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Experience a memorable visit in the footsteps of the Roi Soleil, Louis XIV of France, and Queen Marie Antoinette through the Château de Versailles, the Gardens and Trianon Domain.
On this small-group day trip from Paris, discover the magnificence of Versailles. Your guide meets you at your hotel in Paris. Climb aboard a luxury vehicle for a one-hour ride to Versailles.
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles, or in french “Château de Versailles”, is one of the largest castles in the world. A World Heritage Site, the Palace of Versailles is one of the finest achievements of French art in the seventeenth century. This royal jewel is definitely a must-see French landmark.
Thanks to skip-the-line access, the guide invites you to discover the Royal Apartments in the Palace. These parade apartments were used to accommodate the official acts of the sovereign. They are decorated with a sumptuous Italian-style decoration, composed of marble paneling and painted ceilings.
The Hall of Mirrors or Grande Galerie was designed in 1678 by Mansart: a monumental room of 8072 square feet, dedicated to the wealth and know-how of the Kingdom of France. Around 239.5 feet long, the Hall exalts the political, economic and artistic successes of France. The compositions painted by Le Brun illustrate the glorious history of Louis XIV: military victories, diplomatic and kingdom reforms. The 357 mirrors, symbols of great luxury and technological prowess, demonstrated the wealth of France. Its design is a constantly changing show in which the lights and colors of the gardens are reflected. A magical moment.
The Gardens of Versailles
Our expert tour guide enables you to see the best part of the Gardens.
André Le Nôtre created an ultimate French Style garden: a terrace with a global view of the gardens, a geometric organization of the axes, ponds, flowerbeds, and groves. The garden is designed like a building, a walk playing on the perspectives. Charles Le Brun drew a large number of statues and fountains.
Each summer, Versailles offers superb entertainment in the gardens to give visitors the experience of the magnificence of the celebrations in the garden at the time of Louis XIV. Your guide offers you a visit to the musical gardens (Tuesday from June to October) and the musical fountains show (Saturdays and Sundays from April to October).
Lunch break in Versailles
After the garden visit, take a break. Your guide recommends differents suggestions for lunch in the Domain.
Enjoy the afternoon to discover the Trianon’s Estate.
The Petit Trianon
In 1758, Louis XV planned the construction of a new small castle for Madame de Pompadour. At the death of Louis XV, Louis XVI offered it to his young wife, Marie Antoinette. A visit to the Petit Trianon is a moving immersion in the daily life of Marie Antoinette, a deeply human queen. Often accused of frivolity, it would end tragically during the French Revolution. Approach the personality of this historical figure, famous for her beauty, her modernity and her sumptuous entertainment. Enjoy the gardens to discover the Temple of Love and Belvedere, dear to the queen.
The Grand Trianon is a unique building, with its central loggia which ensures real transparency between the courtyard and the gardens. In 1687, Louis XIV ordered the construction of a “small palace of pink marble and porphyritic with gorgeous gardens”, according to the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart. The castle is thus called “Marble Trianon”. This pink marble building subtly combines sumptuousness and intimacy. Many original sculptured decorations are visible in the apartments, as well as a magnificent Empire furniture. The Grand Trianon is surrounded by French Style Gardens whose countless flowers and groves contribute to creating a relaxing atmosphere.
The Queen’s Hamlet
The Queen’s Hamlet, built between 1783 and 1786 by Richard Mique, coincides with the taste of the time for the charms of rural life. This small village “as in the countryside” had houses made either for simple entertainment like the billiard room or for a real agricultural function such as the dairies or the farm. It served as a private meeting place for the Queen and her closest friends, a place of leisure.