Palace of Versailles

Versailles is the most opulent royal palace in Europe, the vast baroque court that Louis XIV, the Sun King, built to dazzle the world and rule France, a UNESCO site outside Paris. Its gilded state apartments, the glittering Hall of Mirrors, and the immense formal gardens with their fountains and the Trianon palaces are the summit of royal grandeur.

History

Versailles is first mentioned in 1038, and in 1623 Louis XIII built a modest brick-and-stone hunting lodge on a hill in his favourite hunting ground, mocked by courtiers as a house of cards; in 1630 it saw the Day of the Dupes, and in 1631-1634 Philibert Le Roy replaced the lodge with a small château. After Louis XIII died in 1643 the estate was neglected for nearly two decades, until Louis XIV took an interest soon after his marriage in 1660, set it in order and in 1664 began the great building campaigns. The king, the court and the government lived here permanently from 6 May 1682 to 6 October 1789, except during the Regency of 1715-1723, and the palace, with some 2,300 rooms, became one of the masterpieces of French classical architecture and influenced architecture across Europe (Wikipedia, Palace of Versailles).

What to look for

• The Hall of Mirrors - the glittering gallery of seventeen mirrored arches.
• The State Apartments - the gilded royal rooms of the king and queen.
• The gardens and fountains - the vast formal gardens, with musical fountain shows in season.
• The Trianon and Marie-Antoinette's hamlet - the smaller palaces and the queen's model village.

When to go

Spring to autumn for the gardens in bloom and the fountain shows; the palace is worthwhile year-round. Book a timed ticket, arrive early, and allow a full day for the palace, gardens and Trianon.

What to expect

It is enormous and one of the busiest sights in France, so book ahead, arrive early, and expect crowds in the palace, especially the Hall of Mirrors. The gardens are vast, so a bike or the little train helps. Fountain shows run only on certain days and cost extra.

Nearby

The Trianon palaces are in the grounds; central Paris is forty minutes by train.

Key facts