Hotels near Palace of Versailles

Louis XIV transformed a modest hunting lodge into the largest palace in Europe, a project that consumed 36,000 workers over several decades. The result is a complex of 2,300 rooms, 800 hectares of gardens, and an influence on European court architecture that lasted two centuries. The Hall of Mirrors - 73 metres long, lined with 357 mirrors reflecting 20,000 candles worth of chandelier light - remains the single most photographed room in France. Beyond the palace, the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon, and Marie Antoinette's hamlet offer a quieter counterpoint to the main building's formality.

The palace ticket costs EUR 21.50 and covers the main state apartments and the Hall of Mirrors. The full estate pass at EUR 28.50 adds the Trianon palaces, Marie Antoinette's estate, and access to the Musical Fountains show when running (weekends April through October). The palace is open Tuesday through Sunday, 09:00 to 18:30 (last entry 17:50). Closed Mondays. Pre-booking online is essential - walk-up queues can exceed 90 minutes in summer.

Pro Tip: Arrive on the first RER C train to reach the gates before 09:00. Tour the palace first, then spend the afternoon in the gardens - most visitors do the opposite, creating a bottleneck at the palace entrance around midday. Bring a picnic to eat on the Grand Canal's lawn; restaurant options inside the estate are overpriced and crowded.