grounds. I could easily spend a whole day just chillin. There were a few couples having a picnic. It was so nice to see all the vegetables growing in one area. We also appreciated the vendors selling fresh orange juice. It was such a treat. I can't wait to be back, hopefully during spring.
This massive and spectacular Palace and its equally massive Gardens is a must see if you're in Paris. It was the royal residence for long lived King Louis XIV and it took about 30,000 workers about 40 years to complete its construction. History is also in the air here as you're walking on the same grounds where the historic Treaty of Versailles was signed ending World War I. We visited on a slightly overcast and coolish April day and though it was crowded, it wasn't overbearing by any means and the weather was perfect for all the walking involved here. The most crowded location in the Palace was the huge and ornate Hall of Mirrors. Some people thought it was too crowded, but nothing feels crowded to me any more after once visiting the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel in the summer time. The Palace with its multiple colored and ornate rooms feels very similar to England's Windsor Castle, but then there is also the Palace Gardens and that is a big difference. After being in the Palace the wide open-ness of the Gardens is also refreshing. Just remember as you walk here or there that the only entrance and exit to the Gardens are at the same location, so be ready for a lot of walking and keep track of your time, and enjoy!
An incredibly gorgeous palace, rich with French history. We enjoyed walking through and learning about each room with the FREE English audio guide available in the Versailles app. Definitely make a reservation online in advance (at least 2 weeks) as same week reservations have less desirable entry time slots. The palace and Trianon (but not musical gardens) were included in the Paris Museum Pass! We unfortunately had an afternoon entry time and the palace was very crowded, your experience would be better going first thing in the morning before the crowds.
Took a trip to Versailles today from Paris, only 9 miles away/ ~15-20 min, to visit Château de Versailleo! Originally we planned to purchase tickets to the fountain night show that they offer almost every Saturday + Sunday from June-September 14th, but we figured to just hold off on buying the tickets. Instead, we walked around the outside area of the palace. Very beautiful structures... LOVE THE GOLD! Wish we had more time to explore the inside, but it was a last minute plan to visit Palace of Versailles & by the time we got here, it was too late. Overall, still had a very nice time here. We were still here until 8:15pm, 15 min before the fountain show started, however, we all felt too tired & exhausted from walking around to see all the historical sites Paris has to offer.
We arrived in Versailles on our second day in France. We got a taxi from our hotel in Paris to Versailles without issue. Knowing we'd spend at least a 1/2 day at the chateau, we booked the earliest timed entry possible, which was 10am. Remember to book your tickets in advance and online. This ticket also included the garden and a return train. The "return train" isn't really useful, but if you are lucky enough to splurge and rent a golf cart.... That might be fun. Anyhow, the palace itself is marvelous. So much history and grandeur. There were some things we saw from the Louvre, but we learned a lot. Even in the morning, there were so many tourists so be warned that it'll get crowded fast. Yes, pickpocketing could happen, but I never felt in fear while inside. We decided not to book a tour guide. Maybe it wasn't the best decision, but we found there was enough information in the official app (which is clutch!) to keep us educated. The main beauty, however, is once you exit the palace and enter the Gardens. We spent the absolute most time in here. This is also where the app came handy as it helped us navigate the gardens easily. So many cool fountains and, if you come at the right time, you may even catch a fountain show. It is quite the walk within the gardens. Sometimes, we wished we could even get some water at various points inside. But it's nothing to prevent us from coming back again if the opportunity presents itself. The Chateau is a nice respite from the bustle of Paris and it should be a must see for anyone visiting Paris.
