The Palace of Versailles is known for its unbelievable extravagance and its place in history — from the French Revolution to the Treaty of Versailles. Located about 35 minutes from Paris, Versailles is worth a visit.
Perhaps the most extravagant room at Versailles is the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces). The Hall of Mirrors was the setting of many ceremonies and parties of the French Court. The room is lined with 357 mirrors and provides a glimpse into the opulence of the French monarchy.
Versailles makes a great day trip from Paris.
Other highlights of the main palace include a trip through the personal chambers of the royal family, including the king’s room, the queen’s room and the dauphin’s room. You can also see the royal chapel and the Museum of the History of France, which contains paintings detailing the history of France.
Besides the main palace, you can also see the Grand and Petit Trianon and the Estate of Marie-Antoinette.
One of the main attractions of the palace is the gardens. As visitors exit the back of the palace, they will encounter acres of detailed gardens, including statues, fountains, sculpted shrubs and an expansive manmade lake. There are many well-maintained paths throughout the gardens so visitors may explore the area at their own leisure. An electric tram or golf cart is available to help those with difficulty walking to cross the gardens to the other buildings on the property.
Pricing for the main palace is €15 for regular admission. Admission is free for those under 18 or people living in the European Union under the age of 26. Admission is also free on the first Sunday of the month during November, December, February and March. Admission to Versailles is also included in the price of the Paris Museum Pass, which allows entrance to many museums in the city. An audio tour is included in the price of admission and is available in English and French.
A view of the Hall of Mirrors.
If you wish to visit the Trianon Palaces and Marie Antoinette’s Estate, admission is an additional €10, with the same rules for free entrance that apply to the main palace. If you plan on visiting all of the buildings, a €18 passport ticket will allow you into both the palace and the Trianon Palaces and Marie Antoinette’s Estate.
Note: During the months between April and October, there are musical performances in the gardens and it costs €25 to purchase the Passport ticket.
The easiest way to reach the palace from Paris is to ride the RER C train (it leaves from specific metro stops on the C line). You will need to purchase a special ticket for this train, the “Paris-Versailles Rive Gauche” ticket because Versailles is outside of the first zone. The ride takes about 30 minutes and ends at the terminal in Versailles, located about 10 minutes walking distance from the palace gates.
