Palace of Versailles (France)

10 and up, 6 and up, Europe, France, Paris, Teenagers, Uncategorized 10 Minutes

https://en.chateauversailles.fr

Visiting the Palace of Versailles is like stepping into a dream. The opulent rooms, the intricate furnishings, and the stunning gardens all add up to a spectacle that’s not to be missed! 

History

Once a rustic royal hunting lodge, Versailles was turned into a gilded masterpiece by King Louis XIV in the 17th century. The Sun King took a vested interest in all of the renovations and additions to the palace, personally directing the architects and garden designers to create the grandest palace in all of Europe. He turned Versailles into the de facto seat of government, and the two kings to follow him, Kings Louis XV and XVI, spent more funds to renovate the interiors to become the most opulent palace in the world. It was the center of all French royal court life and also became an important place to resolve international affairs with the treaty between Spain and France against Britain during the American Revolution being signed here in 1783.

However by the reign of King Louis XVI, the French people had had enough of the monarch’s extravagant spending while they starved through famines and wars. In 1789 the royal family was forced to leave Versailles as a mob of women descended on the palace. The king and queen were taken to Paris and eventually beheaded during the French Revolution. The palace was closed and all of the paintings and furnishings were taken to the Louvre and eventually sold. 

Napoleon established a part-time home in the Grand Trianon palace that is part of Versallies. With the restoration of the monarchy after Napoleon’s demise, the palace was eventually turned into a museum in the 1830s and used for grand royal events throughout the 19th century.

During the Franco-Prussian War, the German Army occupied the palace and turned it into a hospital. The creation of the combined German state was declared in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles in 1871. 

The palace was renovated in the late 19th century and was the site of the signing of the treaty that formally ended WWI in 1919. Renovations continued and even Americans recognized the importance of the palace with John D. Rockefeller donating millions of dollars to its restoration. 

The restoration work continued after WWII and has resulted in the palace being restored to the grandeur of King Louis XIV, making it one of the most visited sites in all of France.

Visit

Visiting Versailles is an easy day trip from Paris. Taking the train from several different stops in Paris puts you just a 10 minute walk from the palace. You can also hire a car/taxi to take you to its gates. 

There are many places to visit at Versailles, including the gardens, the Petit and Grand Trianons, the Hamlet, and the canal. The main palace, the chateau, is one of the most crowded sites in all of Europe so plan to get there early in the day or tour the gardens first, arriving at the chateau in the late afternoon to avoid the worst of the crowds. Use this interactive map to plan your route. Note that advance planning is a must. Buy your timed-entry tickets ahead of time here. Kids 18 and under have free entry, but you must provide proof of age at entrance A. Don’t forget to download the mobile guide ahead of time or rent an audio guide.

There are guided tours of the chateau available (which may get you into a shorter security line). Strollers are admitted currently but the crowds make it a less than desirable option. If you can use a baby carrier, that would be best. Remember that entering the chateau takes time and patience so plan accordingly, especially with little ones! Download the game booklet so your child can have fun learning about the rooms they are seeing while waiting.

To splurge on an after-hours visit, check into staying at the Airelles hotel at Versailles. We stayed here for our 25th wedding anniversary trip, and it was amazing to be in the Hall of Mirrors alone! It’s definitely for a special occasion but well worth it for an unforgettable experience!

Chateau

When you think of Versailles, you most likely are picturing the chateau with its gilded rooms and Hall of Mirrors. It’s a truly marvelous sight!

Enter the chateau through the Royal Courtyard after getting a family picture at the Royal Gate. Imagine distinguished guests and monarchs riding in their coaches through this very place to visit the king. The clock denotes the original section of the palace that was King Louis XIII’s hunting lodge. 

Start by crossing the courtyard to the Royal Chapel (currently only available during guided tours due to renovations) and the Hercules Drawing Room. This enormous room was first built for the wedding reception of King Louis XIV’s daughter and hosted parties and balls galore. I could just picture the beautiful women in powdered wigs and wide gowns dancing with men in bejeweled coats and breeches while standing in this room!

