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Versailles Palace (Château de Versailles) is situated within the Versailles castle, originally the residence of the French monarchy during the reigns of Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI, it stands as a symbol of power of the French feudal dynasty. Versailles Palace is one of the most captivating attractions in present-day Paris.
History of Versailles Castle & Palace
Versailles Palace
King Louis XIII ascended the throne in 1610. By 1623, he decided to build a small house in Versailles – a place where he had often visited with his father for hunting. Subsequently, King Louis XIII purchased additional land to construct the first castle in Versailles using limestone.
In 1632, Louis XIII acquired all the land in Versailles and initiated the expansion of the castle with various additional structures.
In 1643, Louis XIII passed away, passing the throne to his son – King Louis XIV.
The history of Versailles is closely intertwined with the figure of Louis XIV.
When young, King Louis XIV was often brought by his father, King Louis XIII, to Versailles to play and hunt together. He developed a fondness for the place from then on. Upon ascending the throne, Louis XIV found the existing royal palaces unsatisfactory and decided to relocate the royal court to Versailles. In October 1660, Louis XIV and his queen officially moved to Versailles.
He decided to allocate 1.1 million livres to further expand the castle to make it the most magnificent castle in Europe. Various large and small projects were undertaken during this period, such as expanding the castle, constructing palaces, gardens, courtyards, lakes, canals, etc.
In 1682, although the new palace was not yet officially completed, Louis XIV decided to move to Versailles and officially declared Versailles as the official palace of the French monarchy. In the subsequent years, the palace continued to be expanded to meet various needs.
In 1715, King Louis XIV passed away. Successive kings such as Louis XV and Louis XVI continued to use Versailles as the official palace of the monarchy, and also commissioned the construction of various other structures such as theaters, libraries, etc.
The French Revolution erupted, overthrowing the feudal regime of France, and Versailles castle lost its prominence. Many treasures of the castle were taken to various places (sold to England, transferred to the Louvre Museum).
Exploring Versailles castle and palace
Versailles Castle is a masterpiece of classical architecture with symmetry, colonnaded corridors, and artistic works inspired by legends. It embodies the essence of French art of the 17th and 18th centuries. Versailles Castle still preserves almost the same appearance as it did during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Covering an area of about 800 hectares, the castle grounds include main features such as:
Versailles Palace
It boasts 2,300 rooms spread over an area of 63,154 square meters. After the French Revolution of 1789, King Louis XVI had to leave Versailles and return to Paris, thus the palace ceased to be the royal residence. In 1837, Versailles Palace was transformed into the French History Museum by order of King Louis-Philippe, who ascended the throne in 1830. The palace features various sections: The Hall of Mirrors, the War Room, the Peace Room.
The Hall of Mirrors
Trianon
Including the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, these are small palaces within the grounds of Versailles Castle. Unlike Versailles Palace, Trianon offers a more intimate space, with less emphasis on formalities.
Petit Trianon Palace
The Gardens
King Louis XIV commissioned the gardens in 1661, considering them as significant as the palace itself. The construction and renovation of the gardens spanned several years. Features include fountains, small gardens, sculptures, pathways, etc. All elements are designed and arranged harmoniously and logically.
Versailles Gardens
Moreover, there are many other recreational facilities.
Tips for Exploring Versailles Castle
Transportation to Versailles from Paris
Versailles is approximately 10 miles away from Paris. Visitors can reach the Versailles Palace by taxi, car, train, or bus.
RER C Train or SNCF:
- Take the RER C train to Versailles Château, Rive Gauche station, then walk 10 minutes to the Palace.
- Take the SNCF train from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers, then walk to the Palace for 15 – 20 minutes.
Take the SNCF train from Gare Saint Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite, then walk to the Palace for 15 – 20 minutes.
Bus/Shuttle
Bus: RATP bus 171 runs from Pont de Sèvres (the terminus of Paris Metro line 9) to Versailles Palace. The travel time is 30 minutes.
Shuttle: Versailles Express provides shuttle service from the Eiffel Tower to Versailles Palace from Tuesday to Sunday weekly.
Book tickets at www.versaillesexpress.com
Best Time to Visit
Versailles Palace is a year-round tourist attraction, with summer and spring being the best times to visit due to the beautiful natural scenery. Weekends and French Independence Day tend to be busier.
Opening Hours
Versailles Palace
The Trianon
Park & Gardens
Open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM, closed in severe weather conditions (snow, heavy winds, etc.).
Ticket Prices
Versailles Castle offers complimentary admission for visitors under 18 years old (or under 26 years old if they reside in Europe).
Tickets for admission can be purchased online or directly at the ticket counter (it is advisable to purchase tickets in advance).
There are various ticket options available, depending on the attraction and visiting hours.
For more details, visit: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices
Posted by: Xuân Trường
Keywords: Versailles Palace (France): Visitor Experience [2020]