This review's focus is the gardens, though the expansive Palace is also a feast for the eyes. If you have about 4 hours and you are in the area (Paris), pop on a comfy pair of tennis shoes (sneakers) and treat yourself to a stroll around this vast property. I loved ...the classical music (my favorite genre) playing from speakers throughout the property ...Waiting to snag a spot at the ledge for the perfect selfie, ...the symmetrically- manicured gardens ...the peddle-boats ...watching golf carts whiz by ...and all the quiet paths lined with the tallest tree where you can get lost and found. Bring/wear a comfy pair of shoes. Rent a golf cart or include the grounds tram in your schedule. Purchase your ticket online for the best rate. Bring a snack and a beverage (onsite restaurant has WiFi if you'd rather purchase refreshments on-site). Take your time and enjoy the views.
Cool place to learn about the history of the kings in France. We did get to see the whole thing because they had a b@mb threat so everyone was evacuated. If I make it back to France it will definitely be on the list of places to go. You need to put this on your bucket list and recommend getting a tour guide.
This is definitely one of those tourist attractions you only need to visit once. We had the Museum Pass and pre-booked a 2:30 pm timeslot for a Tuesday. We arrived early at around 1:50. Luckily, we didn't have to wait around because they let us enter early. The actual chateau is beautiful and there are plenty of photo ops outside. But once you get inside, it's a bunch of tour groups. It's also not like a regular museum. Because the hallways are narrow, the traffic flow pretty much just goes in one direction, so most of the time, tour groups are blocking the pathway. This was pretty much the entire chateau, so we tried to just go through it quickly and get out of there. The Hall of Mirrors was kind of unimpressive but again, probably due to all of the tourists. It's nothing like what you see in Instagram. We probably spent a little under two hours inside and taking pics outside. We skipped the garden. Overall, the chateau is crowded and far from the city centre (an hour minimum ride, depending on where in the city you are coming from). So if your time is limited in Paris, I would say you can skip this because you can expect to spend at least half a day here. Otherwise, try to book early so that you can get the first time slot and maybe you can avoid at least some of the groups (we booked maybe 2 weeks prior and all the early time slots were already taken).
We were on an excursion from a river cruise, so I had no control over what time of day we visited Versailles. We were there in the afternoon, and lines were definitely long. We went straight to the gardens, and got to walk through a small portion of them before entering the building. Keep in mind that the garden paths are primarily gravel and can be tricky to navigate for some. The chateau of course is beautiful, but it can be tricky to see everything when you've got a lot of people surrounding you. To me the best part was the series of rooms dedicated to the various gods,Diana, Venus, Mars, etc. There are beautiful paintings everywhere, including the ceiling! When we were done, we had some time to kill before our bus left, so we walked about two blocks into town, where there is a small ice cream shop, right next to a souvenir shop. It was a great pick me up to have some ice cream, and to look at the variety of souvenirs. Later in the week, my son returned to visit with a friend, and they spent the majority of their time in the gardens. They took their time and went way into the gardens and said that there were a lot of amazing things to see, and I was disappointed that we had missed them on our visit. However, they did point out that there are very little opportunities to get anything to drink in the gardens, so be sure to bring your own bottled water or you'll get very thirsty!
Bring comfortable walking shoes! As well as an umbrella If it's not the rain, it's the Sun! You will need the entire day to look around. Even then, there still won't be enough time. Ride bikes or pay for the go cart tour. The line is ridiculously long so I'd advise a tour group to skip the line. Parking sucks. Incredibly beautiful grounds.
A train ride away from Paris. Home of many Louis. Mind-blowing wealth collected by this royalty regime. The ability to view these time worn antique galleries up close is amazing; very upsetting to see so many visitors have the nerve to touch the artwork and antiques with their grimy paws. Whatever wing you start from, it will be a lazy river pace sliding your feet every couple feet with the flow of overflowing tourists. Air-conditioning was not invented yet during these past centuries so body odor is unavoidable in the sardined packed stroll through the chateau. Save your energy for the garden; weather was perfect on this day and hours can be spent simply outside through this horticulture heaven. A full sun-filled day to tour the Chateau de Versailles highly recommended.
