Versailles— site of a 17th century spectacle in a French city a short ride from Paris. The Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) stands regally as a historic UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with gold accents.The elaborate royal residence was embellished over 150 years by generations of architects, sculptors and decorators.
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Palace of Versailles & Museum
Admission to some spots on the estate are generally free to everyone, like the Gallery of Coaches and the expansive gardens and park. Some visitors may also get free admission to the Palace of Versailles’ museum, its temporary exhibits, and audio guides, like:
- Anyone under 18 years old
- European Union residents up to 25 years old
- French school students and teachers
- Disabled people with a supportive adult companion
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Palace of Versailles Tour
True history and art buffs would need more than a couple hours to tour this grand chateau. The model structure has much to see, with hundreds of rooms! The Palace of Versailles’ construction had a stipulation that everything had to be made in France— from the painted artworks to the mirrors crafted by Venetian makers. My companion and I were simple tourists doing touristy things and snapping photos.
Architectural details and shiny gold at every turn could leave you in genuine awe. Among the most popular spaces at the Palace of Versailles are the Gallery of Coaches’ carriage collection and the elegant Hall of Mirrors where the Versailles Treaty was signed. The estate has staged and still hosts many gala evenings, concerts, operas, and ballets in some of its exceptional rooms. Admittedly, the large crowd and time of day deterred us from a full guided tour. Instead, we roamed and admired the luxurious rooms and gardens; the palace and grounds were still magnificent sights to behold!
Palace of Versailles Gardens
The Versailles Palace gardens are reputed to be some of the world’s largest and most spectacular. Manicured lawns sprawl across 2,014 acres of flower beds and green hedges. A garden view from the palace was nothing short of impressive, and showed immaculate maintenance by green thumbs! For us, the garden was more enjoyable…being not only stunning but also airy and uncongested.
Grand stairways and walking paths lead visitors beyond the palace to the wealth of masterpieces by nature and man. The Palace of Versailles Gardens is also the largest open-air sculpture museum in the world, with hundreds of sculpted figures. Verdant avenues are punctuated by a wealth of statues and fountains. Some days, you could opt to watch the gardens’ musical fountain show.
Why is the Palace of Versailles Famous?
The Palace of Versailles hosted multiple historic events in France— including signing the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I. King Louis XIII used the now-historic estate as a hunting lodge in 1623, ‘til it transformed to his royal residence in 1631. It was a privileged place for French royalty from the time of King Louis XIV to King Louis XVI. King Louis XIV, and housed the French government seat of power by 1682. It was eventually converted to the Museum of the History of France in 1837 before it evolved into today’s lavish museum.
The extravagance had poor people of France ultimately detesting it and the opulence it represented during the French Revolution. Its original, golden front gate was ordered dismantled, but later recreated in 2008 using iron and gold leaf accents for the modern-day Versailles museum. I admit that I found its magnificence overwhelming as well, and can imagine the outrage a mere sight of it could cause countrymen knowing it was home to the monarchy.
Best Times to Visit Versailles Palace Museum
This is a major attraction, with millions of history-loving and art-admiring visitors each year. It’s easily accessible by train, making it a popular choice for a day trip, and an option you should consider for a first trip to France. If you’re hoping to minimize huge tour crowds at a popular tourist spot (and one that’s closer to Paris than Champagne is), the following tips could make a vast difference.
Entry to the Versailles Palace is free on the first Sunday of each month during the off season– November to March. These months also reportedly have the shortest wait times! It’s generally recommended to reserve a skip-the-line ticket to visit the Palace of Versailles, especially between late morning and mid-afternoon. My visit was during a tourist shoulder season (September), using a pass purchased online less than 24 hours in advance. Even with the presold ticket my friend and I spent around 15 minutes at the entrance during an obviously-busy period. There was still a noticeable difference in progress speed when compared to lines of persons who didn’t pre-order passes.
Conclusion
Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) is a grand site with a lot to visually appreciate and learn about. It’s a top tourist attraction in France and can attract hefty crowds. The tours are probably most appealing to fans of art, architecture, or history. Between the palace, park, and gardens a visit to the estate can also be simply enjoyed by admiring the aesthetics like we did! If given the opportunity I would probably return and do a guided tour, as long as it’s during an off-peak time!
