Palace of Versailles, Paris

About Versailles

The Palace of Versailles stands in the town of Versailles, south-west of Paris. King Louis XIV conceived it as a symbol of the French monarchy's glory, and from 6 May 1682 the king, the court and the government lived here permanently. It became the great architectural project of his reign and a masterpiece of French classicism that palaces across Europe would imitate.

It's vast: about 63,000 square metres with roughly 2,300 rooms, around a thousand of them part of the Museum of the History of France. The park covers 815 hectares, including 93 hectares of formal gardens with fountains and statues.

What to see at Versailles

• The Hall of Mirrors — 357 mirrors and crystal chandeliers.
• The King's apartments — the king's bedchamber and salons.
• The Queen's apartments — her bedchamber and private rooms.
• The Royal Chapel — white marble and gold.
• The gardens and fountains — parterres, groves and the Grand Canal.
• The Trianons and Queen's Hamlet — palaces deep in the park.

The Hall of Mirrors and the apartments

The palace's centrepiece is the Hall of Mirrors, a long gallery where seventeen mirrored arches face seventeen tall windows overlooking the garden. Hundreds of mirrors reflect the light, crystal chandeliers and gilded statues, beneath a painted ceiling celebrating Louis XIV's reign. Festivities, balls and ambassadors' receptions were held here.

On either side lie the King's State Apartments, with salons named after planets and gods, the Salons of Venus, Apollo, War and Peace, and the Queen's apartments with her state bedchamber. The route also passes the Royal Chapel, with white marble columns and gilding.

The gardens and fountains

The gardens of Versailles were laid out by gardener André Le Nôtre. They're the classic French formal garden: perfectly clipped parterres, geometric avenues, groves of green outdoor rooms and dozens of sculpted fountains. From the palace the Grand Canal stretches over a kilometre and a half to the horizon, with rowing boats for hire.

In season, at weekends, the Musical Fountains play to Baroque music as in Louis XIV's day, and summer evenings bring night festivals with lights and fireworks. Bikes, electric carts and a little train make getting around the park easier.

The Trianons and the Queen's Hamlet

Deep in the park stand two smaller palaces. The pink-marble Grand Trianon was built for the king to escape strict court etiquette. The Petit Trianon is an elegant classical palace beloved of Queen Marie Antoinette.

Nearby is the Queen's Hamlet, a picturesque village of thatched cottages, a mill, a pond and a farm where the queen played at country life. It's one of the most charming corners of the park and usually quieter than the palace.

Tips for your trip

Arrive at opening time and start with the palace before the groups build up, then head to the gardens, the Trianons and the Hamlet after lunch. Comfortable shoes are essential: you can easily walk more than ten kilometres in a day.

There are cafés and restaurants in the park, but a picnic on the grass by the Grand Canal is lovely too. Large bags aren't allowed in the palace, so leave them at your hotel or in the cloakroom.

Children love the gardens and fountains, the boats on the Grand Canal and the Hamlet's farm animals. A bike or the little train saves young legs.

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How to do it right

• Book a timed ticket online.
• Palace first, at opening.
• Closed on Mondays.
• Comfortable shoes.

Questions