Ostentatious, opulent, and over-the-top, this monumental palace glorified the French royalty's ascendance. They flexed their wealth, privilege, and power through this palace of propaganda. Well worth arrange a tour guide to get the full experience of the Palace's political and social context. The Hall of Mirrors is, of course, stunning, but so are the grounds and gardens, particularly the anal-retentive precision of the Orangerie. And the fountains! Even though the off-season and water wasn't running, the fountains are still a marvel of artistry, sculpture, and symbolism. Definitely try to get a timed entry early in the day and plump for the "skip the line" fee. The Palace itself was still pretty crowded even in late October- God knows what the crowds are like at the height of summer! But once you get out onto the grounds you can take a nice leisurely stroll through these beautiful parks and gardens.
This was one of my top to-do's while in France and it didn't disappoint. It's a bit of work to get to it from central Paris, especially when you end up on the wrong train like my friends and I did (damn you, RER trains!), but we managed to make it there around 11am. It was already pretty crowded at the gates and I had that sinking Disneyland feeling, but once we got in it wasn't too bad. Yes you do feel like cattle when they herd you through the chateau (which was pretty amazing, nonetheless), but once you get out into the gardens and beyond you get some breathing room and it's just spectacular. My friends and I rented some bikes (we were actually hoping to rent a golf cart, but they were all taken at the time) and rode to Marie Antoinette's little castle and hamlet, which was really pleasant and not as crowded. There were cute farm animals, meandering meadow paths, and picturesque little buildings. The whole complex is just mindbogglingly huge and beautiful, a true treasure that now the entire world can enjoy, not just the privileged few. STEPH JUDGEMENT: The chateau was great, but the gardens made it perfection. read more
Design and history . These two blended perfectly are what describe the château de versailles . The palace itself is huge so be prepared to walk for a while . Although you might get tired the design, architecture , and historical value will be more than worth it . Be sure to use the automated tickets to speed things up a bit as the ticket office gets pretty busy . The audio guide is cool but can be faulty at times but it is worth carrying it around . Make sure to visit the gardens in the back of the palace . read more
4 years ago
Majestic and filled with air of aristocracy, the gold, the bling - it's blinding me! Yes, that was an over-exaggeration. However, it is definitely something to look forward to - definitely better than the value of a Disney ticket and so much more educational too. Just don't try to touch any of that gold, there are armed guards on premises with automatics exposed, they will hurt you if necessary. Let's start with the online ticket booking - it was a cinch. After reading some reviews, we knew we wanted to see Marie Antoinette's residence and as such, we booked the passport access at 18 euros per person, children are free. We took the train there and it was a breeze. Check in was also simple - you show your ticket via phone, they scan it, and voila! All done. Walking through the palace was already pretty much a trial for us, so when we finally got to the garden - our legs turned to butter when we saw the possibility of an electric vehicle. So we took it! there ain't no way in god's land were we going to walk all the way ( about 5 km) to Marie Antoinette's Chateau. So, there we were, on an electric car, despised by onlookers with looks of jealousy and other je ne sais quoi (I don't know what). It was the most enjoyable ride in our lives - never have we appreciated an electric golf cart as much as we did that day. So yes, it was a worthwhile experience and we loved everything about the souvenir shop featuring Marie Antoinette (she is so beautiful!). However, we forgot to purchase anything from the store, thinking we'd come back and then, we forgot. Sad day for the family, but happy day for the wallet. read more
