France,  Guides

Day Tripping to the Ornate Versailles Château from Paris

entrance to versailles château

Versailles Château is the grandest of all French châteaux. It is the gold standard of French palatial opulence with a healthy dose of historic significance to top it off. A visit to Paris would not be complete without a day trip to Versailles!

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Paul’s Summary of Versailles Château

Hours*Main Palace 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Estate of Trianon 12:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Closes one hour earlier during low season (November 1st through March 31st)
Both are closed on Mondays and May 1st
Length of Visit3-5 hours depending on how much of
the gardens and Estate of Trianon you explore
CostPassport (access to whole estate) $29.31
Main Palace only $19.54
HighlightsHall of Mirrors, the gardens, estate of Trianon

Visiting Versailles Château

Short Summary of Versailles Château

Versailles Château is a massive estate. The entire estate takes up an area of 3 square miles. That is a whole lot of château to visit. Gardens and the park take up a lot of that space, so unless you want to see every inch of these two spaces, you can still see the highlights in a single day trip.

In addition to its size, Versailles Château is also the most visited château in all of France. Around 30,000 people visit the palace each day. That is a whole lot of people.

Fortunately, because the estate is so big, it’s possible to get away from those people. Most people will – rightfully so – be in the palace. The farther you get away from the palace, the less dense the estate becomes with people. In fact, we were almost alone when visiting the estate of Trianon.

The main areas are the palace, gardens and estate of Trianon, so I’m going to focus this article on these three sections. However, if you have extra time, here are a few other sections you can visit:

  • Royal Tennist Court
  • Royal Stables
  • Gallery of Coaches
  • the park

Ticketing Info for Versailles Château

There are many ticket variations to consider when visiting Versailles Château that go beyond the scope of this article. They offer various guided tours, methods of transportation around the estate, year passes, tours of private sections, and so on and so forth. Click here for more information on each type of ticket.

The three primary tickets are described below. You can visit the park and gardens free of charge most days of the year. The only exception is on days when there are special events at the gardens. Check the château’s website for more info.

It’s also important to note that timed entry is mandatory for visiting Versailles Château. Once you know when you’ll be visiting, make sure to book your tickets to ensure a date and time that fits your itinerary.

Passport Ticket

This is the ticket option I recommend. It gives you access to the entire estate of Versailles. You can see the palace and gardens before heading to the estate of Trianon all for the price of $29.31.

I’ll talk more about the estate of Trianon later, but for now I’ll simply say it’s worth visiting while you’re at Versailles Château.

Palace Only

As the name implies, this ticket will only let you visit the Palace of Versailles, the gardens and the park. The cost of this ticket is $19.54.

While I recommend seeing everything, this ticket is a good option if you only have a couple hours to visit Versailles Château. You can make sure to visit the palace and then spend whatever time you have left available in the gardens.

Estate of Trianon

The final ticket option worth discussing is for access to the estate of Trianon. This ticket costs $13.06 and includes the gardens and park.

I would only recommend this ticket if you already visited the Palace of Versailles in the past and don’t want to see it again. Otherwise, while interesting, the estate of Trianon is not worth a visit by itself.

Dining Options at Versailles Château

Within the whole estate are six different dining options ranging from cheap takeaway to expensive sit-down restaurants. The various eateries are scattered throughout the estate.

We only had a small to-go picnic lunch at one of the locations in the gardens. Honestly, it was long enough ago that neither of us can remember for sure which place it was. I remember it was good but nothing more than that.

I encourage you to click here to read more about the various options available.

How to Get to Versailles Château from Paris

There are three options for visiting Versailles Château from Paris: train, car or bus. We opted to take the train as this seemed to be quicker than catching a bus and we didn’t have a car. Even if you have a car, it isn’t worth the hassle of dealing with traffic and parking when you have such convenient train options.

By Train

You can travel by either the RER C line or SNCF trains. The RER C line is likely your best option as its arrival station is the shortest walk to the château. There are several departure stations, but all arrive at the Versailles Château-River Gauche station. From there, it’s a 10-minute walk to the château.

There are also two different SNCF trains you can take from Paris. One goes from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers. The other goes from Gare Saint Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite. Respectively, it is an 18-minute and 17-minute walk from these stations.

Find train schedules here.