The tour is one-way from here on out so there is no way to get lost or backtrack. You’ll first tour the King’s Wing where each room is more fantastical than the previous one! The rooms are named after Roman gods or goddesses like Venus, Diana, and Mars. Look at the ceilings and see if you can figure out which room is which! These rooms were used by King Louis XIV and his guests to play games, eat, and entertain. The paintings vary room by room and include Louis XIV’s heirs.

The Mercury room houses Louis XIV’s bed (not his real one but the official one). He would awake and get dressed, all in public viewing here.

The Apollo Room served as the grand throne room.

The War Room shows off Louis XIV’s military prowess and victories.

After the King’s Wing, you’ll come to the grandest room at Versailles – the Hall of Mirrors. Nothing can prepare you for the grand room that stretches over 250 long. This is the place you think about when you hear the word “Versailles.”

Imagine the balls, parties, negotiations, and treaties that are ingrained in this hall’s gilded walls. If only walls could talk! This room will be the most crowded part of the palace so be sure to hold tight to little ones’ hands.

Look out the windows at the vast gardens spreading before you.

Next enter the King’s bedroom and council rooms. These small interior rooms are not as grand as the public ones we just toured but are where the king actually lived. 

The bedroom is where King Louis XVI was when the mob came for him in 1789.

The following rooms are full of the king’s desk, clocks, and other gilded items that show his extreme wealth and power. 

I loved the rooms with books, just imagining King Louis XV going to the library to pick out his latest read. 

And of course, the king’s china is one of a kind! 

The intimate dining room gives you a better idea of how they actually lived. 

If available, enter the Queen’s apartments to see the private side of Marie-Antoinette, including her beautiful bedroom. Due to the small space, it’s best for ages 10 and up.

Her bedroom has a secret door that leads to the king’s bedroom. It was through this door that Marie-Antionette fled from the mob who overtook the palace in the French Revolution.

If allowed, try to see the Gallery of Battles at the far end of the palace.

Also the Empire Rooms are worthwhile to see all of the Napoleonic art.

Gardens

Exit the chateau and head to the gorgeous Versailles gardens! The gardens are huge, so don’t think about trying to see it all on foot. Rent a golf cart or bike or take the Petit train to the various sections so your legs don’t give out!

The main garden spreads before you as you exit the chateau.

The garden highlights include the fantastical fountains, particularly during their show times (check website to learn when and where). Our favorite was the mirror pool.

The main fountain at the base of the grand canal is the Apollo basin which was under renovations during our visit. Hopefully the horses and chariot will be back in place soon!

Kids will love wandering in and out of the gardens with its fantastical sculptures. 

I encourage you to visit the orangerie which is one of the most beautiful areas.

Grab a picnic lunch from the vendors based near the Grand Canal and let your kids run along the nearby canal edge, watching the paddle boats.

Trianon Palaces and Hamlet

For history buffs, I highly encourage a visit to the other parts of Versailles. Best for older kids, the Petit and Grand Trianons have gorgeous interiors, and the Hamlet is a must-see with little ones! Checking opening times for these locations before visiting (typically after 12 pm).

Grand Trianon

Louis XIV built this palace as an escape from the ever-crowded chateau. The rooms here are beautiful but not as elaborate as those in the chateau. Louis lived here several nights a week (with his mistress!), and this was the home of Napoleon and King Louis-Philippe. Imagine the Sun King lounging in these rooms, removed from the courtiers at the chateau.

The palace is in two parts, connected by a stunning black and white colonnade that originally had windows but is now open-air.

Look at the amazing furnishings in the malachite room, which was Napoleon’s living room. The green malachite items were given to him by Russia Czar Alexander I.

The Cotelle Gallery is the most impressive room and was the setting for Marie-Antoinette’s theatrical productions. 

Step out into the gardens linking the Grand Trianon to the Petit Trianon.  

You’ll walk from here to the Petit Trianon, seeing pavilions and a grotto frequented by Marie-Antoinette. It’s so magical here! The secret grotto can be hard to find near the Rock. Follow the marked path to find it. 

