Versailles Palace

Introduction

The Palace of Versailles is a magnificent example of French Baroque architecture and a must-see destination for any history or art lover.

The palace was the residence of the French monarchy from the 17th to the 18th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Estate of Versailles is a magnificent and historic landmark that spans over 800 hectares of land. It is a true testament to the grandeur and opulence of the French monarchy.

The estate is made up of several key components you can visit:

1. The Palace: 2,300 rooms spread over 63,154 m2.
2. The Gardens: The Fountains, The Orangery, Parterres (North Parterre, South Parterre and Water Parterre) and paths and  The Groves
3. The estate of Trianon: The Grand Trianon, The Petit Trianon, The English Gardens
4. The Great Stables: The Gallery of Coaches, National Equestrian Academy of the Estate of Versailles, Campus Versailles (from 2024 and dedicated to arts, crafts & heritage)
5. The Small Stables: The Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery
6. The Park

The Palace

The Palace’s rooms are dedicated to displaying collections of paintings and sculptures that depict notable figures and significant events that have shaped the history of France.

Among the most important rooms, you can find:

The Hall of Mirrors

• Most renowned room of Palace with 73-meter-long
• Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart
• Construction began in 1678. Completed in 1684
• Replaced a large terrace designed by architect Louis Le Vau (which provided access to the garden)
• Has 357 mirrors which reflect the chandeliers light
• Ceiling adorned with painted compositions by Le Brun
• Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919 at the Hall of Mirrors

The War Room

• Adjacent to the hall of mirrors on the opposite side of the Peace room
• Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart
• Construction began in 1678
• The decorations were finished by Le Brun in 1686
• One of the walls features an oval stucco bas-relief depicting Louis XIV riding a horse and crushing his opponents

The Peace Room

• Adjacent to the hall of mirrors on the opposite side of the war room
• Has similar marble panelling and gilded bronze trophies of arms
• Cupola and arches designed by Le Brun
• Depict positive effects of peace in Europe brought about by France.

The Royal Chapel

• Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and presented to the king in 1699.
• Jules Hardouin-Mansart died before the conclusion of works (finished by his brother-in-law, Robert de Cotte)
• Construction completed in 1710
• Chapel was dedicated to Saint Louis (patron saint of the king)
• Vaulted ceiling dedicated to the Holy Trinity: God the Father in his Glory ( centre), The Resurrection (apse), and The Descent of the Holy Ghost (above the Royal tribune)
• The King’s daily mass was held in the morning at 10 and was attended by the Court. The king occupied the royal tribune and only descended into the nave for special religious celebrations and when receiving communion.
• The organ was designed by Clicquot and is decorated with a depiction of King David in relief
• Classical concerts are held regularly at the Royal Chapel

The King’s State Apartment

The King’s State Apartment, which features Italian-style decor, is made up of seven rooms utilized for hosting official events for the sovereign. It was open to the court during the day. The rooms included are: The Hercules Room, The Room of Abundance, The Venus Room, The Diana Room, The Mars Room, The Mercury Room, and The Apollo Room.

The Hercules Room

• Originally used as palace chapel until 1710
• Completed in 1736
• Ceiling painting The Apotheosis of Hercules by François Lemoyne were made using the marouflage technique (painted canvas were pasted directly onto the ceiling)
• Arches are decorated by paintings depicting heroes from antiquity like Alexander marrying Roxana

The Apollo Room

• Served as a throne room starting in 1682
• Was home to louis xiv’s renowned silver throne until it was melted down and replaced in 1689
• The room also features a copy of the most renowned portrait of louis xiv, painted by hyacinthe rigaud (the copy was commissioned by the king himself)

The Royal Opera

• Was designed by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel
• Was first used on May 16, 1770 for a wedding celebration.
• At that time, it was the biggest concert hall in Europe.
• When used as a ballroom had one floor that went from the front to the back of the stage reaching 45 meters long.
• Over time it became very damaged, and by the end of World War II, it was almost ruined.
• There were major renovations in 2007 and 2009 and since then it has held many concerts and shows.