By Car

If you have a car in Paris, the quickest way to Versailles Château is via the A13 motorway west out of the city. Expect this trip to take between 30 and 45 minutes depending on traffic. Upon arriving in Versailles, there are several car lots available, all of which require a fee.

Click here for a map of available parking lots.

By Bus

You can also visit by bus by taking by RATP Line 171 from Pont de Sèvres to the Palace of Versailles. Without traffic, this trip takes around 30 minutes.

A Brief History of Versailles Château

Beginnings of Versailles Château

King Louis XIII was the first to establish a royal presence in Versailles in 1624. The local forests around Versailles were a favorite of his which led to him purchasing the area to have a hunting lodge constructed.

It’s this hunting lodge that would become Louis XIV’s grand palace during his reign.

For more info on another château with some interesting history, check out Château d’Amboise!

Enter Louis XIV

Versaille Château became a significant part of French political life when Louis XIV came into power. He envisioned a grand estate where French nobility would gather to be near him. His goal was to centralize French politics around the monarchy. By keeping the nobility preoccupied at Versailles, they’d be less likely to develop regional power of their own allowing Louis XIV to create an absolute monarchy.

Louis XIV began upgrading his father’s hunting lodge in 1661, and in 1682, he formally moved the royal court to Versailles. Some of the more well-known enhancements to occur during Louis’ renovations were the Hall of Mirrors, the Grand Trianon, the gardens and the Royal Stables.

To further consolidate his power at Versailles Château, he would establish a strict code of etiquette for the nobility to follow. This etiquette caused the nobility to become bogged down in tedious tasks, another way to prevent them from plotting against the king.

One of my favorite court rituals involved the king’s bedroom. Particularly important nobility had the opportunity to watch as the king was dressed and bathed each day. You have to admire the audacity of the king to create a spectacle out of something so mundane!

The French Revolution

Not much happened with Versailles Château between Louis XIV and the French Revolution. The only major change during this time was the construction of the Petit Trianon by Louis XV in 1762.

The next king, Louis XVI, also made few changes to Versailles Château. In this case, it was more due to France’s progressively worsening financial situation than anything else. The beginning of the French Revolution, partly caused by these financial woes, would put the final nail in any of Louis XVI’s construction aspirations.

The French Revolution first came to the château on June 20, 1789. On this day, members of the Third Estate met at the Royal Tennis Court to take the Tennis Court Oath. The oath stipulated that members of the Assembly not leave Versailles until a new constitution was created.

Versailles would see one other piece of significant history during the revolution on October 6, 1789, with the Women’s March on Versailles. Protesting rising costs and the scarcity of bread, a large group of women mixed with revolutionaries pushing for political reform marched from Paris to Versailles to bring their demands to Louis XVI. The king met with them, and the next day left for Paris to never return again.

19th Century

During the 19th century, not much of importance happened at Versailles Château. Several rulers considered using the palace as their residence, but the costs of repairs were too great. Napoleon and then later King Louis-Phillipe I chose instead to use the Grand Trianon as their residence.

painting of the coronation of napoleon
The Coronation of Napoleon

20th Century

The first notable event to occur during the 20th century was the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors to end World War I on June 28, 1919.

After that, the château finally, after over a hundred years, began to receive the funding needed to begin restorations. John D. Rockefeller Jr read articles in America about the state of the estate during the 1920s and began donating money to help with repairs.

The next significant period for Versailles Château came during World War II when the Germans occupied the estate after taking control of northern France. Without going into a full-blown history lesson, this was a symbolic moment for the Germans who had to sign the Treaty of Versailles which left the German state weakened after World War I.

After the Germans were defeated, restoration efforts continued throughout the 20th century to give us the château experience we have today.

My #1 Tip for Visiting Versailles Château

Get here early! I know, I know. Everyone says that about everything when it comes to travel, but this is one place where the experience is impacted by crowds. While I still enjoyed my visit, there were a few times I wished it wasn’t so crowded.

The Hall of Mirrors was particularly affected by the sea of humanity because of people lingering here for photos. In my head, I imagined this room as a tranquil scene of French elegance and grandeur. Instead, it was literally filled wall to wall with humans elbowing past each other to get from one view to another.

