This Summer 2015, from 9th June to 1st November, the Indian artist Anish Kapoor exhibits its work in Palace of Versailles and its gardens.
Anish Kapoor in Palace of Versailles
Anish Kapoor is born in 1954 in Mumbai. He studied art in England at Hornsey College of Art and at Chelsea School of Art and Design. He lives in London and is considered as a great sculptor.
Its artwork deal with the monumental and the opposite inside/outside, between the architecture and the red color organic forms (like red muscles, veins and tendons in the human body).
This page provides information and advice on everything you have to know before visiting Palace of Versailles with kids.
Palace of Versailles is a great monument visited by a lot of tourists, so you have to be organize before coming.
What to you want to see?
You have few possibilities which depends on what you want to see with your kids.
If you only want to visit the Versailles’ Palace, you should come in the morning (at 9:00 AM) or at 4:30 PM to avoid the crowd.
If you only want to visit the Versailles’ Palace and Gardens in 1 day, you should visit the Palace in the morning (at 9:00 AM) or at 4:30 PM to avoid the crowd, and walk in the Gardens and the Park the rest af the time.
I prefer going to the Palace in the morning, so that kids can run in the park after being so kind and quiet during the visit; it’s like a reward.
If you want to both visit Versailles’ Palace, the gardens and Trianon Palace and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet in 1 day, you can organize your day that way : See the interior of the Palace at 9:00 AM, than gardens and park, and after Trianon palaces and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet (open until 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM in high season).
I advice this plan, because kids can romp in the park before moving on with a new tour.
Reserve your ticket
When you choose what you want to visit, buy your tickets through Internet to avoid a long queue on site.
You have to reserve for adults, but it’s free for kids until 18 years old and for European Union residents under 26 (student card). To benefit, don’t forget your proof to show it at the main entrance.
For information, even if you have a ticket entrance for the Palace of Versailles, you will queue to the Palace main entrance (named A) to pass the control.
How many time do I need to visit?
Palace of Versailles
For visiting the Palace of Versailles with kids, you need at least one hour and half.
After two hours, my kids want to run out to the Park. 😉
At the entrance, you can have audioguides with explanations specially adapted for kids, but only in french. The audioguide is free, it’s included in the price of the ticket. The adults’ audioguide exists in 11 languages. Officially, the audioguide is available for kid from 8 years old, but kids really appreciate to have one even if they don’t fully understand.
You can also visit with a Guided tour. It costs 7€ for adult in addition to the admission price. Admission is free for children under 10 years old.
Gardens and Park
For Gardens and the Park, it depends on your legs and your kids!
You can stay as long as you want until the closing 6:00 PM (8:30 PM in the summer).
Trianon Palace and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet
For Trianon Palace and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet, you need one hour and a half.
Special advice when visit with babies and Toddlers
Be careful ! Pushchairs and baby-carriers with metal frames are not allowed in the rooms of the Palace. You should bring a baby sling or a baby-carrier without metal frames for children under a year old.
During the Summer (from April to October), the Domain of Versailles organizes events that may interest you and make your visit more special and memorable.
Domain of Versailles invites artists to reinvent the spirit of the Grand Siècle of Louis XIV. Discover the Musical garden, Musical Fountains Show, Fountains Night Show and the Serenade.
The Musical Garden (Jardins musicaux)
Garden of Versailles
You can stroll through the Palace of Versailles’s gardens designed by André Le Nôtre with music that comes from green spaces (groves). It’s a quiet and pleasant moment with the sound of Baroque music.
Be careful : tickets are not returned neither exchanged or refunded even in bad weather on the day. Music in the Gardens takes place whatever the weather.
It happens each Tuesday, from April to October. From 10: a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
It costs €8 and it’s free for kids under 5 years old.
Royal serenade in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles (Sérénade)
Senerade in Hall of Mirrors
Just before Fountains Night Show, musicians and dancers show you in the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) for a French ball.
Each Saturdays from mid june to end August.
Two performances of 50 minutes at 6:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
It costs €18.
It costs €36 for a combate ticket Serenade + Fountains Night Show (Grandes Eaux Nocturnes).
The Opening times are longer in high season (April to October) than in low season (November to March).
Palace of Versailles is open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM (6:30 PM April to October) ; last admission 5:00 PM (6:00 PM November to March), from Tuesday to Sunday.