The Queen’s Apartments

The Queen’s Apartments are a mirror image of the King’s State Apartments to the north. These rooms were first occupied by Queen Maria Theresa, the wife of Louis XIV. They overlook the Midi Parterre.

Visitors can tour the Queen’s Bedchamber, the Nobles’ Room, the Royal Table Antechamber, and the Queen’s Guard Room.

The Queen’s Bedchamber

• The Queen’s Bedchamber was where the queen spent most of her time.
• The room’s decor showcases the influence of the three queens who occupied it.
• Partitions on the ceiling date back to the reign of Queen Maria-Theresa
• Greyscale paintings by Boucher and wood panelling were added during the reign of Marie Leszczyńska.
• Marie-Antoinette replaced the furniture and the fireplace and hanged paintings of her mother and brother.

The estate of trianon

The Trianon estate is a complex of intimate spaces that includes the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon palaces, the Queen’s Hamlet, the Petit Parc, and several ornamental gardens.

It was designed to provide a peaceful retreat close to the main palace, where the kings of Versailles could escape the formalities of court life.

The Grand Trianon

• Built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1687.
• It’s a one-story building with a courtyard on one side and gardens on the other.
• The roof has a balustrade around it.

The Petit Trianon

• In 1758, King Louis XV asked the first architect to the King, Ange-Jacques Gabriel, to build a new palace in the middle of his gardens.
• The palace was finished in 1768.
• In April 1774, King Louis XV became ill with smallpox while staying at Petit Trianon. He passed away a few days later.

The Gardens

The gardens of the Versailles Palace are a true marvel of French gardening. They were designed by André Le Nôtre in the 17th century and reviewed by the King himself.

The gardens of Versailles offer a variety of sights including The Fountains, The Orangery, Parterres (North, South, and Water) and paths, as well as The Groves.

The gardens are also home to a number of sculptures, walks and other water features, which add to the overall beauty and grandeur of the palace.

From the central window in the Hall of Mirrors, visitors can enjoy a great view of the gardens.

The Orangery

• Structure with 150 meter long central gallery with 13 meter high vault located just below the Palace.
• Constructed in 1663 by architect Louis Le Vau and later expanded by Jules Hardouin-Mansart.
• Walls are 4-5 meters thick, features double windows and a south-facing position for temperature control.
• Louis XIV, the Sun King, stocked it with finest orange trees from around the world (some of which are more than 200 years old).
• Orange trees, lemon trees, oleanders, palms, and pomegranate trees are housed in the Orangery during winter and spread out across parterre in summer.

The Groves

• Small and intimate gardens enclosed by walls of greenery or trellises.
• Adorned with fountains, vases, and statues.
• Most of the groves were created by gardener to the King André Le Nôtre.
• Used for Court entertainments and where Kings often went for walks.
• Maintenance was difficult and expensive, leading to some groves disappearing in the 18th century (like the Labyrinth, destroyed during a replantation in 1775-1776).
• The Southern Groves include Queen’s Grove, Ballroom Grove, Girandole Grove, Colonnade Grove and Chestnut Grove.
• The Northern Groves include Grove of the Domes, Enceladus Grove, Obelisk Grove, Apollo’s Baths Grove, Star Grove, Water Theatre Grove, Grove of the Three Fountains and Triumphal Arch Grove.

The Fountains

• The Palace of Versailles has several fountains throughout the gardens, each with their own unique design and purpose.
• The fountains were used for entertainment and musical performances.
• Notable fountains include “Latona” and “Apollo.”
• The first Fountains Show at Versailles was on April 27, 1666.
• The Fountains Show occurs on weekends from April 2 to October 30 (except May 1) and Tuesdays from May 3 to June 28, 2022, as well as specific dates like April 15, April 18, May 26, July 14, and August 15.
• The Fountains Night Show is held on Saturdays from June 17 to September 16 from 8:30 pm to 11:05 pm.