A palace fit for a king. Or maybe me a lifetime ago. :) The Chateau de Versailles is one of the must do attractions while in Paris. I spent my last full day here at the Chateau on a brisk October day and it was definitely well worth it. The Chateau was the living quarters for Louis XIV, his wife, Marie Antoinette, and all his servants. This grand fortress served as the king's residence from 1682 to 1789 and was probably the epitome of all of France, and possibly his rivals in the region. The chateau is grand and immaculate as I have seen such a place. Forget celebrity cribs, this place is definitely a wonderment to be hold. Regal and elegant, yet classy and magnificent all at the same time in the heart of Paris, France. Can't get more swank and stylish at the same time, can you? I thought so. I would definitely recommend this one to do. Too bad the sightseeing buses don't come here to Versailles. They just stay in central Paris where most of the tourist attractions are - within a 10 mile radius. That's fine though. The Chateau de Versailles is about a 20 minute train ride from central Paris, via the RER "C" line train. Once there, it's about a casual 10 minute walk to the Chateau herself. With Starbucks nearby, it was a good day to visit. The weather that day was good, cool and crisp in the mid 50's F (12 C). It's not enough to just visit and look at the Chateau from the gates. It was amazing to see all the network of gold interwoven into the palace walls. It was indeed Shangri La, really. At least to me it was. The prize of the Chateau de Versalles wasn't the palace itself, but that of the jardins (gardens) adjacent to the property. Obviously the chateau is amazing in itself, but to get a glimpse of the jardins was just the complete package all around. Admission isn't cheap for the chateau de Versalles, but it was definitely well worth it being inside and seeing how royalty lived. And lived lavishly they did. Kinda of wished I lived like that, but it is a dream for another lifetime to be sure. The admission fee was close to 20 euros, I think. But when you're here, you'll forget about that and enjoy the chateau and what it will offer you. The decadence of royally here can be felt here. The lavishness of the time is amazing. There was a constant crowd of visitors / tourists coming through, but there's always a great time for a photo opportunity. The main attraction was where the king and queen slept. They had large beds and paintings to keep them company. We walked from one end of the chateau to the other, taking loads of photos along the way. My favorite room would be that long hallway with the many chandeliers. Chandeliers always adds that much level of sophistication and aristocracy in a room that it makes everything too fancy. To me, the chateau was the highlight of the day filled with sightseeing in Paris and in Versailles. The chateau is one of the main reasons why people venture out from Paris to Versailles, if not the only reason to. The chateau is meticulously organized and clean to accommodate visitors and just the general practice of being epic takes a lot of work, day in and out. Yes, the paintings and the decor of the many rooms that was showcased to the public were exquisite. Quite regal and very much apart of history, as it is a cultural item and a show piece for the world to see. I would allocate about 4 hours to see both the chateau and the jardins. It will be worth the trip. I guarantee it. :) Support local! A++ read more
12 years ago
Adoré! C'est magnifique! (sorry if my French is wrong:) It's a palace, of course I was in awe! Was fortunate to have a very pleasant experience. It was raining on & off but nothing serious. We had a guide to walk our group through the palace. Had no problems w security & didn't have to wait long in line, ab 10 mins max. I was enchanted! To think that I was at a place w so much history, good or bad, was unbelievable! Everything there is beautiful so you'll love what you see. The only thing is, it's crowded. Like very cramped at moments! Although it's quite a grand palace, if you're in any way claustrophobic or don't enjoy having strangers pressed against you, this might not be the best place for you. If you could be first in line when they open, I believe that would solve the problem. *I would like to warn my fellow first timers to be aware of their belongings! These situations can expose you to pickpockets so keep it close, closed & tight!* Once out the garden is epic! I've never seen something so grand for a "backyard." The architecture & esthetic of the palace will be overwhelming. Take it all in. It truly is beautiful. read more
8 years ago
There is no way to rate a place this caliber! It is massive, it's history unreal, visually it is overpowering. Lines are long, it is a good idea to buy tickets on line. Louis XIV was one megalomaniac! This being said, it allowed an explosion of talents to create Versailles. It is a true legacy of our past, absolutely splendid! read more
14 years ago
Le Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's cottage, the gardens, the fountains...I don't even have the words. So much history here and everything is so beautifully kept, I felt as if I had gone back in time...I don't even think I have the words appropriate to even review my experience here because it was so grand. That being said, get your ticket early because even WITH a ticket the lines (and crowds!) are CRAZY, but either the line went by really fast or time sped up since I was in such awe :). J'adore Château de Versailles! read more
