Shop
Get even more with a 糖心传媒 guide.
Versailles
Pete Seaward
Overview
Louis XIV transformed his father鈥檚 hunting lodge into the monumental Ch芒teau de Versailles in the mid-17th century, and it remains France鈥檚 most famous and grand palace. Situated in the leafy, bourgeois suburb of Versailles, 22km southwest of central Paris, the baroque ch芒teau was the kingdom鈥檚 political capital and the seat of the royal court from 1682 up until the fateful events of 1789 when revolutionaries massacred the palace guard. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were ultimately dragged back to Paris, where they were ingloriously guillotined.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Versailles
Amid magnificently landscaped formal gardens, this splendid and enormous palace was built in the mid-17th century during the reign of Louis XIV 鈥 the Roi鈥
Versailles
Northwest of Versailles鈥 main palace is the Domaine de Trianon. Admission includes the pink-colonnaded Grand Trianon, built in 1687 for Louis XIV and his鈥
Ch芒teau de Versailles Gardens & Park
Versailles
The section of the vast gardens nearest the palace, laid out between 1661 and 1700 in the formal French style, is famed for its geometrically aligned鈥
Versailles
In the middle of the park, approximately 1.5km northwest of the main building within the Domaine de Marie-Antoinette are Versailles' two smaller palaces,鈥
Versailles
Within the Domaine de Marie-Antoinette, the ochre-coloured Petit Trianon, built in the 1760s, was redecorated in 1867 by Empress Eug茅nie, the consort of鈥
Versailles
The Grandes 脡curies are the stage for the prestigious Acad茅mie du Spectacle 脡questre. It presents spectacular Reprises Musicales equestrian shows, for鈥
Versailles
In May 1789 Louis XVI convened the 脡tats-G茅n茅raux, made up of more than 1118 deputies representing the nobility, clergy and the Third Estate (鈥榗ommon鈥
Acad茅mie du Spectacle 脡questre
Versailles
Versailles' Grandes 脡curies (Greater Stables) are the stage for the prestigious Acad茅mie du Spectacle 脡questre. It presents spectacular Reprises Musicales鈥
Plan with a local
Articles
Latest stories from Versailles
Art and Culture
Marie Antoinette鈥檚 rooms at Versailles will reopen in June. Here's what you can see insideJun 1, 2023 鈥 3 min read
LuxuryThere鈥檚 a new luxury hotel at the Palace of Versailles 鈥 see what it looks like insideJun 1, 2021 鈥 2 min read
Wildlife & NatureMarie Antoinette鈥檚 private garden at Versailles is being restoredApr 17, 2020 鈥 2 min read
ArchitectureHere's how to explore Ch芒teau de Versailles without travelling to FranceOct 8, 2019 鈥 1 min read
Build a memorable collection
Get to the heart of Versailles with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.
France $29.99
Pocket Paris $13.99
Paris $24.99
in partnership with getyourguide