Latona’s fountain

• Created in 1668 and modified by Jules Hardouin-Mansart between 1687 and 1689
• Inspired by The Metamorphoses by Ovide
• Includes a parterre with two Lizard Fountains

Apollo’s fountain

• Originally known as the Lake of the Swans during Louis XIII’s reign in 1636
• Embellished with a gilded lead statue of Apollo riding in his chariot by Louis XIV

Neptune fountain

• Constructed between 1679 and 1682 under Le Nôtre’s supervision
• Shape altered by Ange-Jacques Gabriel in 1736
• Final sculpted features include Neptune, Amphitrite, Proteus, and Oceanus
• Total of 99 jets

Dragon fountain

• Located at the end of the Water Walk
• Depicts an episode from the legend of Apollo (Python killed by Apollo)
• Surrounded by dolphins and Loves with bows and arrows
• Main water jet reaches 27 meters (tallest among all the fountains)

The Stables

• The Great and Small Stables located across from the Palace
• Ordered for construction by King Louis XIV and built by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart
• Built to house horses before court and government moved to Versailles
• The names of the two buildings do not refer to their size, as they are similar
• Over 2,000 horses living in stables in 18th century
• Visitors can go to the Gallery of Coaches in Great Stables and to the Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery in Small Stables

The Park

• Located beyond the formal gardens.
• Covers 800 hectares with straight paths marking out wooded areas and agricultural fields.
• Has a grand canal (1,670 meters long), the lake of the Swiss Guard and the Rivulet of Gally.
• Boats could access the Menagerie or Trianon via the transversal branches of the canal
• Was also used for winter activities like skating and sledding when frozen.
• The Park is open every day of the year for free.

Versailles History

1624: Construction begins on the original palace at Versailles, built for Louis XIII as a hunting lodge.

1641: Louis XIV (aged 3) and his brother arrive in Versailles, sent by their father Louis XIII to escape a smallpox epidemic.

1654: Le Vau becomes First Architect to the King Louis XIV

1661: Shortly after the death of his First Minister, Louis XIV undertakes major renovations and expansion at Versailles Palace, including the creation and renovation of the gardens (assigned to André Le Nôtre).

1678: Construction begins on the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles Palace

1684: The Hall of Mirrors is completed, becoming one of the palace’s most famous features.

1682: The palace is officially designated as the main residence of the French royal court.

1710: Construction of the Royal Chapel is completed

1715: Louis XIV, King of France, dies.

1789: The French Revolution begins, the court left Versailles and the palace is seized by the government.

1794: The project to establish a museum at Versailles Palace is launched.

1796: The palace is opened to the public as a museum.

1837: Louis-Philippe becomes King of France and restores the palace, turning it into a museum of French history.

1919: The Treaty of Versailles is signed in the Hall of Mirrors, officially ending World War I.

Today, Versailles Palace remains a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year to see its ornate architecture and historical significance.

How to go to Versailles

By Train

To go to the Palace of Versailles by train, you can take the RER line C which arrives at the Versailles Château – Rive Gauche train station. The palace is just a 10-minute walk from the station.

Alternatively, you can take SNCF trains from Gare Montparnasse, which arrive at Versailles Chantiers train station. The palace is 18 minutes away on foot from this station.

Finally, you can take SNCF trains from Gare Saint Lazare, which arrive at Versailles Rive Droite train station. The palace is 17 minutes away on foot from this station. Therefore, you have three different options to choose from when travelling by train to the Palace of Versailles.

By Bus

To go to the Palace of Versailles by bus, you can take the RATP bus line 171. This bus line runs between Pont de Sèvres (terminus of the Paris metro line 9) and the Palace of Versailles.

The journey takes around 30 minutes without traffic.

You can use T+ tickets for this journey which can be used on the metro, bus, and tram in Paris.

By Car

To go to the Palace of Versailles by car, you can take the A13 motorway and exit at no.5 Versailles Centre. Once you exit, you will see signs directing you to the Palace of Versailles.

There are several paying car parks available for visitors to use. In front of the palace, there is the Place d’Armes car park, which is open 24 hours a day and is suitable for cars and coaches. Additionally, within the palace’s park, there are car parks available at the Grand Canal, Petit Trianon, Grand Trianon, and Queen’s Hamlet.

You can use the GPS coordinates for the Palace of Versailles: 48.48’17N and 2.07’15E

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Versailles Palace

Frequently asked questions about the Versailles Palace