Visiting the Palace of Versailles

The Home of Marie Antoinette

Jun 4, 2009 Marie Botkin

The breathtaking chateau of Versailles and its gardens are a must-see for anyone traveling to France.

Let them eat cake! Did she or didn't she say it, that is the question. Regardless of the authenticity of Marie Antoinette's famous last words, the chateau of Versailles will be a highlight during your trip to Paris. Luckily, Versailles is just a hop, skip and a jump away from the City of Lights. There are plenty of activities which warrant a visit, including tours, music and theatre performances.

Transportation from Paris to Versailles

• By train: RER Line C from Montparnasse station to Versailles-rive-gauche stop
• By bus: from Pont de Sevres line 171 to Versailles
• By car: Motorway A13 exit Versailles-Chateau (approximately 12 miles)
• Parking is available on the place d'Armes.
• Tickets for tours and events are available at the chateau or online at fnac.com

Touring the Chateau Versailles

Winding through the dazzling splendor of the Hall of Mirrors visitors can tour the rooms inhabited by the king and queen, including their own private apartments. Louis XIV, the Sun King, had seven salons attached to his personal room, and each was devoted to a planet. Painted scenes from the myths of Venus, Mercury and Mars cover the ceilings of each room, and there is even a chamber devoted to the king's astronomical clock which is set to tell the time and date until the year 9999.

The bedroom of Marie Antoinette is lavishly decorated and hosts an enormous four poster bed, paintings of famous queens on the ceilings, and silk hangings that have designs of lilacs and peacock feathers cover the walls.

The Gardens

Behind the chateau is an enormous Renaissance style garden that has fountains placed strategically throughout. The most famous is the fountain of Apollo, the sun god of Greek myth, who emerges from the water on his horse drawn chariot. Of special interest in the gardens are the favorite places of Marie Antoinette.

Located at the back of the estate is the Petit Trianon, a smaller chateau where she had a boudoir designed with mechanical mirrors and filled with furniture carved with flowers. The Queen's Hamlet was later designed especially for the young queen, and in this rustic style villa she attempted to live a simpler life and frequently played the role of shepherdess in the plays given there.

Activities at the Palace of Versailles

During the summer, there are concerts given outside amidst the fountains and various plays from the era of Louis XIV that are shown on the stage at the Petit Trianon.

If you are especially captivated by the mystique of Marie Antoinette, you can purchase a perfume for sale at the chateau that is a remake of the scent she herself preferred. It was called La Sillage de la Reine or "In the Wake of the Queen" and features notes of tuberose and jasmine.

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Office du Tourisme