CDG: Versailles

Chateau Versailles!

I finally got around to posting my trip to Versailles, which actually happened last year. But better late than never! I took quite a few pictures, too numerous to post here. But I'm providing a sample of some of the best and from different vantage points around the castle.

Getting to Chateau Versailles couldn't be easier. From the Mercure Tour Eiffel, go to the nearest RER station entrance on the other side of the soccer fields. Go to the cashier and ask for one round trip ticket to Versailles Rive Gauche. I forget how much it cost, but it wasn't much (€10 or so, as I recall). Since this is such a popular destination, you'll see signs at the Versailles station guiding you where to go. A Google Map peek is worth a thousand cross-checks. None the less, out of the station, it's right on Rue Royale, and left on Avenue de Paris, and voila!


View Larger Map

Get in line for tickets, grab your little audio device thingie (for the castle only, not the park grounds) and you're off to the races. If you can buy your tickets ahead of time, you'll save time. The line on our day was long, but it moved relatively quickly because of the number of registers working inside.

Depending on how much you want to listen to the various audio bits, you're castle tour could take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. It would be helpful to understand a bit about the history of the castle and the French Aristocracy before you go, so you don't get lost in whose sister was dating what guy...

Once you're done with the castle tour, you're off to view the park grounds. I was there on a magnificent day with just a few rolling clouds and a cool breeze. Be sure to reference your park map. What is fascinating to me is how the different sections of the garden each have their own ambience.

On a day with good visibility, the Park grounds can be seen extending off in the distance like a movie set matte painting. The far edge of the lake is about 2 miles away, to give you a proper sense of perspective. There are boats to rent, as well as extra tours of the hunting lodges, if you desire (both cost extra...)


Beautiful views from both directions!


Amid the grand scale, there are stunning examples of attention detail on a smaller scale:


Enjoy your trip to Versailles!! It's just one example in the Paris region of of the aristocratic oppulence of the era.