Palace of Versailles

Published: August 12, 2026 · Updated: August 12, 2026

Versailles was Louis XIII's hunting lodge until Louis XIV turned it into the seat of French government in 1682, moving the court out of Paris. It housed around 3,000 courtiers and stands as the model absolutist palace of Europe.

Palace of Versailles — Basile Morin CC BY-SA 4.0 Source

Overview

Le Vau and Hardouin-Mansart built outward from the small brick lodge, which is still visible at the centre of the marble courtyard. The court left in October 1789 when the women of Paris marched on the palace, and it has never been a royal residence since. The State Apartments follow a fixed route that ends at the Hall of Mirrors.

Highlights

Book a timed ticket and arrive at opening or after three; the middle of the day is a slow-moving queue through the King’s Apartment. Tuesdays are closed. The Passport ticket covers the palace, the Trianons and the gardens on fountain days, and is the sensible buy if you are staying past lunch.

Location