Hidden doors, secret passages, private studies, libraries and apartments… the palace holds concealed quarters in which French kings and queens once sought refuge, far from court stuffiness.
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You can even stay at the Palace of Versailles when you book a room or suite in the magnificent 5-star Airelles Château de Versailles Le Grand Contrôle luxury resort located in a fully renovated historic building on the Estate's grounds.
The venue rent itself varies from 18 000 euro for the Crusades Rooms to 70 000 euro for the Gallery of Battles or Orangerie. Considering the unique facilities of the Versailles Palace, it is highly recommended to opt for the additional services of operating fountains and fireworks.
While it smells fine now, hygiene practices (or the lack thereof) in France during Louis XIII's reign meant that the palace smelled like urine, fecal matter, and more. Some claim that a lack of toilets in the palace even led some visitors to relieve themselves behind curtains and pillars.
The Hall of Mirrors, the most famous room in the Palace, was built to replace a large terrace designed by the architect Louis Le Vau, which opened onto the garden.
Rates at Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle start at $2,077 per night and include a dedicated butler, daily tours of the Château de Versailles, breakfast, and afternoon tea. This story was originally published on October 19, 2019, and was updated on June 2, 2021 to include current information.
Unaccompanied visit of the Palace:Visitors to the Palace must book in advance and select a specific time slot. We highly recommend that visitors pre-book their tickets online.
Cost of Living Comparison Between Paris and VersaillesYou would need around 4,830.0€ in Versailles to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 5,300.0€ in Paris (assuming you rent in both cities).
Open every day, the Park and Gardens are free from November to March. From April to October, access to the Gardens is charged from Tuesday to Sunday (days of the Fountains shows and Musical Gardens). To make the most of your visit at Versailles, plan to spend a full day in the estate.
If you do not plan on renting a golf cart or bike and want to explore the gardens or other areas of the Versailles estate, make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Sneakers will be the best choice as there are some areas where you have to walk on dirt and/or rock pebbles.
Works on display in the permanent exhibition spaces may be photographed or filmed for private purposes, thus excluding all professional, collective or commercial uses which require the prior written permission of the President of the Establishment.
Passport tickets with timed entry grant priority admission and are valid for thirty minutes every hour, at 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Priority admission to the Palace is permitted once only at the booked time on the ticket. There is no timed entry for the estate of Trianon.
We suggest arriving right at opening time—if not a little before. If you did not pre-purchase Versailles admissions or a tour, avoid touring the palace in the late morning and afternoon, when crowds are at their peak.
RER C TrainThe RER C line (yellow) will take you from Paris to Versailles for just €3.65 ($4) per person each way. This train travels through Paris from east to west while following the river Seine. Each station is about 10 minutes from the next stop, and the train comes every 15 minutes.