Summary
The Château of Versailles represents the embodiment of 17th and 18th-century luxury. It is a vivid illustration of the extravagance of the Ancien Régime, stunning in its grandeur, with grounds expansive enough that a bicycle or golf cart may be necessary to explore everything in a single day.
A significant portion of the magnificent structure you see today was designed by architect Louis Le Vau, landscape architect André Le Nôtre, and painter Charles Le Brun, who adorned the 17th-century interiors with exquisite artwork.
The town surrounding the palace developed to provide opulent residences along elegant avenues for courtiers and builders who sought proximity to the king.
Let us examine the most remarkable attractions in Versailles:
1. The Château’s Apartments
During a self-guided tour, visitors access the splendid salons and chambers where royalty conducted their affairs and resided.
The King’s Grand Apartment showcases the era of Louis XIV, with décor that has remained unchanged since his rule in the 17th century.
Within these seven grand salons, he welcomed visitors as he proceeded to the chapel and held court three evenings each week.
The King’s Apartment featured Louis XIV’s extravagantly elaborate bedchamber, whereas his successor Louis XV opted for the more modest design of the King’s Private Apartment.
The Queen’s Grand Apartment mirrors the King’s layout but served as a private area for three queens: Marie-Thérèse d’Autriche (Louis XIV), Marie Leczinska (Louis XV), and Marie-Antoinette (Louis XVI), featuring decor updated to align with late-18th-century aesthetics.
2. Hall of Mirrors
The central gallery of the palace, constructed between 1678 and 1684, connects the Grand Apartment of the King with that of the Queen.
The Hall of Mirrors is renowned not only for its stunning beauty (widely regarded as the premier room in the palace) but also for the significant historical events that transpired within its walls.
Spanning 73 meters, the hall is illuminated on one side by 17 arcaded windows, with their light beautifully reflected by 17 matching mirrors.
Looking upward, visitors can admire Charles Le Brun’s painted ceiling, which commemorates the military campaigns and victories of Louis XIV.
This location was also where the Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919.
3. Gardens
The expansive grounds of the palace were a monumental project for André Le Nôtre.
Completing the gardens took four decades, with construction commencing concurrently with the palace itself, as Louis XIV valued the grounds as highly as the palace.
A great way to appreciate the immense scale of this undertaking is to stand on the steps outside the Hall of Mirrors and view the parterres extending past the Grand Canal into the horizon.
Indeed, you would require more than a day to fully explore everything; however, if time is constrained, it may be wise to focus on the Orangery, which features over 1,000 potted orange trees, along with the parterres and bosquets situated directly below the Escaliers de Latone.
4. Academy of Equestrian Arts
Completed in 1682, the Grande Écurie stables provided a dignified space for the King to house his hunting horses, as well as the nation’s premier riding academy.
On Saturdays, the stables host a performance by the academy, which was revitalized in 2003 by equestrian performer Bartabas.
The show features superb equestrian skills combined with fencing and dance to enhance the abilities of the horses and riders.
On Sundays, visitors are welcome to observe the academy’s training sessions, while guided tours of the stables may be arranged upon request.
5. Musée des Carrosses
After a ten-year period of restoration, the museum within the Grande Écurie, housing the château’s collection of carriages, reopened in 2016. Similar to other sections of the palace, this collection was made accessible to the public by King Louis-Philippe I in 1833 when he opened the château to the populace.
Most of the vehicles date from the 19th century, as the lavish carriages of the Ancien Régime were sold during the Revolution.
Among the oldest is the sedan belonging to the Dauphin Louis de France, originating from the 1780s.
The collection also includes gala Berlin carriages from Napoleon’s court, the hearse that transported Louis XVIII in 1824, and the coronation coach of Charles X from the same year.
6. Royal Chapel
The King attended mass in this two-level Baroque chapel daily at 10:00 AM.
Numerous significant events occurred here during the 18th century, including the wedding of the future Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
It is the only structure within the complex that rises above the palace’s flat rooftop.
The King seated himself in the upper gallery, with the chapel’s design reinforcing the perception of French Kings as representatives of God on earth.
Among the many notable features are the Cliquot organ positioned in the gallery over the altar, the intricate carvings between the arches, the painted ceilings, and the marble flooring.
7. Grand Canal
The longest section of this vast cross-shaped body of water extends 1.67 kilometers.
The canal stands as one of André Le Nôtre’s masterpieces: Looking west from the Escaliers de Latone, it creates a breathtaking view of light reflecting along its length, narrowing to a tiny sliver in the distance.
During Louis XIV’s rule, the canal was the setting for various boating spectacles; in the 1670s, the Republic of Venice sent the King gondolas and gondoliers who resided in buildings near the water.
