Palace and Park of Versailles

Introduction

Palace of Versailles

© LindsayandSteve

The Palace of Versailles is a royal castle in Versailles. When the château was built, Versailles was a small village, today it is a suburb of Paris, 20 kilometres southwest of the French capital. The court of Versailles was the centre of political power in France from 1682, when Louis XIV moved to Versailles from Paris, until late 1789 when the royal family was forced to return to Paris after the beginning of the French Revolution. Today it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in France, and a popular daytrip from Paris.

Cost

There are several tickets that can be bought to visit the castles and the gardens.

For details visit the website of Chateau Versailles, here you can also buy your tickets, and print them.

On Sundays from November to March, entrance is free.
Holders of the Paris Museum Card also have free entrance.

Admission to the permanent collections of the Palace (Grand Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, etc.), the Trianon Palaces, Marie-Antoinette’s Estate, the temporary exhibitions plus the audio guides is free for: under-18s, young people under 26 years old who are residents of the European Union, schoolchildren, teachers assigned to a French establishment bearing their “Pass Education”, disabled persons and their accompanying adult, and job-seekers on presentation of documentary proof dating from less than 6 months before, etc.

Sights and Activities

The castle has 2,300 rooms, of which a number can be visited, besides the castle itself, the gardens are one of the finest examples of French Gardens to be found anywhere.

Sleep