A Tour of the the Palace of Versailles Paris
The Grand Trianon and Petite Trianon Chateaux
Jul 31, 2008
This vast palace was built for King Louis XIV and gradually extended by successive monarchs until 6 October 1789 when the French Revolution forced the Royal family and court to leave.
Versailles Palace
Today Versailles Palace welcomes around three million visitors through its doors and the surrounding 2000 acres of beautiful gardens and forests sees an estimated six million enjoy the work of Andre Le Norte and the 48 gardeners employed at the Palace today.
Both the Palace and Park have UNESCO World Heritage status.
Entry to Palace of Versailles
There are various ticket options, but for visitors to Paris on a tight schedule, a one-day pass will allow access to a number of areas including:
- King’s State Apartments (with Hall of Mirrors)
- Queen’s State Apartments
- King’s Chamber
- Dauphin's Apartments (heir to the throne)
- Marie Antoinette Estate
- Grandes Eaux Musicals (fountain show)
The Palace of versailles's gilded rooms boast an impressive number of artistic treasures, they include: Christ at Supper with Simon, a magnificent canvas by Veronese, painted in 1570, a selection of Marie-Antoinette’s exquisite Chinese vases and a superb example of a Claude Simeon Astronomical Clock circa 1754.
At the time of writing the cost of a one-day pass to Versailles is 25 Euros (16 Euros in the low season)
Grand Trianon and Petite Trianon
Among the many historic buildings that make up the site are the Grand Trianon and the Petite Trianon. Both buildings have small museums inside and are well worth visiting.
- The Grand Trianon was a place for Louis XIV to escape the rigid formality of the Palace and spend more time with his family.
- The Petite Trianon was a chateau completed in 1768 as a home for Madame de Pompadour the mistress of King Louis XV.
The majestic grounds of Versailles are arranged around the Grand Canal, an ornamental body of water measuring over four miles around its edges. The gardens are a mixture of structured ornamental style, peppered with a number of spectacular fountains, and forests of oak, ash and cherry.
The ideal way for visitors to get around the park, which is too large to cover in a day, is by using one of Les Petite Trains, which run from the North Terrace to the Trianon Estate.
How to get to Versailles
By train on the RER regional network from Montparnasse station in central Paris.
By SNCF train from St Lazare station in central Paris.
By bus no 171 from Pont de Sevres beside the River Seine in Paris.
By car on the A13 motorway from Paris, signposted Rouen.
Before making the trip to Versailles it is really important to plan the visit, particularly if you only have a short time to spend there.
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