Versailles Palace Tickets Paris

The Palace of Versailles

Versailles began as a hunting lodge of Louis XIII, and Louis XIV turned it into a vast palace, moving the royal court there in 1682. For more than a century it was the centre of French political power, until the Revolution in 1789. Today it is a national museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its facade alone is impressive from the courtyard.

If you are comparing Versailles Palace tickets, you should know the palace is closed on Mondays and on some public holidays, and that visitors' details are checked at the entrance. Because the number of entries is limited by time, booking ahead is wise, especially in spring and summer.

The Hall of Mirrors and the State Apartments

The Hall of Mirrors is the palace's most famous room, a gallery about 73 metres long with 17 arched mirrors facing tall windows onto the gardens, lit by crystal chandeliers and decorated with painted ceilings by Charles Le Brun. It is also where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 after the First World War.

Close by are the King's Grand Apartments, the Queen's Apartments and the royal chapel, each with gilded ceilings, marble and paintings. Many visitors ask whether Versailles is worth visiting. If you like grand interiors and the story of the French monarchy, it is one of the best palaces in Europe, and a visit to the interior takes around two to three hours.

The Gardens, Fountains and the Grand Canal

André Le Nôtre laid out the gardens in the seventeenth century as a formal design of parterres, groves, sculptures and more than 300 acres of lawns and paths. At the far end the Grand Canal stretches out in the shape of a cross, and in season visitors can hire a rowing boat or bicycle to explore.

On selected days the fountains are turned on to music in the Musical Fountains Show, and on other days the Musical Gardens play baroque music among the groves. Some of our options include access to one of these events, and the booking panel shows which. Ask about the day you want to travel, because the dates change by season.

Marie-Antoinette's Estate and Getting There

Beyond the main palace, the Estate of Marie-Antoinette includes the Petit Trianon and the Hameau de la Reine, a small model village where the queen escaped court life. It requires a walk or a shuttle across the park, so allow extra time if you want to include it and check that your option covers it.

For those asking how to get to Versailles from Paris, take the RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, roughly 40 minutes from central Paris, or a regular train from Gare Montparnasse or Gare Saint-Lazare to a station a short walk from the palace. The best time to visit is a weekday morning, or the late-entry slot for a quieter afternoon.