11 years ago
The gardens are never over crowded, but the palace can become unbearable with the crowds in the morning and afternoon - so do the gardens first (you don't have to wait in line for that - just go to the right side and walk through as long as you bough your ticket online ahead of time and have it printed out) then you can go to the palace toward the end of the day - just get in before 5pm - that is a better way to see everything. If you can, get there very early and head down to the canal and take a boat ride (rental fee) or visit the little country house the Marie created.. Trianon on the far side of the property is very lovely and never crowded.. in my opinion the palace/chateau is pretty - but not the most impressive thing about Versailles - so make sure you spend time walking around the gardens. They also have a Petite Train that you can use to travel to the end of the property faster.. you can get on and off at 3 stops all day, i think it is about 7 euro per ticket.. Make sure to buy your ticket online and print it out before you arrive - so you can go right to the gardens. You can also bring a picnic with you and there is parking in the back where the park is - that is a great place to enter if you have a rental car and will be staying all day. I can't stress enough that the gardens are just as impressive if not more so than the rooms of the palace. read more
Go to this palace and no other palace can impress you! Housing three French monarchs until the French Revolution, Versailles Palace was France's main palace. Enter here to witness the extravagance and the beauty that this palace beholds, as literally every inch of the wall and the ceiling is covered with some kind of ornate frames or paintings! Marvel at the royal chapel where the ceiling painting is world-famous, gasp as you take in the world's largest ceiling painting in the Hercules Drawing Room, admire the signature view of the Hall of Mirrors. If you are traveling in Paris, you cannot miss this spectacular palace! Come here early though, because the crowd will get ridiculous. While you can finish the main palace within two hours even with the free audio tour, plan to spend at least a half day here. Walk a little bit in the enormous Versailles Garden and see the beautifully-sculptured fountains like the circular pyramidal Latona Fountain and the impressive Apollo Fountain. Pay an extra 3 EUR on top of your main palace admission to see the Grand Trianon (Retreat palace) and the Petit Trianon (Marie Antoinette's residence) at the back of the garden to see the architectural differences. If you do plan to go to the Trianon Palaces, pay a little for the garden shuttle because it is a long walk! (Learned that the hard way) Anyway, Chateau de Versailles is definitely worth the trip. In fact, if you didn't go, it's like you didn't go a complete Parisian trip! --- GET THE MOST OUT OF VERSAILLES: 1) To ride the train, buy the round-trip ticket to "Versailles Rive-Gauche" station at any metro station's vending station and transfer to the nearest RER C station. Note that not all RER C train goes to that station so beware before hopping on! 2) Buy the Passport pass to see the main Versailles Palace and the Trianon Palaces. 3) Go early (Palace opens at 9) before the crowd floods in. After going through the main palace, ride to Trianon Palaces (Open at 12) 4) Bring a light snack and lunch as food options there are sparse and expensive read more
If I could do it all over again, I would have followed my intuition and viewed the gardens only. Since we already bought our tickets our group decided to wait in a VERY long line to get into the palace...almost two hours. Big mistake. Poor crowd control, minimal staffing and signage, too many groups of tourists, not enough restrooms, etc. This is an over-priced tourist trap. We all left grouchy and hungry. read more
Gold on top of gold at @chateauversailles if you want to see opulence at its peak this is it Paintings on every surface and no shortage of chandeliers and marble and the Versailles gardens are impressive. There are many tours making it crowded so buy your tickets In advance. Beware it's a very large place and a lot of walking. The cafe was decent but overpriced. Follow me on IG @lanisgrl read more
11 years ago
