Who owns the Palace of Versailles?

The Palace of Versailles is currently owned by the French state. Its formal title is the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles. Since 1995, it has been run as a Public Establishment, with an independent administration and management supervised by the French Ministry of Culture.



In 2026, the Palace of Versailles is owned by the French State. Legally, it is classified as a public establishment (Établissement public du château, du musée et du domaine national de Versailles) under the administrative supervision of the French Ministry of Culture. This entity is responsible for the preservation, restoration, and daily operation of the site, which includes the main palace, the Trianon estate, and the expansive gardens. While it was the residence of French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI, the French Revolution effectively transitioned it into national ownership. Today, it functions as a national museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its status as "State-owned" means it is a collective heritage of the French people, managed by a dedicated president and administrative board to ensure its architectural and historical integrity for millions of global visitors.

People Also Ask

How much would it cost to build Versailles in today's money? Versailles Palace could take anywhere between $2-300 billion to build in today's money.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The heating and air-conditioning system is backed by geothermal energy. Water at a constant temperature of 12 degrees is drawn from the water table, 40m below the building. The water then circulates within the heating system.

MORE DETAILS

Rooms with toilets, cesspools, and drainage systems only started to become common in the 19th century. At the Palace of Versailles, people would conduct their business in the corridors or in the gardens. In 1715, it was decreed that once a week the feces would be collected from the corridors.

MORE DETAILS

Visit during the week One of the top ten most visited sites in France, the Château de Versailles gets its biggest crowds on the weekends and Tuesday mornings (it is closed on Mondays). So aim to visit between Wednesday and Friday. The result? Less waiting and a smoother visit around the palace.

MORE DETAILS

While the Palace of Versailles is open to the public, it is still a Royal Palace and visitors are expected to dress accordingly. This means no sandals, shorts, sleeveless shirts, or hats.

MORE DETAILS

In Summer, don't forget a cap, solar cream and little bottle of water (50 cl maximum to be allowed during the Palace of Versailles' visit). In wet weather, don't forget a folding umbrella. Becareful : Umbrella that doesn't bend are forbidden inside the Palace of Versailles.

MORE DETAILS

To tour the inside of the palace thoroughly, it takes around 2-3 hours. Allow longer if you want to explore the gardens.

MORE DETAILS

2- THE QUEEN'S BODY. Concerning the real head of Marie Antoinette, it was buried along with her body in the Madeleine cemetery, in a mass grave without names to avoid any possible private or public celebration and to erase her memory from every royalist heart, if any was left in Paris.

MORE DETAILS