Palace of Versailles - The Pleasure Palace Near Paris

A Royal Palace Near Paris

The Palace of Versailles is one of the most visited attractions in France. Find out in my article why you absolutely should not miss a visit to this neighboring city of Paris.

Getting to the Palace of Versailles

Porte de Versailles — photo by www.urlaubsguru.de

Versailles is just over 20 kilometers southwest of Paris and can be reached in various ways. If you're traveling by car or renting a rental car, simply drive west from the center of Paris via Rue de Rivoli towards Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, then follow the signs until you reach the A13 highway. From there, take the D182 to Avenue Rockefeller in Paris. Follow this for a short distance until you turn right onto Avenue Nepveu S, and after about 150 meters, you will already see the palace. The drive takes about 50 to 60 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

If the traffic in Paris seems too stressful, you can also conveniently use public transport. For example, you can take the RER C regional train from St. Michel Notre Dame station, the L train from Gare-Saint-Lazare, or the TER from Montparnasse station. All connections go directly to the neighboring city of Versailles and take about 30 to 50 minutes.

From the respective stations, it takes about 15 minutes to get to the palace. Train tickets start from $3.85 per trip. A taxi ride, however, is significantly more expensive at $30 to $40 and may not be much faster due to heavy traffic.

Train connections the fastest & cheapest (from $3.85 per trip)
Address: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles
Distance to Paris: about 25 km

The History of the Palace of Versailles

Palace of Versailles near Paris — photo by www.urlaubsguru.de

The Palace of Versailles was once a small hunting lodge. Between 1631 and 1634, King Louis XIII commissioned the French architect Philibert Le Roy to transform his little house into a three-winged palace. After his death, it served his son Louis XIV as a pleasure palace and summer residence.

Louis XIV expanded the palace several times over the years, adding massive extensions, terraces, gardens, and fountains, including the famous Hall of Mirrors. In 1677, King Louis XIV announced that Versailles would become the future seat of government. Thus, the palace was the power center of French kings from 1682 to 1789. However, in 1789, during the French Revolution, the magnificent palace lost its function as an official seat of government, and the royal family was brought back to Paris. After numerous looting and some destruction, it was Napoleon I who saved the palace from decay.

After extensive restoration work in the 19th century, the palace was transformed into a national museum at the request of King Louis-Philippe I. In the following years, it served as the center of French legislation and on June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed here, ending World War I. A palace that impresses not only with its absolutely stunning interior and exterior architecture but also with a significant history. In 1979, the Palace of Versailles and the adjacent park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How a hunting lodge became a pleasure palace...

One of the Largest Palace Complexes in Europe

With its magnificent gardens, museums, and garden palaces, the Palace of Versailles is now one of the most important sights in Paris, even though it is several kilometers away from the city center, and has even served as a model for many other palaces around the world. Just seeing the palace makes it clear why this building is visited by up to eight million tourists each year.

Unique in size, unique in style

More Than 1,800 Rooms Spread Over 51,000 m²

One quickly wonders how much work went into such a massive project? The answer is: Up to 22,000 people worked at times on this architectural masterpiece, which covers an impressive 51,000 m² and includes more than 280 apartments and 1,800 rooms.

It is no wonder that the famous French writer and fairy tale author Charles Perrault said in his time: 'Ce n'est pas un palais, c'est une ville entière. Superbe en sa grandeur, superbe en sa matière.', which translates to: It is not a palace, it is an entire city. Unique in its size, unique in its style. Once you see the palace with your own eyes for the first time, you will likely be reminded of his words. Take your time to admire the many extraordinary details in the architecture, the golden elements, and enjoy the unique atmosphere. After you have gathered your first impressions, it is time to enter the opulent complex.

Highlights in the Palace of Versailles

You can't really get lost in the palace, but with so many rooms, there is certainly a lot to see. To help you get a glimpse, I have summarized five of the most important highlights for you below.

Bedroom of the Sun King: The grand golden room with its massive four-poster bed and luxurious ceiling paintings, where King Louis XIV spent his nights, exudes glory.
La Galerie des Glaces - the famous Hall of Mirrors: Almost no one can miss this, as the unique Hall of Mirrors is one of the most famous rooms in the palace. In the over 70-meter-long gallery, there are an astonishing 357 mirrors, which, unbeknownst to many, used to serve a special function. The hall has 17 floor-to-ceiling windows that open to the park. Through the mirrors, which reflect the green heart of the estate, the splendid garden is meant to be brought into the hall.
Salon de Venus: This beautiful room was dedicated to the goddess Venus and served as a reception room during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Grand & Petit Trianon in the Palace Gardens: The magnificent gardens of Versailles are a must-visit for every guest, as you can admire the immaculate park landscapes and the many beautiful fountains, as well as the two small pleasure palaces that are worth a visit just for their elegant architecture.
Salon d'Apollon: Even the throne room of King Louis XIV, furnished with red velvet, attracts many enthusiastic visitors.

Opening Hours, Prices & Tickets for the Palace of Versailles

Are you in love with this opulent pleasure palace and want to dive even deeper into the history of Versailles? Then you should start planning right away. To help you better plan your visit, I have summarized the key details for you at a glance. You will also find the appropriate tickets here directly. You just need to decide whether you want tickets with an audio guide, with or without the fountain show, or perhaps even a tour from Paris.

Admission Prices:
Domaine de Trianon: from $13
Palace: from $19
Gardens and Park: free admission
Free admission for children & teenagers under 18 years, young adults from the European Economic Area (18-26 years), and for disabled & unemployed persons
Note: Special prices apply during the fountain shows from April 6 to October 27, 2019 (Saturdays & Sundays).
Opening Hours:
Palace: Tuesday to Sunday 9am - 6:30pm
Domaine de Trianon: Tuesday to Sunday 12pm - 6:30pm
Galerie des Carrosses: Tuesday to Sunday 12:30pm - 6:30pm
Palace Gardens: Daily 8am - 8:30pm
Palace Park: Daily 7am - 8:30pm
Note: The palace, Domaine de Trianon, and Galerie des Carrosses are closed on Mondays.

Have you planned your trip to Paris yet?

By now, you should definitely be eager to visit the French capital, right? Get some inspiration for your trip in my other travel magazine articles about Paris and take a look at my offers. Once your city trip to Paris is booked, a trip to the Palace of Versailles will not be far behind. You should definitely visit this impressive pleasure palace at least once.

Opulent Palace of Versailles