 | Paris Versailles Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 16 |  |
I've been to Versailles on 2 separate trips and both times, we arrived on early trains and were able to visit the property without throngs of people.
We didn't realize it the first time but this was CRUCIAL to a positive visit. When we were leaving (around noon) there was a huge line waiting to get in. Not fun.
I have 2 tips for you...
1) If you're not sure you want to go, GO! At least go and see the palace itself even if you don't visit the other buildings. The hall of mirrors (see pic left) is amazing. Truly amazing.
2) If you go, be there BEFORE it opens and try to get in and out by noon. Noon is when all the TOUR BUSES start arriving so it gets really packed in the afternoon.
If you play your cards right, you can visit the highlights and be back in Paris proper by 2-3 pm.
The Hall of Mirrors was the opulent setting for state events and is where the Treaty of Versailles was ratified in 1919 ending World War I.
The room is 233 feet long. Leave a Comment
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When you are going to get tickets for Chateau Versailles, the information people will ask you to get a day pass. I have asked what is the difference in getting a day pass and also getting individual tickets. I was told that with the day pass, I can go to all the rooms, which is not true at all, only the rooms that you can get the individual tickets for. The day pass do include the entrance to the two Trianon which are tourist traps and not worth making an effort to get there. It is just a rip off. Nothing interesting there, and you either walk there (very far) or get a train ride (expensive).
Tourists information are vague there. Perhaps that's the way to rip off tourists.
I have paid Euro20 for the day pass. I think the tickets for the rooms are more value for money at Euro11,50. By the way, the entrance to the two trianon only adds up slightly more than Euro9,50. Leave a Comment
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There are people who do not see beauty in Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. "WHAT?!?!?!!", is the reacton of 10 out of 10 people when they hear that. I say, "are you out of your mind????"... hehe
But here's my very own heretic opinion: there's so much bad taste in Versailles!
I don't deny that it's a *must* in Paris, for its place in history and surely for the beauty that's in it, and there's a lot of it there.
But what about those crystal chandeliers, all that gold, and those colorful rooms? Marie Antoinette's was RED, for crying out loud! From what I've heard, I say the people from that show "Queer eye for the straight guy" should visit the kings of France and teach them some lessons in good taste. Leave a Comment
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I cannot say that the place was not worth visiting, because the PARK is charming, even in the autumn (better if you have a bike, because it is really huge:)) The park is FREE and not a bad place to spend a whole day and make a break in your sightseeing schedule.
The PALACE outside it is not impressive, unless you're an architecture freak
The ticket to the PALACE is absolutely OVERPRICED and you have to WAIT HOURS in a long queue just to get the ticket. And then I wish you courage and patience (!) inside - to make your way through the crowds of tourists (it's even in November, and I imagine what a nightmare in spring or in summer !)!
Inside it is decorated - well, royally :) (no wonder, after all ;)), - so be ready to be exposed to numerous rooms full of painted gold furniture, huge wall-size paintings, etc. I don't say it is bad, just nothing really special, especially for France, where the gentry has been swimming in luxury and now you have so many splendid and interesting castles, e.g Loire castles, to compare. (Well, as a matter of fact, even in my homeland, Ukraine, there are far more beautiful palaces and castles - e.g. the palace of count Vorontsoff in Crimea, where both the interior and exteriour are really gorgeous and decorated with far more taste (I've been several times there and never tired of the beauty and charm of the place - and believe me, I am not that patriotic or homesick ;)
The Versailles audio-guide will tell you about the life style of the french royal family, the history of the palace, its decortation, architects and artists, etc. It's included in the price of the ticket, so I'd recommend to take it and do not bother about the guided tour
TRIANONS: 100 percent waste of your time and money :(
To SUMMARIZE. If you have already seen other palaces (or if you've just seen e.g. Napoleon's rooms in the Louvre museum), Versailles might disappoint you. If you have no other plans to do in France, go there, but keep in mind the queues
If you decided to visit the park, do it in spring or early summer, the parc is said to be full of flowers and look quite romantic. The entrance to the parc is free.
If you firmly decided to get inside the palace - buy a day ticket rather than a "pass". The only difference that the pass give the access to Trianon, but there is ZERO intersting inside Trianon, but you can walk in the Maria-Antoinetta park (if you have chieldren, they would like a mini-cattle farm with animals ;))
In France - Loire castles, or simply see "Napoleon's" rooms in the Louvre museum in Paris. Actually, in the Louvre you can see a lot of pieces of royal furniture (and most of it originally taken from Versailles).
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when you go to Versailles there are many sellers who sell flying plastic white birds, even if you have children do not fell tempted to buy them as they will work once or twice, and then they will not work anymore Leave a Comment
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Versailles in the summer. Maybe it's beautiful in the winter, with less tourists, but I was absolutely crushed by all the people. Also the reprotedly most beautiful garden areas were destroyed by a storm in 1999. Leave a Comment
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If you go to Paris your bound to go to Versaille, there are lots and lots of guys out there that will try and sell you anything. From watches to paintings...nothing is real. They've either stolen the watches to get some money. They get really annoying and believe me they wont leave you alone until you buy something. I had to actually scream at them to leave me alone...seemed to do the trick ;) Leave a Comment
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Palace at Versaille - don't go on the weekend if it's avoidable. The crowds are impossible and Tuesdays are almost empty.
Almost every site in summer is going to be crowded - be ready for it. Leave a Comment
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versailles on a sunday afternoon- it sucked! there were so many people that you couldn't see anything and you just had to walk with everyone or you'd be trampled. on sundays when the founitains are on you have to pay to enter the gardens, and for a cheapskate like me, that's bad.
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Versailles is 20 km southwest of Paris and a good half-day trip of your time. I think it's definitely overcrowded and somewhat overrated so it's also very low on my list of 'must see's' in Paris. The gardens and fountains, seen in this photo, are nice but not worth the entire trip. If you want to see some truly grand châteaux, go to the Loire Valley (photos on my France page).
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