I went here as part of a tour group from Brussels and so it was easy to get to as the Bus dropped us right at the front steps, and then we had pre-booked tickets so were able to walk right in to the Palace. What struck me straightaway is how incredibly large the palace and the entire estate are. The palace itself took us about 1,5 hours to walk through all the rooms - but thats because I did take my time, especially in the more famous rooms - like the Hall of Mirrors, the Peace Room and the Queen's room. And its not just the palace itself, because then you can head out and check out the gardens, the musical fountains show only held twice a day from 11h00-12h00 and 15h30-17h30), the Petits & Grand Trianons and the Marie Antoinette Estate. Since the grounds really were enormous (spread out over 7-8 hectares I believe), we decided to rent a golf cart and went to see the Petit Trianon first. After the Palace's grandeur, the simplicity of this house was simply charming and we found out it was was built by Louis XV as a private getaway for his mistresses (originally Madame de Pompadour and then afterwards Madame du Barry). Then Louis XVI gave it to Marie Antoinette as her retreat where she could enjoy a simpler life with her children and friends. Apparently no one, not even the king, could come here without an invitation!! After the Petit Trianon, we went to Marie Antoinette's Hamlet. This has to be my favorite part of the estate! It is simply super enchanting and like someone's idea of what a rustic farm/ country village should look like. Make sure you walk by the Temple of Love before heading to the hamlet and walking among the 12 buildings which make up the Hamlet - you cant go into any of them, but its lovely to see their structures and also walk among the plants/ vegetables that are currently in season. We didn't get to go see the Grand Trianon as the Estate closed at 6:30 the day we visited. Also one note about the fountains - if you have seen the ones at the Bellagio in Las Vegas or the Magical Fountain in Barcelona, the one at this Estate really cannot compare to their grandeur. But, these have a quiet simplicity and charm, especially for when they were first made in the 1700s and are still working and the lovely picturesque surrounding do provide some compensations. All I am saying is keep your expectations sensible and you wont be disappointed with this visit! read more
So I visited in winter, and while it was not super crowded, there were still quite alot of people there. I can only imagine how crowded it is in nicer weather where you can just picnic outside in the gardens. The palace is IMPRESSIVE. My favorite room was the Hall of Mirrors. The grounds were amazing and the fountains aren't even running in the winter. The audio guide is included in your 18 euro admission and is helpful to understand what you're seeing. Alot a day to see all of it, but you can see quite a bit in an afternoon. The train is the easiest and most inexpensive way to reach Versailles. It took us 40 minutes on the RER C train which is available from many Paris stations and takes you within 5 minutes of Versailles. Exit the train at the end of the line at the Versailles-Rive Gauche station and follow signs to the Chateau Versailles. read more
11 years ago
My wife was amazed at the beauty, I wanted to get the hell out of this place too damn many people! Unfortunately I was stuck here for hours because my wife was admiring EVERYTHING, I did enjoy the Gardens but the Palace was just too packed with people, while my wife gives this place 5-Stars... I give it only 1-Star due to the overcrowdedness AVG: 3-Stars read more
Huge and gigantic palace. Beautiful and it's breathtaking. I recommend going early by 9am she. It opens, otherwise the line is long to get in. Plus, it gets too crowded. If you get there by 9am, you can get down before 2pm. Considering renting a golf cart when you get to the gardens to save time and too much walking - serious crazy walking! read more
The Palace and gardens of Versailles is a must-see when visiting Paris! It's a roughly 30 minute train ride from city. As a pre-cursor to visiting Le Chateau, it is quite necessary to save some extra money than originally anticipated. In order to experience the opulence of what Versailles has to offer, you will have to dish out many Euros. The rooms within the estate are disgustingly decadent; they could make Donald Trump feel poor. Everything from the ceilings to walls, furniture - gold plated and dripping in over the top wealth. The range of room colors are striking; my favorite was the room characterized by vivid and deep forrest green walls (The Royal Bedroom, if im not mistaken). Like many monuments in Paris, paintings and artwork at the estate are obviously in abundance. The entire estate screams wealth. The gift shops on the estate are ravenous for your wallet; candles at the Marie Antoinette Shop run close to €50! Although the gross decadence of Versailles translates into expensive souvenirs and gifts; i did purchase a lovely Fleur De Lis bracelet. Unlike a candle, it was truly one of a kind! There are multiple