The Palace of Versailles

{*} Grandes Eaux Musicales : Access to the gardens of the Palace of Versailles with animated water fountains and musical background.
Available with the Passport to the Grandes Eaux and the Musical Gardens ticket, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from April to October 2017

{*} Jardins Musicaux : Access to the gardens of the Palace of Versailles with a background of baroque music.
Available with the Passport to the Grandes Eaux and the Musical Gardens ticket, on Tuesdays and Fridays from April to October 2017

Free entrance

If you are visiting the permanent collections of the Palace (including the Grands Appartements, the Galeriedes Glaces etc...), the Trianon Palace, the Domaine de Marie-Antoinette, and any temporary exhibitions, many visitors can request free admission.
On receipt of proof, entry is free for:

• Children under the age of 18
• All residents of the European Union who are under the age of 26
• Schoolchildren and teachers working at a French school (as long as they can supply their Educational Pass)
• Individuals with disabilities and one accompanying person
• Job seekers in France and the receiving the social minima (with proof that it has been received for less than 6 months)
• All art school students.

If you qualify for free admission here is how to gain access. When you arrive at the Chateau, go directly to the entrance of the Dufour Pavilion with your proof of identity.

Useful information

• On the days of the Grandes Eaux and the Musical Gardens, access to the gardens is only free for children aged under 6 years old.
• Free Sundays: entry is free on the first Sundays of the month from November to March.
• The audioguide is free for all visitors.
• All visitors must comply with security checks before entering. At peak times, this can require length waits which can take place outside without shelter. It is therefore strongly advised to consult the weather forecast and wear the appropriate clothing.

Versailles and its gardens

Constructed by the great king Louis XIV, Versailles is famous for its castle as well as its huge park which features one of the most accomplished French gardens ever created. The garden was designed at the same time as the Palace with the aim of creating a harmonious ensemble to glorify the Sun King.

Another reason why the gardens of Versailles are so large is that they include the Royal Forest where the King hunted. The most famous part of the forest is at the edge of the Palace grounds, where you will find 94 hectares of lovingly tended gardens, almost 300 sculptures and an endless array of shrubs and trees. The Palace is surrounded by gardens on three sides, while the East-West axis has served as the great prospect since the 1660s. Around the Palace, the gardens are made from parterres, dotted with fountains and featuring alleyways that lead into groves where the effects of foliage and water create an enchanting spectacle.

Louis XIV also added the Great Trianon palace to the park. This addition was used as a summer retreat for he and his family and a refuge from the Royal Court. However, his successor Louis XV used the Trianon as a home for his mistress, Madame de Pompadour. Later on, Louis XVI offered it to Marie Antoinette, who added English Gardens and a famous hamlet comprised of rustic cottages.

Did you know?

The origins of the Palace of Versailles revolve around a story of jealousy. Louis XIV's superintendent of finance, Nicolas Fouquet, was a great art lover. He used his wealth to construct a magnificent castle, the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. Then he made the mistake of inviting Louis XIV for a lavish feast. At the time Vaux-le-Vicomte included the finest architecture, technology and art, far exceeding properties of the Royal Family. Stung by the luxury enjoyed by his host, Louis accused Fouquet of corruption, imprisoned him and recruited the team that built Vaux-le-Vicomte, including André Le Nôtre who would create the dazzling gardens of Versailles. A gigantic project then began, mobilising 36,000 men to work day and night - all because of Louis' jealousy.

The current temporary exhibition: Peter the Great - A Tsar in France, 1717

from May 30, 2017 to September 24, 2017 at the Grand Trianon
Accessible with the Passport, the Passport Grandes Eaux and Musical Gardens, the ticket for the Domaine deTrianon (to be purchased locally) and the 1 year Versailles Card, as well as for anyone who qualifies for free admission.

This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the Palace of Versailles and the Hermitage, Saint Petersburg's famous cultural museum. It commemorates the 300 year anniversary of Peter the Great's visit to Paris in May and June 1717, seen as the beginning of diplomatic relations between France and Russia.

Peter the Great dreamed of visiting France for a long time. However, when he made the his first request to visit, the ageing Louis XIV refused, considering the visit to be too diplomatically risky at the time. Things evidently changed, as twenty years later in 1717 Peter was warmly welcomed, notably at the Grand Trianonin Versailles.

During the eighteenth century, France was Europe's dominant power. The Tsar cultivated a number of ambitions including marrying his daughter Elisabeth to Louis XV. An impulsive character, he also dreamed of visiting France's royal residences, desperate to see his personal project "the Peterhof" get off the ground. On the diplomatic front, France saw the potential to have a new ally in the East who would form a valuable counterweight against the Habsburgs.