You can avoid that scene by arriving as early as possible. You may still have other people to contend with, but it won’t be nearly as dense with people as it was when we visited.

crowd of people entering the hall of mirrors

Highlights of the Palace of Versailles

Let’s be honest: Everything else at Versailles Château is great, but this is what people come to see. And for good reason. This palace is the definition of Old World French aristocratic style and grace.

I’ll try my best to provide a list of some of my favorite things from the Palace of Versailles, but really, the entire palace is one big highlight with its fine Baroque paintings and opulent architecture.

So, without further ado, here are some of my personal favorites from the Palace of Versailles!

The Palace’s Façade

While some other French châteaux feel more like castles, Versailles definitely looks like a palace. Between the golden gateway that greets you upon arriving and your first view of the building, it’s enough to drop your jaw.

The whole scene is almost overwhelming, especially when you consider how much history this building has seen.

Another château with a great exterior is Château de Chenonceau! Click the link to read all about it.

The Royal Chapel

The Royal Chapel is one of the first things you see when visiting the Palace of Versailles. Compared to the rest of the palace, it’s relatively simple and unadorned with decoration.

It’s still pretty elaborate, though. Unfortunately, you aren’t able to actually enter the chapel. Nevertheless, even from afar you can see how stunning the altarpiece and organ are at the other side of the room. Like the other rooms in the palace, there is also a gorgeous ceiling mural in here, too, but you can only see part of it from your vantage point.

The Hall of Mirrors

Even though I just said how crowded the Hall of Mirrors was during our visit, it was still one of the highlights of the palace. Despite all the people, it is still obvious how grand this room is.

It contains 17 nearly floor-to-ceiling mirrors opposite windows facing out to the gardens and park. Above you is yet another magnificent ceiling mural and 43 elegant chandeliers. It is quite the scene. Imagine being a visiting dignitary at Versailles Château and seeing this while waiting for the king.

The main reason it was unfortunate that it was so crowded is, besides how wondrous it would be to be in there alone, it is impossible to get any good pictures. In my mind, I was going to get this amazing photo of the Hall of Mirrors. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. To be fair, I don’t know why I wasn’t anticipating the crowd.

within the crowd of the hall of mirrors

The Gallery of Great Battles

As a history buff, this room was awesome. This gallery is the largest room in the whole palace which is impressive in and of itself. However, in addition to that, it contains 33 large paintings displaying some of the greatest military successes in French history.

Paintings range from Clovis I (the king of what would become France) in 496 to Napoleon’s victory in Wagram in 1809. There’s even a painting commemorating America’s victory (with help from the French navy) over England in the Siege of Yorktown during the American Revolution.

hallway of large paintings in versailles château

All the Ceiling Murals

I realize I’m cheating a little here by including all the ceiling murals, but it’s my website, so I get to do what I want!

These murals were my favorite parts of the various rooms along the tour of the palace. They’re all so beautiful and contain such great detail. I particularly like how they are created with 3D perspectives to make the rooms extend into the sky above.

Versailles Château’s Gardens

The Gardens of Versailles are huge with many sections to get lost in. And that is really the best part of the gardens: The ability to wander away from the crowds to discover small details that seem like they were placed for your eyes only.

There are many secluded groves with exquisite sculptures and water features to discover. Exploring these groves made me fantasize about what it must have been like to be nobility visiting here in the 17th century during some grand party. Imagine the stories these statues could tell you about what they’ve seen over the centuries!

The two highlights of the gardens are two things that are nearly impossible to miss: the Latona Fountain and the Apollo Fountain.

You will come to the Latona Fountain first as you make your way away from the palace. I love how whimsical this fountain is! It is made up four concentric rings, each adorned with golden statues of frogs and turtles. It’s such a playful scene in what is otherwise a serious and orderly garden.

You’ll next come across the Apollo Fountain a little farther down the central section of the garden. This fountain illustrates a scene of the god Apollo on his chariot seemingly rushing out of the water itself. Where the Latona Fountain has whimsy and fun, this fountain feels serious and full of intense action. You get the sense that the horses could burst into life at any second.

My advice for visiting the gardens is to save yourself at minimum an hour to let yourself get lost in them. Take time to admire the two highlights I just mentioned, and then just go wherever your feet take you. You’re bound to find something worth seeing!

For more château gardens, read my article on Domaine Chaumont-sur-Loire!

