Palace of the Sun King and summit of French classicism, the Palace of Versailles unfolds its gilding, its Hall of Mirrors and its gardens as far as the eye can see. Here is the complete guide to visiting it.
A gallery lined with mirrors and gold, gardens laid out to the horizon with mathematical precision, fountains that dance to music: the Palace of Versailles is the most dazzling symbol of absolute monarchy and one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. The former residence of the Sun King and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it draws millions of visitors each year. Here is our complete guide so you miss nothing.
Why visit Versailles
Because Versailles is not just a château: it is a world. People come for the excess of the State Apartments, for the dazzling Hall of Mirrors, for the perfect perspective of Le Nôtre’s gardens, but also to understand the France of Louis XIV and three centuries of history. Less than an hour from Paris, the estate takes a full day to visit, between lavish interiors, an immense park and secondary palaces tucked into the greenery.
From hunting lodge to the Sun King’s palace
Versailles began as a modest hunting lodge built for Louis XIII. Everything changed with Louis XIV, who decided to make it the seat of his power. From 1660 until his death, the king enlisted the greatest artists: the architect Louis Le Vau, then Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the painter Charles Le Brun for the décor and André Le Nôtre for the gardens. In 1682, the court and government moved to Versailles: the palace became the theatre of royal etiquette and the political heart of the kingdom, imitated across Europe.
The Hall of Mirrors and the State Apartments
An absolute masterpiece, the Hall of Mirrors links the king’s and queen’s apartments over 73 metres. Its 357 mirrors answer the great windows opening onto the park, while the vault painted by Le Brun glorifies the reign of Louis XIV. It was here, in 1919, that the Treaty of Versailles was signed. All around unfold the State Apartments, the sumptuous King’s Bedchamber, the Hercules Salon and the Royal Chapel, a peak of French Baroque art.
Le Nôtre’s gardens
The gardens are inseparable from the palace. Over nearly 800 hectares, André Le Nôtre composed the very model of the French formal garden: geometric parterres, perspective avenues, secret groves and statues. At the centre, the Grand Canal carries the eye to infinity, punctuated by the Apollo Fountain and the Latona Fountain. In fine weather, the Musical Fountain Shows send the fountains leaping to Baroque music: a spectacle designed to amaze, just as in the Sun King’s day.
Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet
Away from the crowds, at the far end of the park, the Trianons offer a more intimate Versailles. The Grand Trianon, a pink-marble palace built for Louis XIV, was his refuge from etiquette. The Petit Trianon later became the domain of Marie-Antoinette, who had her famous Queen’s Hamlet laid out there: a rustic village with its farm, mill and lake, where the queen played at country life. This corner of idealised countryside contrasts charmingly with the gilding of the great palace.
Planning your visit
Versailles is easily reached from Paris: the RER C drops you a ten-minute walk from the palace, in about forty minutes. The estate is closed on Mondays. To see everything, the Passport ticket combines the palace, the Trianons and, on show days, the Fountain Shows; access to the gardens is free outside those days. Arrive early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds, book online and bring good shoes: the park is vast. Allow a full day to enjoy it properly.
Also worth seeing
Versailles belongs to a royal, monumental France:
- The châteaux of the Loire, other royal residences
- The Gothic cathedrals, genius of the Middle Ages
- The medieval city of Carcassonne, a UNESCO site
- The Trianon estate and the King’s Kitchen Garden, in Versailles itself
In short
Palace of the Sun King, home to the Hall of Mirrors and Le Nôtre’s gardens, Versailles embodies the grandeur of classical France. To plan your trip, browse our directory of regions, explore the cities to visit and pin your stops on the interactive map.
