Palace of Versailles

Where it is & how to get there

• RER: RER C to Versailles Château – Rive Gauche (about 40 min from central Paris), then a 10-minute walk.
• Train: SNCF trains from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers, or from Saint-Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite.
• Tours: Guided day trips from Paris include transport and skip-the-line entry.

The story of Versailles

Versailles began as a small hunting lodge of Louis XIII. His son Louis XIV, the Sun King, turned it into the most magnificent palace in Europe and moved the royal court and government here in 1682, keeping the nobles close and under control.

The Hall of Mirrors, with 357 mirrors, hosted royal celebrations and later the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. In October 1789 revolutionaries marched from Paris and forced Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette to leave, ending the palace's role as the seat of power.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Closed on Mondays. Arrive at opening time and visit the gardens after the palace.
• Rent a bike, a golf cart or a rowing boat to cover the huge gardens and reach the Trianons.
• The Passport ticket covers the palace, the Trianon estate and the Musical Gardens shows.
• Bring a picnic: food is expensive and the Grand Canal lawns are perfect for lunch.

What's around Versailles

• The TrianonsTwo smaller palaces and Marie-Antoinette's rustic hamlet in the park.
• The Grand Canal1.6 km canal where you can rent a rowing boat.
• Royal StablesHome of the Bartabas equestrian academy shows.
• Notre-Dame marketA lively food market in Versailles town.

Questions travellers ask