admission fees at the estate, and the Museum Pass does not cover them all; so take that into consideration if purchasing the pass and planning a visit. I would not recommend buying the ticket to the fountain show (which i believe is only on Sundays); regretfully, i did not find it wildly impressive and would rather have saved the extra admission fee (or spent it on some vin)! However, two things i would nominate splurging on while visiting Versailles: renting a golf cart & boat. Dont get me wrong they are both expensive to experience, but the costs are based on time intervals - so control yourself! Its also much faster and more convenient to get around the gardens with a cart. Its also fun to honk at people in the way and call them peasants (hehe just kidding...but not really). The boat ride on the other hand is just pure indulgence, but also purely relaxing and magical. Beverage and food stands are plentiful throughout the gardens, which is lovely because who doesn't want to enjoy lunch on a beautiful day with the Ducks and Bacchus? read more
7 years ago
11 years ago
Absolutely worth it to see. Taking the RER was super easy and drops you right off in versailles. From there its a short walk to the chateau. The line was extensive to get in. At least 30-45 minutes, as we went in the summertime. The grounds are spectacular. You only need a few hours to see everything but some people make it an all day affair. What I didn't like or expect was having to pay entrance fee. And then have to pay for a trolley if you want to get to the other side of the grounds. And by the time you walk there, you definitely need a trolley ride back. And the trolley payment is for each way, which was annoying. read more
10 years ago
You can't tell from the outside how massive the palace itself is, what you saw from the outside just the tip of iceberg, (make sure you are wearing a comfortable shoe when you go there), inside room go on and on, there is not one room will let you down, which results in that take an audio guide with you is very important, not only can you appreciate stories and meaning behind each room, but also which precludes aesthetic fatigue to some extent. Audio guide is rather informative with substantial amount of information, I am pretty sure there is no way that you listen all informations within one trip. If you told me you already visited all rooms. I have to say, your trip just half done, the scale of garden is beyond your imagination, so food and water are the vital part of your trip to hold you up. Here comes two options, one is that make your garden tour by foot, which is more profound to consider every detail of the garden and a few small palace along the way. The other is that taking shuttle which I did, as i was visiting all way from main palace to garden it turned out I can barely stand, but I still don't want leave any regret of the trip. ( the shuttle will stop at some particular stops, you can choose to get off or stay still, at last you come to any shuttle stop, next shuttle will pick you up) Those vivid murals, detailed feature, magnificent design, exquisite furnishings etc were blowing my mind as I was feeling awe for superb skills of predecessor. read more
12 years ago
12 years ago
The Palace of Versailles was something I was told that I must check out while in Paris. The palace is about 30 or so minutes by Métro from the city of Paris so only go if you will be spending a considerable amount of time in Paris as there are too many things to see in the city before heading out of it. We bought tickets when we arrived and had no problem. You are then free to roam on your own to see the palace and the gardens. It is a pretty sight but I thought the Louvre was much more impressive. It is definitely regal and lovely but if you don't have the time, don't worry about it. Between the Louvre, the Orsay and many other beautiful and historical sites in Paris, you will be fine skipping it. It was a place where we went, spent a half day and then checked it off of our bucket list. read more
Th chateau is absolutely spectacular. It is the most gilded thing you will ever see in your life! My only complaint is all the people. One would expect it to be busy, but at some points throughout the tour, you can be packed in with everyone like sardines. It's often difficult to see the furniture/exhibits in the rooms. The line was insanely long. We waited an hour, and when we got to the front, a family of four tried to cut in front of us and acted like they had no idea what was going on. (We all speak fluent English. They were from the U.S. as well.) I bit their heads off, and they cut behind us. The family that waited behind us for an hour didn't say a word, and they cut the entire line... I would suggest getting there as soon as it opens