Explore the famed Versailles Palace, Gardens, The King's Apartments & the Hall of Mirrors. Choose from a basic entry ticket, all access passport or ticket with round-trip transfers
- Tickets
Shop For Tickets Today.-Safe &
Secure Marketplace!
- Guided Tour
Explore Our Guided Tours Of
Palace Of Versailles Now!
- Skip The Line
Read the Information To Get
Valuable Insights.
- The Estate
Explore the Royal Palace Grounds
And Get Insights.
- The Gardens
The Gardens Stand As a Testimony Of
17th Century French Detailing.
- Arc de Triomphe + Palace
Save up to 5% Off
Get Access to Rooftop
- Tickets
9.0/10 (40600 reviews)
Book ahead & get your Palace of Versailles tickets on your smartphone with Tiqets. Discover & book tickets to top museums & attractions in Versailles.
Jump Queues with Skip the Line Tickets. Instant Confirmation & E-Tickets Available. Full Refund if You Cancel at least 24 Hours in Advance. Book Now. Do More with Viator.
Search results
Visit the former seat of power and a museum of the history of France, with its gardens, fountains, exhibitions and shows. Find out the opening hours, prices, events and how to get there.
- Plan Your Visit
The Palace of Versailles Park remains open every day, free...
- Discover
The Palace of Versailles, whose origins date back to the...
- What’s on
The Palace of Versailles is open throughout the Olympic...
- Calendar
The Olympic Games at the Palace of Versailles. In 1682, the...
- The Estate
The history of the Palace of Versailles starts at the 17th...
- The history
The future Louis XIV first came to Versailles in October...
- The collections
Once a palace, now a museum. Containing over 60,000 works,...
- Resources
Explore the Palace of Versailles and relive its temporary...
- Plan Your Visit
The Palace of Versailles ( / vɛərˈsaɪ, vɜːrˈsaɪ / vair-SY, vur-SY; [ 1] French: château de Versailles [ʃɑto d (ə) vɛʁsɑj] ⓘ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about 11 miles (18 km) west of Paris, France . The palace is owned by the government of France and since 1995 has been ...
Visit the former royal residence and museum of the history of France, a World Heritage site and a masterpiece of 17th century art. Explore the Palace, its gardens, its shows and its collections with tickets, guided tours and interactive map.
Learn about the origins, development and significance of the Palace of Versailles, from its humble beginnings as a hunting lodge to its glory as the seat of power and splendour of the French monarchy. Explore the reigns of Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, and the French Revolution that transformed the Palace.
- Overview
- The palace
Palace of Versailles, former French royal residence and centre of government, now a national landmark. It is located in the city of Versailles, Yvelines département, Île-de-France région, northern France, 10 miles (16 km) west-southwest of Paris. As the centre of the French court, Versailles was one of the grandest theatres of European absolutism.
The original residence was primarily a hunting lodge and private retreat for Louis XIII (reigned 1610–43) and his family. In 1624 the king entrusted Jacques Lemercier with the construction of a château on the site. Its walls are preserved today as the exterior facade overlooking the Marble Court.
Under the guidance of Louis XIV (reigned 1643–1715), the residence was transformed (1661–1710) into an immense and extravagant complex surrounded by stylized French and English gardens. Every detail of its construction was intended to glorify the king. The additions were designed by such renowned architects as Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Robert de Cotte, and Louis Le Vau. Charles Le Brun oversaw the interior decoration. Landscape artist André Le Nôtre created symmetrical French gardens that included ornate fountains with “magically” still water, expressing the power of humanity—and, specifically, the king—over nature.
To the east of the palace is the Place d’Armes, a wide plaza that in the 21st century served mainly as a parking lot to accommodate the thousands of tourists who visited Versailles each day. In the centre of the Place d’Armes, facing the Avenue de Paris, is a bronze equestrian statue of Louis XIV. Originally located at the apex of the Court of Honour, the statue was relocated to the Place d’Armes in 2009 after an extensive restoration. To the west is the Gate of Honour, a gilded iron gate and stone balustrade that marks the main entrance to the palace complex. Beyond that lies the broad expanse of the Court of Honour, bounded on the north and south by the Ministers’ Wings, outbuildings constructed in the 1680s to house the king’s secretaries of state.
Britannica Quiz
World Heritage Sites in France Quiz
The Royal Gate, an elaborate gold leaf gate, separates the Court of Honour from the Royal Court at the location where the Louis XIV statue once stood. Unveiled in 2008, the Royal Gate partially re-creates a gate that was designed by Hardouin-Mansart in the 1680s and was destroyed during the French Revolution. Some art historians criticized the Royal Gate as a modern interpretation of the original rather than a true restoration, but it served an undeniably valuable role in directing visitor traffic. Flanking the Royal Court to the south is the Dufour Pavilion, while the Gabriel Pavilion lies to the north. Both areas were extensively remodeled in the 21st century to serve as visitor reception centres. Beyond the Royal Court is the Marble Court, so named for the distinctive black and white marble tiles that adorn the terrace floor. Dozens of marble busts, depicting Roman deities and emperors, adorn the facades overlooking the court, and the central buildings of the palace complex rise around it.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Découvrez le château de Versailles, ancienne résidence des rois de France, ses jardins, ses domaines et ses expositions. Consultez les horaires, les tarifs, les actualités et les infos pratiques pour préparer votre visite.
Plan your visit to the Palace of Versailles, the former residence of the French kings, with this official website. Find out how to book tickets, access the palace, explore the gardens, and more.
