The Grande Perspective bisects the Gardens like an axis of symmetry, passing Latona’s Fountain and following the Royal Way as far as Apollo on his Chariot and the Grand Canal.

Palace and Park of Versailles, France

Versailles, France

Versailles is one of the greatest achievements of French 17th century art. In 1661, Louis XIV commissioned André Le Nôtre to design and layout the intricate grounds—a project that took forty years to complete. The result was worth the wait. Discover how his transcendent vision became a blueprint for excellence across the world.

When night falls, the Gardens of Versailles transform to offer a stunning visual and musical treat as fountains and groves come alive with colourful and dramatic lighting effects. Every year during summer lightning and stage-effects artists light up the Gardens and display their surprising installations to the strollers. – © Thomas Garnier

Upon taking possession of the Petit Trianon in 1774, Marie-Antoinette set about thoroughly remodeling the gardens. Louis XV’s botanical gardens were replaced by a vast Anglo-Oriental Garden, more in keeping with contemporary tastes. The Queen made a conscious decision to limit the number of buildings, such as the Love Monument. – © Thomas Garnier

The Hall of Mirrors, the most famous room in the Palace was constructed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1678 and its vaulted ceiling was painted by Charles Le Brun between 1681 and 1684. At that time, mirrors were extremely expensive and the seventeen arches reflected the power and wealth of France. – © Thomas Garnier

Located behind the Royal Gate, the Marble Courtyard was part of the original hunting pavilion. Louis XIV had it decorated with black and white marble squares from Vaux-le-Vicomte. Located five steps above the Honor Courtyard, it was used for official ceremonies and occasionally for spectacles. – © Thomas Garnier

The Royal Opera House is one of the greatest works by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel. Inaugurated in 1770 during the reign of Louis XV, it was the largest concert hall in Europe and was also a great technical achievement and an impressive feat of decoration refinement. It has hosted celebrations, shows, and parliamentary debates. – © Thomas Garnier

Following the European taste for the “fermes ornées,” Marie-Antoinette tasked Richard Mique with extending the gardens to the north and building a whole model village around an artificial lake. Combining various influences from rural architecture, the queen enjoyed an etiquette-free life with her close friends in her cozy cottage. – © Toucan Wings

Visiting the Great Stables unveils a wonderful collection of majestic coaches and small carriages for Marie-Antoinette’s children, sedan chairs, and sleds. The exhibition of these creations is an amazing testimony to the pomp and splendor of court life during the Ancien Régime, the Empire, and the Restoration. – © Thomas Garnier

When night falls, the Gardens of Versailles transform to offer a stunning visual and musical treat as fountains and groves come alive with colourful and dramatic lighting effects. Every year during summer lightning and stage-effects artists light up the Gardens and display their surprising installations to the strollers. – © Thomas Garnier

The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Embellished by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators and landscape architects, the palace and its grounds influenced many of the other grand gardens across Europe and provided the ultimate model for taste and style.

During the Renaissance, the term "château" referred to a luxurious residence in a rural location—as opposed to an urban palace. Thus, it was common to speak of the Louvre "Palais" in the heart of Paris, and the "Château" of Versailles in the country. – © Thomas Garnier

The wonder of the Versailles gardens lies in the small details and the way they combine to create a coherent vista across the entire estate. Some of the finest artists in France worked together to design every statue and fountain. King Louis XIV had all the projects submitted to him for approval. Thousands of men were enlisted to work on the construction of the gardens over four decades. The final result was the envy of aristocracy everywhere, and was imitated for centuries.

The Grande Perspective, stretching towards the horizon, follows the path of the sun in the sky. This unique east-west vantage originally dates from before the reign of Louis XIV (the "Sun King"), but it was developed and extended by the gardener André Le Nôtre, who widened the Royal Way and dug the Grand Canal. – © Thomas Garnier

From the central window in the palace's Hall of Mirrors, guests can see the Grande Perspective from the Water Parterre to the horizon. But, it’s not necessary to ever go into the palace to appreciate the artful gardens. Just follow the paths past hedges to colourful flowerbeds, exquisite fountains, and patterns cut into the lawns. Deeper into the expanse, visit Marie Antoinette's private estate, where the queen sought privacy and an escape from the palace court.

A Commitment to Magnificence

In 1631, Versailles started as a hunting lodge for Louis XIII. His son, Louis XIV, built the now familiar palace and moved the nation’s government and court here in 1682. It remained the epicentre of French royal power—home to government offices and courtiers alike—until the Revolution in 1789.

The Gallery of Great Battles is the most important of the historical galleries created by Louis-Philippe in the Palace. It covers almost the entire first floor of the South Wing and depicts nearly 15 centuries of French military successes. – © Didier Saulnier

Beginning in the 19th century, portions of the magnificent palace were put to work as the home of the Museum of the History of France. And while the monarchs are long gone, Versailles still plays a role in the nation’s governance—the 19th Congress Chamber is still used by the members of the National Assembly and the Senate when they meet on exceptional occasions.

Including the palace, the gardens, the park, the Trianon estate and several buildings in town, the Versailles estate spreads over more than 800 hectares. Visitors can walk through a storied series of rooms, cross the king’s apartments, the queen’s apartments, and the most famous room at Versailles: the Hall of Mirrors.

In the Hall of Mirrors, the vaulted ceiling by Le Brun depicts the glorious history of Louis XIV during the first 18 years of his reign. – © Thomas Garnier

How to Get There

Versailles is 16 kilometres from Paris and easily accessible by car (parking available), taxi, bus, or train.

The RER C line links central Paris with the Versailles Rive Gauche station—ten minutes from the palace on foot. Trains also run from Paris Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers and from Paris Saint Lazare to Versailles Rive-Droite—each a twenty-minute walk from the Palace. The RATP bus 171 runs from Pont de Sèvres metro station to Versailles.

When to Visit

There’s no bad season to visit Versailles, but its extensive gardens are at their best in spring and summer.

While the gardens and park remain accessible, the buildings of Versailles are closed on Mondays. More than seven million people visit Versailles each year, so it pays to arrive at off-peak hours (immediately upon opening at 9 a.m., for instance). Some days are also busier than others, including Sundays and Tuesdays, when many Paris museums are closed.

Winter is also a great time to discover a quieter Versailles—in a different, and more subtle, light.

How to Visit

To enjoy the Palace and the Estate, plan to spend a day or more in Versailles. The audio guide is included in the ticket price and three mobile apps are freely available on Google Play and App Store. Guided tours allow access to closed locations of the estate and enter directly to the main places of the museum.

Several exhibitions and guided tours are available every day. Numerous events are organized in the Royal Chapel, the Royal Opera House, and the Equestrian Academy of Versailles, while during summer the Musical Fountains Shows bring the parterres and groves in the gardens to life each year to the sound of baroque music.

The Palace of Versailles is duty-bound to remain faithful to its vocation of supporting artistic creation. Every year since 2008, it has hosted the work of a famous contemporary artist, such as Jeff Koons, Giuseppe Penone, or Anish Kapoor.

Versailles proposes a variety of special offers for groups such as prestige tours and special after-hours tours which give access to areas usually not open to the public. For more information, please click here.

Check out the Estate's interactive map.

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Palace and Park of Versailles, France

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For more information on ticket fees, please click here.