Estate of Trianon

The estate of Trianon could practically be its own château, and in a sense, that is exactly what it was designed to be. It was first established as a refuge for King Louis XIV to escape from the Palace of Versailles when he wanted peace and quiet. The first building to be built was the Grand Trianon.

Later, Louis XV would have the Petit Trianon built nearby. This would become the favorite residence of Queen Marie-Antoinette who would also go on to have the Queen’s Hamlet constructed.

Much like Louis XIV’s desire for a place of solitude, the estate of Trianon is perfect for 21st century visitors who want to get away from the crowds of the main palace. When we visited the estate, we were practically alone except for a handful of other tourists. We could take our time exploring the buildings, hamlet and surrounding gardens.

However, the estate itself is not nearly as memorable as the palace and gardens. It is also a bit of a hike to get to by foot from the palace. There are options for transportation, but we chose to walk as we wanted to take our time in the gardens and park.

With those things said, you can skip the estate if you are either pressed for time or want to save a few dollars. If those two things aren’t a concern of yours, I do think it’s worth visiting.

The Queen’s Hamlet

I do want to talk just briefly about the Queen’s Hamlet because it’s such a quirky little facet of the estate. During Marie Antoinette’s era, rustic gardens like this were fashionable among the French aristocracy. I guess they enjoyed the opportunity to make believe they were poor, country peasants.

They seemed to have this romantic idea of simplicity that they strove for in rustic settings like this without actually giving anything up. Quite literally, they would pretend to be farmers whenever the fancy took them.

The irony of the whole thing when have the hindsight of knowing the French Revolution was brewing under their noses is just fascinating to me. Beyond that, walking around the hamlet while imagining Marie Antoinette in her peasant’s smock tending the land is one of the more bizarre things I experienced in France!

an idyllic rural farm

Is Versailles Château Worth Leaving Paris for?

Absolutely, yes! The Palace of Versailles is such an important part of French history that you would be doing yourself a disservice to not visit when you have the chance. If you’re not interested in history, it’s still a great example of the opulence and grandeur of French architecture.

The only exception I would make to this recommendation is if you are only in Paris for a couple days. If you have a limited time in Paris, spend it in the city and don’t worry about side trips.

If you have to miss it, it’s just a reason to visit France again in the future!

Consider heading to Amboise after you’re done with Versailles to explore more French châteaux!

a three-dimensional paint in versailles château
This isn’t really important, but I love this painting!

Resources to Book Your Trip to Versailles

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19 Comments

  • Mitch - Very Tasty World

    Versailles is such an iconic château and it was great to read about your visit. As ever, the history was interesting and visitor information helpful, especially the point about arriving early to avoid the crowds. It looked incredibly busy. It’s good that the gardens are so extensive so that you can explore them at leisure. And the ceiling murals are great! So many people don’t look up when visiting places and can often miss out on really interesting architectural/decorative features.

  • Barry

    Great info on tickets and how to get there, I would need this as it was many, many years ago that I was there and I’d forgottem about transport. I didn’t realise that connections from Paris by train were so good (we went by car). Good to read the dining options too as I don’t remember places there.
    Like you, I do remember thinking how crowded it got and I too never any pics devoid of multitudes of people.
    Love the pics of the ceiling murals, like you say, everyone forgets to look up as what are often the best bits of the rooms.
    Loved the story you gave of the nobility dressing up a poor countrymen as a fad when the actual poor were actively engaged in the Revolution that was about to engulf them – ironic or what !
    Great post with lots of info and, as always, I adore the history info of its set-up.

  • Wanderingkellers

    The sheer size of it is almost unfathomable. Definitely want to visit at some point. I can imagine one could explore for days if they wanted to.

  • Stephen & Andie

    Iconic! I would definitely want to visit if possible whenever we get to France. Although, the tone of “30,000 people per day” does give me pause and visions of herding through the place like cattle. But nonetheless, I would go early and hope for the best, as I feel it would be worth enduring a little discomfort for the sake of the experience.
    Thanks for taking so many photos – they’re magnificent.

  • Sydney Brown Travels

    Believe it or not, I haven’t yet made it out to Versailles. I am absolutely planning to do so during my next trip to Paris, though! This post solidified that decision! It looks beautiful, and sounds amazing. I think the main worry that held me back from visiting in the past was the crowds. I’ll have to muster up the courage to do it (perhaps during the off season?).

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