Palaces of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is one of the largest castles in
the world. The palace counts not less than 2300 rooms! Versailles with its
splendid gardens remains one of the tourists' favorite visit when coming to Paris: In
2010 about six million visitors have discovered this architectural and cultural
masterpiece. Please find here below informations about history, opening hours, tickets
price, road direction and means of transport from or to Paris city center.
Shows tickets & city tours
Enjoy a romantic dinner cruise on the Seine River,
visit Palace of Versailles with a guide, get tickets for Paris best cabaret shows.
See: Paris city tours
Transportation between Paris and city of Versailles
Guide to transport between Paris and Versailles covering
metro, buses, taxis and airport shuttles.
Private transfer services
A few companies operate private transfer service between
Paris city center hotels and Palace of Versailles. The journey must
be booked in advance. Please use our price comparison tool...
Read more: Transfer Paris - Versailles
Taxis
Taxis use fare meters. The cost for a transfer from or to
Paris is usually about 35 to 45 euros and the duration is about 25 minutes. However expect total fare and
travel times to be much higher during rush-hour times (7am-9am and 4pm-8pm).
Bus - Coach
There is only one direct bus line from between Paris and
Versailles. Bus line 171 runs from Pont de Sèvres (Metro station) to Versailles
(Through Sèvres, Chaville and Viroflay).
Rail - Train
Connection to Versailles is made by RER C - a suburban train
serving the following parisian stations: Austerlitz, Notre Dame, Musée d'Orsay,
Invalides and Tour Eiffel. Travel time is about 25 minutes and cost is 3.9 euros one way.
Other train services are also run out of Saint Lazare and Montparnasse railway
stations.
History of the Palace of Versailles
The story of the Palace of Versailles started when King
Louis XIII - father of the Sun King - decided to build here a small hunting
lodge, which was first a little castle of brick and stone. After a few years the
lodge was transformed into a real castle and Louis XIV who also liked this place
decided, once king, to make it the official royal residence. More than 20 years
were necessary for the architect Louis Le Vau and the landscape architect André
Le Nôtre to make from Versailles what is is today: One of the largest and most
extravagant palace in the world.
Visit the castle: Tips, tickets price and opening hours
Practical and useful information to plan a visit to the
Palace of Versailles
Our tips for visiting the castle and its gardens
Our tips: First of all it is wise to arrive early
morning when the place is
less crowded with visitors. The best time to visit is certainly on weekends
during spring and summer when the fountain show "Les Grandes Eaux" takes place
however expect very long queues. Good to know: If you want to skip queues book a
guided tour with one of local tour operators: A special fast line is set for
them. See below for information about guided tour online booking.
Tickets price & opening hours
Tickets price: Single ticket - pass costs from 15
to 25 Eur depending on season and places visited (Palace, gardens, Trianon
Palaces and Marie-Antoinette's Estate) - Tickets valid for the whole day, no
exchanges or refunds. Good to know: An audio-guide in 10 languages is included.
*Tickets prices are indicative only (As shown on official
website - Sep 2011).
Winter opening hours: Open Tue-Sun. 9am-5pm (Palace) and 8am-6pm (Gardens).
Summer
opening hours: Open Tue-Sun. 9am-6pm (Palace) and 8am-8.30pm (Gardens).
Grandes Eaux - Fountain show: Every weekend from early April to late Oct.
Book a guided tour of Versailles and skip queues:
Versailles tickets and guided tour
Useful resources
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