Petit Trianon

The Petit Trianon was my favorite place in Versailles. This “small” square palace was constructed by King Louis XV for his mistresses and was later given to Queen Marie-Antoinette. She spent most of her time here with her friends from the court, away from the madness at the chateau. She was from Austria and not accustomed to the extravagant French courtly ways. She enjoyed spending time in nature as evidenced in these gardens and the nearby Queen’s Hamlet.

Be sure to walk through the rooms of the Petit Trianon. They are quite lovely and some even have preserved graffiti from soldiers over the years! There’s also a chapel that was used by King Louis VX.

The walk from the Petit Trianon to the Hamlet takes you by the beautiful Temple of Love.

Hamlet

A short bucolic walk from the Petit Trianon is the Queen’s Hamlet, a fairytale village where Marie-Antoinette could pretend she was a peasant girl. This didn’t go over well with the real French peasants.

This idyllic setting makes you feel like you’re stepping into a Disney movie! 

Kids will love this part of the palace, so I encourage you to bring them to the Hamlet and let them frolic! They will love the animals at the farm, which was under renovations during our visit.

The milk room near the pond is also a fun place to see. It’s where Marie-Antoinette ate her ice cream!

On certain tours, you can go inside Marie-Antionette’s home at the Hamlet to see the simpler style (furnishings are from the Empire time period).

Other activities

There are many other things to do at Versailles, enough to make a weekend out of your visit! On the palace grounds, you can rent a paddle boat or canoe and travel down the grand canal. Rent bikes and wander through the beautiful gardens. Eat at a garden cafe or pack a picnic for eating along the canal. On a nice day, there are endless possibilities!

The town of Versailles is lovely as well. Just in front of the palace are the stables (take a quick peek) and a beautiful tree-lined walk into the adjacent neighborhood. We visited the market at the Place du Marche Notre-Dame, and it was so fun to eat a croissant while people watching. 

We also enjoyed walking through the little town and stumbling across quaint stores and cafes. It’s a great place to get a sense of small town French life. 

The Palace of Versailles is a must-see historic site that will wow the youngest of visitors! With some advance planning, you can make it a trip to remember. 

Helpful hints:

  • Cost: A passport ticket gives you access to the entire estate for €24/adults. Kids 18 and under enter free. Purchase tickets well in advance of your trip, especially in the high season.
  • Recommended: all ages
  • Tour time: 1 full day for all; 1-2 hours for chateau only
  • Many gift shops onsite and online
  • Transportation: Versailles is easily accessible from Paris via train, bus, and car. Parking is available onsite. 
  • Dining options: There are many cafes and restaurants on the palace grounds. See this list here for more details. I also recommend eating in the little town at a restaurant near the Notre-Dame market. We ate all of our meals at our hotel, and it was fabulous! 
  • Nearby hotels: For a huge splurge, book a room at the adjacent Airelles to get access to Versailles after hours! The Waldorf near the Petit Trianon looks amazing as well. Versailles is a popular tourist town so there are many good establishments. It’s so close to Paris that you can just stay there – see my Paris guide for recommendations. 
  • Nearby attractions include: Paris, France Miniature, and Chateau de Monte-Cristo

Books to Read:

All links are Amazon affiliate links. You can visit my Bookshop.org shop to support independent bookstores and creators. I also encourage you to look at the books recommended on the palace’s website as well.

Adult/Young Adult

Middle Grade

Picture Books

Published by Jayda Justus, The History Mom

Jayda B. Justus is the creator/writer of the blog, The History Mom, where she provides detailed reviews of US and European historical sites for families with corresponding book recommendations. She loves interacting with the bookish world on Instagram as @thehistorymom, especially #bookstagram, and has appeared as a guest on several podcasts, blogs, and media outlets. Her favorite genres to read are historical fiction and nonfiction, but she also loves contemporary and historical romance and women’s fiction. Hailing from the historic town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, she is a former legislative director for a Member of Congress and now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her family where she spends her days working on her first novel. Visit her at The History Mom (https://thehistorymom.com).

Published

2 thoughts on “Palace of Versailles (France)”

  1. Pingback: Paris – The History Mom
  2. Pingback: Royal Palace of Madrid (Spain) – The History Mom

Leave a Reply