In winter, the canal would freeze, allowing for sleigh rides and ice skating.
In contemporary times, during the summer, guests can rent paddle boats and indulge in a regal half-hour on the water, reminiscent of Louis XIV’s leisurely pursuits over 300 years ago.
8. Royal Opera
Completed in 1770, the opera house of the palace marked the conclusion of over a century of construction.
It was inaugurated during the wedding festivities of the future Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
The venue is renowned for its superb acoustics, attributed in part to the wooden construction with panels designed to mimic stone.
The overall design was remarkably advanced for its time, being the first oval opera house in France, with the King’s Loge and Boudoir serving as early representations of the Louis XVI style, despite being constructed during Louis XV’s reign. This design would gain prominence in France for the following 20 years until the end of Louis XVI’s reign.
9. Hameau de la Reine
Some might describe Marie Antoinette’s secluded retreat as a medieval-themed amusement park constructed in the 18th century; she would escape here to unwind in the company of friends.
The hamlet comprises 12 charming cottages and farm buildings, featuring half-timbering and thatched roofs, all surrounding a picturesque lake.
Among its offerings are a dairy, a quaint boudoir, a watermill with a working wheel, a farmhouse, a storybook tower, and a barn.
Each building boasts its own small garden for flowers or vegetables, while the dairy even produced milk and eggs for the queen.
The Queen’s Cottage, with its delightful spiral staircase, is particularly favored.
10. Le Grand Trianon
Louis XIV sought to escape the rigors of court life several decades earlier, though his retreat was significantly more opulent than that of Marie Antoinette.
Le Grand Trianon is a pavilion architected by Louis Le Vau, designed for the King to enjoy the company of his chief mistress, the Marquise de Montespan.
After signs of deterioration appeared in the original structure, the King commissioned Jules Hardouin Mansart to construct a new pavilion of pink marble in 1687. It features its own geometric gardens and, despite being only one story high, is both charming and grand simultaneously.
11. Church of Notre-Dame
Jules Hardouin-Mansart designed this church, which was completed in 1686, under the directive of Louis XIV to serve the expanding population of Versailles after relocating the royal court there at the beginning of the decade.
The King laid the first stone in 1684. This church is an early prototype of neoclassicism and is illuminated from above by a lantern in the dome.
Most intriguingly, it functions as a parish church, containing records related to royal baptisms, marriages, and deaths at the Palace of Versailles.
12. Potager du Roi
The King’s kitchen garden was far from an ordinary vegetable patch.
Designed over a five-year period concluding in 1673 by master gardener Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie, the Potager du Roi still spans nine hectares and closely resembles the layout utilized to provide for Louis XIV. The garden features over 400 distinct varieties of fruit trees.
This garden is now part of the French National School of Landscaping and produces over 30 tons of vegetables and 50 tons of fruit each year.
The melons, figs, and asparagus once enjoyed by the King are now available for purchase at Versailles’ market or in the school’s own shop.
13. La Ferme de Viltain
It is important to recognize that a full day of exploring a palace and gardens might not be entertaining for children.
Alternatively, you can visit this dairy farm located a few kilometers south of Versailles.
Home to around 600 cows, guests can observe the milking process or, in summer, meet the calves.
For food enthusiasts interested in quality and sourcing, the farm shop stocks its own cheese, milk, and yogurt, in addition to homemade jams and charcuterie.
Depending on the season, visitors may also have the opportunity to pick their own flowers or fruit in the fields.
14. Musée Lambinet
While Versailles offers much to see, the crowds can be overwhelming, thus it is beneficial to know that quieter locations such as this exist.
The Musée Lambinet, located on Boulevard de la Reine within a mansion constructed for Joseph-Barnabé Porchon, who served as a contractor for Louis XV in 1751, displays over 550 artifacts that reveal the history of Versailles through ceramics, musical instruments, furniture, and artworks by creators like Alfred Sisley.
Additionally, there are captivating exhibits regarding the Revolution, featuring original artifacts and portraits of key figures such as Jean-Paul Marat and Charlotte Corday.
15. Marché Notre-Dame
The Versailles marketplace features the largest outdoor farmer’s market in the Île-de-France region.
This market operates on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with a permanent indoor market available the rest of the week except Mondays.
Outdoor stalls offer a variety of goods, including fruit, vegetables, flowers, cheese, spices, nuts, and dried fruits, all presented beautifully.
Inside, shoppers can find fresh meat, wine, artisanal bread, an array of cheeses, fish, pâté, and ready-to-eat options such as rotisserie chicken.
In true French market fashion, it is a sensory delight and provides an excellent glimpse into local life.
