Château de Versailles began as a hunting lodge

The Château de Versailles or The Palace of Versailles is in the Île-de-France region of France, about 20 kilometers or about 12 miles southwest of the capital city of Paris. The Château began as a hunting lodge in 1624 for King Louis XIII. Eight years later Louis started enlarging the Château. His son, Louis XIV, continued the expansion into one of the largest palaces in the world. The Palace of Versailles is now one of the foremost museums and tourist attractions in France.

We were spending a week in Paris and decided to take a day trip to this piece of history, architecture, and work of art. It was easy to take the RER C train to Versailles, but be sure to buy a “Paris – Versailles Rive Gauche” ticket. The attendants at the station are helpful if you don’t know which train to take, but the signs are easy to understand too.

The last stop of the train is Versailles, so you shouldn’t have any problem knowing where to get off the train. Once you exit the station, The Château de Versailles is only a short 5-minute walk. Either follow the signs or the mass of people heading in the direction of the Château.

We purchased our passes as part of a 3-day museum pass, otherwise, you may have to stand in a line to get tickets and then in an even longer line to get into the Château. It was the end of October and we stood in line for 45 minutes to one hour to get in. In the busy season, you could wait in line for two or more hours.

I would plan for an entire day. You’ll probably want to walk around the city or catch a bite in a local restaurant after you’re finished with the Château and the grounds.

The architecture of the Château de Versailles is inspiring in itself. I will share a few photos here along with one of the gardens and then post more specific photos in other posts.

Here are a few tips:

1. The park and the gardens are open every day, but the Château and estate of Marie Antoinette are closed on Mondays and holidays.

2. Schedule either a guided tour or a self-guided audio tour. We chose the self-guided and learned a lot that you may miss just wandering around.

3. We went at the end of October and it was chilly. You’ll be spending some time outside, so be sure to dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes!

4. Even in October, walking through the Château was shoulder-to-shoulder, so, be patient.

5. Don’t forget your camera!

We are so glad that we took the day trip to Versailles, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. You can retrace your steps back to the train station and then don’t fall asleep because you need to make sure you get off at the right station once you’re back in Paris.

The Château de Versailles is awe-inspiring. But, one of the best things was walking the streets of Versailles with my wife, finding a little local restaurant and ordering a Croque Madame, a carafe of red wine, and sharing great food, drink, and stories with my wife. There isn’t anything better than creating memories with those you love.

Share your experience, photos, tips, or favorite areas of the Château de Versailles. I’d love to see and hear about it.

Be well, and travel safely.

Other great places to visit