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Palace · Versalhes, Ilha de França
Château de Versailles
The palace of Louis XIV, seat of the court and government of France from 1682 to 1789. Inside are the Galerie des Glaces, the Royal Chapel and the Grands Appartements of the king and queen.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Château de Versailles
The Château de Versailles began as a hunting pavilion for Luís XIII in 1623. Luís XIV had it enlarged from the 1660s, with architects Louis Le Vau and later Jules Hardouin-Mansart and the painter Charles Le Brun handling the decoration. On 6 May 1682 the court and government moved there for good, and Versalhes was the center of power in France until the Revolution in 1789. The palace and park have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.
The best-known room is the Galerie des Glaces, the Hall of Mirrors, which is 73 metres long. The 17 windows overlooking the gardens face 17 mirror-covered arcades, and the ceiling painted by Le Brun depicts episodes from Luís XIV's reign. It was there that the German Empire was proclaimed in 1871 and where the Treaty of Versalhes, ending World War I, was signed on 28 June 1919.
The Grands Appartements occupy the state floor. The king's are a sequence of salons dedicated to gods and planets, such as the Salon d'Hercule and the Salon d'Apollon, which was the throne room. The queen's apartments include the bedroom where queens gave birth in public. In the middle of the palace is the king's bedchamber, where Luís XIV died in 1715. The Capela Real, completed in 1710, is also part of the route.
The standard visit follows a one-way circuit and tends to be crowded, especially in the mornings and at weekends. Entry with a timed ticket is mandatory; the Passeport ticket combines palace, gardens and the Domaine de Trianon. The palace is closed on Mondays.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1h30 to 2h for the palace. With the gardens and Trianon, plan a full day.
Best time
Tuesday to Friday, preferably at the earliest time in the morning or mid-afternoon, when tour groups have already left. Tuesday tends to be busy because many Paris museums are closed that day. There are fewer visitors from November to March. Book your entry time in advance and check opening times before you go.
How to get there
From Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, the terminus of the RER C, it's about a 10-minute walk along the avenue de Paris and the place d'Armes to the palace gate. From Versailles Chantiers and Versailles Rive Droite stations the walk takes around 20 minutes.
Tip
Book your palace entry for the earliest time and save the gardens and the Trianon for later: the Trianon only opens at noon. Wear comfortable shoes, as the estate is vast. Large backpacks are not allowed; bring a small bag. Keep an eye on your belongings in crowded places such as the Galerie des Glaces.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Château de Versailles
Do you need to reserve a time to enter the palace?
Yes. Entry to the palace is with a timed ticket, including for museum pass holders. Book on the official website before leaving Paris, especially for weekends and the European summer.
On which day is the palace closed?
The palace and the Domaine de Trianon are closed on Mondays and on certain holidays, such as January 1, May 1 and December 25. Check before you go.
What shouldn't be missed on the visit?
The Galerie des Glaces, the Grands Appartements of the king and queen, the king's chamber and the Royal Chapel. Then go out to the gardens on the west side to see the façade and the Parterre d'Eau.
Can you see the palace and the Trianon in the same day?
Yes, if you start early. Do the palace in the morning, have lunch in the gardens or in town and head to the Trianon, which opens at noon. Between the two, the walk through the gardens takes about 25 minutes.