PALACE OF VERSAILLES

The Palace of Versailles is the former residence of the French monarchs and is famous for its architectural grandeur and its political significance in French history. King Louis XIII built a chateau in Versailles to serve as a hunting lodge in the early 1600s. Later King Louis XIV commissioned this extravagant Palace which took 40 years to complete. Today, this magnificent work is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the most visited attractions in Paris

The palace of Versailles happens to be a lavish complex and a former residence of the royal kingdom outside the city of Paris. The palace of Versailles is located at a distance of 10 Km from the city centre of Paris. The structure has deep connections with the political history of Paris as it represents an age in the history of French's rise as a power and fashion centre in the world.

This place has also deep connections with the French Revolution as it happened to be one of the largest urban centres in France. Enhanced by exploring Europe trip, The palace of Versailles in the initial days was primarily used as a hunting lodge where the royal family used to spend the night if they were not able to return to Paris. With time nearby lands were bought and the construction of other expansions began under the reign of Louis XII.

With a blend of various architectural designs, this palace had been constructed in a futuristic style with most of the imported raw materials. Palace of Versailles casts its magical spell on the visitors by its halls of mirrors fashioned with 357 mirrors bought from Venice, the royal garden ornamented with statues and flowery plants, and the royal chapel that was a torchbearer of many European church designs.

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Highlights

• The Palace of Versailles is one of the largest and most extravagant palaces in Europe.
• The Hall of Mirrors with over 300 segments of mirrors and crystal chandeliers is one of the best rooms in the Palace
• The beautiful Gardens of the Palace designed by Andre le Jotre with more than 221 sculptures, is one of the largest outdoor museums of sculptures in the world.
• The Queen's Hamlet is a model village following Normandy style which Marie Antoinette used as a respite from Palace etiquette and for her informal social gatherings.
• The Palace has some of the most fascinating collections of paintings and sculptures that depict the French history of that era.
• The Gardens of the Palace is one of the most spectacular gardens in the world with hundreds of thousands of flowers and trees, 55 water bodies, 600 fountains and 372 statues.Suggested Read: Best Things To Do In VersaillesCheckout & Book Now : Seine River Cruise

How To Reach

1. By Metro: The Palace of Versailles can be reached by the metro trains connecting every single part of the city. You can take the RER C train which will directly take you to the Le Château de Versailles.

2. By Bus: You can also reach the Palace of Versailles by the local bus service. It takes about 35 mins to reach the palace from the Paris city centre.

3. By Bike/Car: If you are familiar with the routes of Paris, then it would be better to drive down to the palace in your private or rental vehicle. You will have the liberty to stopover in between them to make the most out of the city tours as well. 

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Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit the Palace of Versailles in France is in the course of the spring season that lasts from the month of March to the month of May and again in the course of the autumn season which lasts from the month of September to the month of November.

It is the best time to visit to come over to the Palace of Versailles and spend time witnessing its artistic marvels and architectural marvels as the prices of accommodation happen to be a bit less compared to the rest of the year. This is also the time when you will find very less number of tourists.

1. Winter Season

The winter season lasts for a couple of months making the surrounding cold and wet with continuous snowfall. It can also be a good time to come over to France and visit a number of other tourist attractions.

2. Summer season

The Palace of Versailles receives a huge number of tourists in the summer season and you will not be able to spend good time at the palace because of its crowded surroundings. It is also very hot and expensive to stay in.

The best time to visit the Palace of Versailles in a day would be in the afternoon hours. The Palace is usually crowded in the morning hours and it would not be a good time to explore the museum. Come In the afternoon hours to create and capture memoirs. 

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Other Essential Information

Location: The famous Palace of Versailles is located at Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France. 

Price: There is no entry fee for pedestrians at the Palace of Versailles. However, if you are coming in a vehicle, then you would need to pay €3 for a motorcycle, €6 for a car, and €30 for a bus. In addition, if you are opting for a guided tour of the palace, then you would also need to pay €7 for adults.

Timings: The Palace of Versailles remains open from 9 AM in the morning to 5:30 PM in the evening on all days except Monday. Monday is the weekly holiday and all maintenance and cleaning work are scheduled on the same day. 

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Secrets from The Palace of Versailles

Here are some secrets about the Palace of Versailles that will surprise you:

1. The Palace of Versailles happened to be a hunting lodge for the royal family

Louis XIII bought a piece of land and constructed a chateau on it as he loved hunting. He used to stay in the hunting lodge at the nighttime if he had insufficient time to return to Paris or Saint Germain en Laye for darkness.

The chateau was again subjected to further expansion with the purchase of new land close to it and which paved the path for Louis XIV to convert the hunting lodge into a wonderful palace. The same palace was also in use as the government offices of the French government and also as courtrooms.

2. The essence from the garden of the Palace of Versailles made visitors fall ill

The gardens at the palace happen to be one of the largest and most spectacular lush green gardens in the world. It is jam-packed with more than 372 statues, 20 miles of water pipes, and 600 fountains which all together cast a magical charm.

Being home to a large variety of plants, the smell from some of the trees were too overpowering in the 17th century that made a number of guests fall ill.

3. Mirrors were stolen from Venice to construct the hall of mirrors

The construction of the hall of mirrors in the Palace of Versailles started in the year 1678 and to make it one of the most remarkable parts of the palace, more than 357 mirrors were used. At that point in time, Venice had the monopoly of making mirrors.

France was however successful in persuading the mirror makers to come over to this place and create some special mirrors for the palace. Venetian government at that point of time that imposed strict rules on the movement of its artisans. If any violation of the law was found, then the death penalty was given. 

A Detailed Guide To Visit: Paris Museums

Traveller tips before visiting the Palace of Versailles

• Audio guides are available for visitors and can be picked up from either the entrance to the Mesdames or the entrance to the Gallery of Castles. 
• The use of camera flash or mobile phone is prohibited inside the Museum. 
• To avoid crowds, get to the Palace early or in the late evenings after the tour buses leave. 
• Best days to visit would be Wednesday and Friday. It will be less crowded during this time. 
• Book your tickets in advance as this will save you plenty of time.  
• There are restaurants inside the Palace grounds where you can eat but you can also carry a packed lunch. However, you can eat your packed food only in the Park. 
• Restrooms and baby changing rooms facilities for visitors are available in the Palace. 
• Bicycles and golf carts are available for rent to tour the expansive gardens and park

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