to avoid similar problems. The best part of the Palace, in my opinion, is the Hameau de la Reine. It was Marie Antoinette's private retreat from the Palace. It's much less crowded which is because it's about a mile walk from the main Palace. You can also rent bikes or pay for a trolley. We walked in the rain, and it was still worth the trek for us. For those who have visited Buckingham or other grand palaces, you may be surprised at how "empty" Versailles feels. After the revolution, all the furniture in the Palace was stolen or sold. When it was being prepared to be opened for the public, they bought back the original pieces they could find. Some families even donated original pieces that had been passed down from their ancestors. Most other pieces had to be loaned or purchased from other royal families and are not original to Versailles. read more
16 years ago
Very nice place, but "nice" can be understated for some people. The ground is HUGE. There is so much that need to be covered. First off, if you can go when there's a string quartet available to play in the garden, do it! it's worth the extra euros. RENT A BIKE or if you're visiting with the older crowd (like I did) RENT A GOLF CART, you'll cover a lot more ground. We went during the summer so the cool and warm breeze was great. My suggestion is to take sandwiches with you before you go there and stop by the fountain for lunch or a nap. In actuality, I enjoyed the park so much better than the museum itself. I was more impressed and more awed at the Chateau de Fontainebleau and its beauty inside and out. Versailles just looked like a fortress to me, too much of it. Anyway, I guess if it wasn't for Louis XIV's envy of Fontainebleau the blueprint for Versailles may not have come about. Still a wonderful place to visit. Although it can get very hot during the summer if you're going through the motion in the museum. Everything is just so extravagant and overboard...makes me want to dress up in regal 17th and 18th century France. read more
I decided to go to Château de Versailles in Versailles which is a suburb of Paris. I took the train and it was about 30 minutes ride. When I arrived to the site, there were tons and tons of people. There had to be over 9,000 people in the entrance of Château de Versailles just waiting to get in and those who are buying tickets. I waited in line for about 2 hours just to get inside and I had another family member just to buy the tickets. I recommend buying the tickets online or buying at another location than the original Château de Versailles site!!! Château de Versailles is the most amazing building in terms of an exterior point of view in Paris. The sheer size of the building and the amount of gold used is unbelieveable. The front extrance of the château is made entirely of gold! The exterior craftmanship of the building is first class and you have to see it in real life to appreciate the details. So, I made it inside and I began my tour. I picked up a self guided audio device which explained the different rooms and locations of the Château de Versailles. Interior wise, the building was a bit of a disappointment. It was really no better than some musuems in Paris or London. I was also disappointed that it lacked furniture in most of the rooms. I mean, who wants to go inside and see nothing but just paintings on the walls? Yeah, that's what I mostly saw on the walls. Paintings! Sadly, it was very crowded and I think they let way too many people inside the building. But, wait! There's something even more shocking! There were Japanese artwork by Takashi Murakami on display inside almost all the rooms! They're not paintings, but three dimensional plastic Japanese anime type of artwork. If you're here to see French history, you're just getting more of Japanese than French. Château de Versailles is still a must visit. However, they must bring back the original furniture into the rooms! In short, excellent exterior, and a rather disappointing interior. Tip: According to my sister, it's much less busy during the winter time, and she had to wait less than 1 minutes in line to get inside. Pretty much no lineups. The downside is that you won't see pretty flowers in the gardens! On another note, you will always have to pay an extra fee to go inside the gardens. If that's not your thing, visit this site during the winter time for much less crowds. I visited Château de Versailles in September which was last month and the crowds were just massive. One has to wonder what the crowds will look like during the summer time. read more
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Place d'Armes
78000 Versailles
France
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http://www.chateauversailles.fr
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