versailles-palace-tickets.com has been visited by 10K+ users in the past month
Explore the famed Versailles Palace, Gardens, The King's Apartments & the Hall of Mirrors. Choose from a basic entry ticket, all access passport or ticket with round-trip transfers
Search results
Welcome to Versailles. Opening hours Choose a ticket. Discover. Plan your visit. What’s on. Calendar. This fall at the Palace of Versailles. The cultural offer. Participation until 22 December. Enter the fall photo contest on Instagram. To avoid waiting times, buy your tickets online.
Learn about the history, architecture, and significance of the former royal residence of French kings, now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the palace, park, and gardens of Versailles, and see the famous Hall of Mirrors, Royal Apartments, and Grand Trianon.
Visit the former royal residence and museum of the history of France, a World Heritage site and a masterpiece of 17th century art. Explore the Palace, its gardens, its shows and its collections with tickets, guided tours and interactive map.
- Overview
- The palace
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Palace of Versailles, former French royal residence and centre of government, now a national landmark. It is located in the city of Versailles, Yvelines département, Île-de-France région, northern France, 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Paris. As the centre of the French court, Versailles was one of the grandest theatres of European absolutism.
The original residence was primarily a hunting lodge and private retreat for Louis XIII (reigned 1610–43) and his family. In 1624 the king entrusted Jacques Lemercier with the construction of a château on the site. Its walls are preserved today as the exterior facade overlooking the Marble Court.
Under the guidance of Louis XIV (reigned 1643–1715), the residence was transformed (1661–1710) into an immense and extravagant complex surrounded by stylized French and English gardens. Every detail of its construction was intended to glorify the king. The additions were designed by such renowned architects as Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Robert de Cotte, and Louis Le Vau. Charles Le Brun oversaw the interior decoration. Landscape artist André Le Nôtre created symmetrical French gardens that included ornate fountains with “magically” still water, expressing the power of humanity—and, specifically, the king—over nature.
To the east of the palace is the Place d’Armes, a wide plaza that in the 21st century served mainly as a parking lot to accommodate the thousands of tourists who visited Versailles each day. In the centre of the Place d’Armes, facing the Avenue de Paris, is a bronze equestrian statue of Louis XIV. Originally located at the apex of the Court of Honour, the statue was relocated to the Place d’Armes in 2009 after an extensive restoration. To the west is the Gate of Honour, a gilded iron gate and stone balustrade that marks the main entrance to the palace complex. Beyond that lies the broad expanse of the Court of Honour, bounded on the north and south by the Ministers’ Wings, outbuildings constructed in the 1680s to house the king’s secretaries of state.
Britannica Quiz
World Heritage Sites in France Quiz
The Royal Gate, an elaborate gold leaf gate, separates the Court of Honour from the Royal Court at the location where the Louis XIV statue once stood. Unveiled in 2008, the Royal Gate partially re-creates a gate that was designed by Hardouin-Mansart in the 1680s and was destroyed during the French Revolution. Some art historians criticized the Royal Gate as a modern interpretation of the original rather than a true restoration, but it served an undeniably valuable role in directing visitor traffic. Flanking the Royal Court to the south is the Dufour Pavilion, while the Gabriel Pavilion lies to the north. Both areas were extensively remodeled in the 21st century to serve as visitor reception centres. Beyond the Royal Court is the Marble Court, so named for the distinctive black and white marble tiles that adorn the terrace floor. Dozens of marble busts, depicting Roman deities and emperors, adorn the facades overlooking the court, and the central buildings of the palace complex rise around it.
Learn about the former French royal residence and center of government, now a national landmark and World Heritage site. Explore its architecture, gardens, art, and role in European absolutism.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Find out how to visit the Palace of Versailles and its estate, open every day except Monday. Check the opening hours, prices, tickets, guided tours, facilities and FAQ.
Plan your visit to the Palace of Versailles, the former residence of the French kings, with this interactive map and practical information. Learn about the history, architecture and art of the palace and its gardens, and book your tickets online.
Résidence officielle des rois de France, le château de Versailles et ses jardins comptent parmi les plus illustres monuments du patrimoine mondial et constituent la plus complète réalisation de l’art français du XVIIe siècle.
Quick & Easy Purchase Process! Full Refund Available up to 24 Hours Before Your Tour Date. Best Things to Do in 2024 in Versailles. Free Cancellation & Full Refund Available.
The most venerable and polished of the tour-and-activity sites. - BBC
9.0/10 (40600 reviews)
tiqets.com has been visited by 100K+ users in the past month
Book ahead & get your Palace of Versailles tickets on your smartphone with Tiqets. Discover & book tickets to top museums & attractions in Versailles.
Book Your Rental near Palace of Versailles. Browse Reviews. Check Out Our Price Guarantee. Great Hotels with Amenities to Keep the Whole Family Busy and You Free to Relax, Finally.
