Enjoy a
visit to the Palace of Versailles in a small group for even more conviviality with our
driver-guide who will tell you many anecdotes about the life of the Kings of
France. After a guided tour of the Palace, you will be able to discover the
gardens of Versailles for a few minutes. Departure and return from your place
of residence in Paris included.
One of
the most famous historic monuments in the world, the Palace of Versailles was
the official residence of the Kings of France Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI
and their courts from 1682 to 1789. Your guide will show you the majestic
Palace of Versailles, a symbol of the king's power. Its Baroque architecture,
sumptuous decoration, works of art, and furniture were all created by the
greatest artisans of the age. After touring the palace, explore the magic of
its formal gardens and exceptionally beautiful grounds.
The
Palace of Versailles has more than 700 rooms and stretches for over 721,000
square feet. Follow your guide straight to the front of the line to visit the
palace's most beautiful rooms: the King's Grand Apartments, with seven rooms
dedicated to different gods (Apollo, Mars, Mercy, Venus, etc.), and the Queen's
Grand Apartments, mirroring those of the king, which include the Coronation
Room and the Queen's Bedroom, once occupied by Marie Antoinette, among others.
Also, admire the grandeur of the Versailles Hall of Mirrors, a unique room in
which guests were received and impressed, designed by the famous architect
Jules Hardouin-Mansart.
Almost
240 feet-long, it was created to dazzle visitors to the Sun King, Louis XIV; it
is lit by 17 windows and some 350 mirrors, and overlooks the palace's
breath-taking gardens, the second part of your visit.
In 1661,
Louis XIV commissioned the landscape architect André Le Nôtre to lay out the
grounds and gardens, something that was just as important to the king as the
construction of the palace itself. Enjoy your free time strolling through the
Gardens of Versailles and admire the 386 works of art (including more than 200
statues), fountains, flower beds, ponds, and trees. During the Summer months, a
range of activities are organized, such as the Grandes Eaux Musicales, when the
fountains are made to dance to music.