Trianon palaces and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet are open from noon to 5:30 PM (6:30 PM April to October) ; last admission 5:00 PM (5:45 PM April to October).
French gardens are open every days from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (8:30 PM April to October).
Park and Gardens are open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (7:00 AM to 8:30 PM April to October).
I come Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 1st April to 31th October. Be careful you will have to pay every Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays on these months.
For Palace of Versailles or gardens : an half day is enough
For Palace of Versailles + gardens: 1 day is necessary
For Palace of Versailles + gardens + Trianon palaces + Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet: in 1 day it’s possible, but 2 days is better.
3. How to organize my day?
If I want to see Palace of Versailles or the Gardens?
I visit the Palace in the morning (at 9:00 a.m.) or at 4:30 p.m. to avoid the crowd.
I walk in the Gardens and the Park when I want.
If I want to see both Palace of Versailles and the Gardens in 1 day?
I visit the Palace in the morning (at 9:00 a.m.) and after I walk in the park, so that kids can run after being so kind and quiet in the palace.
If I do the opposite, I see the Palace from 4:30 p.m. to avoid the crowd.
If I want to see both Palace of Versailles, the Gardens and Trianon Palace and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet in 1 day?
In that case, I organize my day this way:
First choice: I see the interior of the Palace at 9:00 a.m., than Gardens and Park, and after Trianon Palace and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet (open until 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. in high season).
It’s my preferred choice, because kids can romp in the park before moving on with a new tour.
Second choice : I begin by gardens and park until 12:00, than Trianon palaces and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet and I finish by the interior of the Palace after 4:30 p.m.
I well know my kids and I imagine if they will want to visit all or only the palace. I have to decide before buying tickets, because the price won’t be the same and I don’t want to queue!
Have a look at the Palace of Versailles Opening Times to choose your best moment to visit.
If I want to see both Palace of Versailles, the Gardens and Trianon Palace and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet in 2 days?
Marie-Antoinette’s Domain
The first day, I see the interior of the Palace at 9:00 a.m., than Gardens and Park. If I do the opposite, I see the Palace from 4:30 p.m. to avoid the crowd.
The second day, I begin by Gardens and Park, and I visit Trianon Palace and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet from 12:00.
Have a look at the Palace of Versailles attendance Page to choose your best day to visit.
For information, even if you have a ticket entrance for the Palace of Versailles, you will queue to the Palace main entrance (named A) to pass the control.
5. Do I want to see some Paris attractions like Disneyland Paris or the Eiffel Tower?
If yes, I could spend some more nights in Versailles hotel or move in another hotel. Have a look at all the possibilities around Paris and not so far from Versailles.
The Versailles’Palace is one of the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It is very famous, not only for its beauty but also as a symbol of absolute monarchy of the Ancient Regime.
In Domain of Versailles, you can visit these main sights :
In the 1660s, the young king Louis XIV began to transform the hunting castle of Louis XIII. The architect was Louis Le Vau. André Le Nôtre begans to create « French-style » Gardens of Versailles.
Hall of Mirrors
In 1678, Louis XIV, named « Sun King », decided to expand the castle into a Palace. The architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart created the Hall of Mirrors, decoreated by the painter Charles Le Brun. The famous Hall of Mirrors was a waiting and meeting place where the King showed his royal power to impress visitors.
In 1682, the King moved the court and the government of France from Paris to Versailles.
In 1837, Louis-Philippe converted it into a museum of French History.
In 1919, World War I ended in Hall of Mirrors with signing the Treaty of Versailles with Clémenceau (France), Wilson (Uned States), Lloyd George (United Kingdom), Orlando (Italy), Müller and Bell (Germany).
In Versailles’ Palace , you can see first :
Hall of Mirrors*
King ‘s Grand Apartment
King’s Chamber*
Queens’ Grand Apartment
King’s interior apartments
Royal Chapel*
Royal Chapel
You can also see :
Crown Prince’s Apartment (Appartement du Dauphin et de la Dauphine) [currently close]
Louis XV’s daughters apartments [can be visit only during the week-end]
Marie-Antoinette’s Apartments
Marquise de Pompadour’s Apartment
Museum of French History : paintings and sculptures which show the great national history of France since the Middle Ages.
