Versailles Palace - Palace of Versailles

Most tourists choose to explore the main Palace building at the Versailles Estate first, followed by other attractions like the Gardens, Park, and Trianon Estate.

As a major attraction in the Versailles Estate, the main Palace features renowned sites such as the Hall of Mirrors, the King’s State Apartments, the Queen’s State Apartments, the Royal Chapel, and the Opera.

Here are the details on what you can expect from touring the Chateau de Versailles:

The Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors was originally a terrace, between the King’s Apartments and the Queen’s Apartments, but was later converted into a massive room.

As a result, the construction of the Hall of Mirrors began, and it took six years to complete (from 1678 to 1684). Architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart designed this gallery.

Here, you will find glassworks and paintings that showcase France’s political, economic, and artistic history.

The interior of the hall features 357 mirrors adorning 17 arches. This was a significant achievement for the French, as only Venetian artisans possessed the expertise in mirror production at that time.

France successfully enticed these skilled craftsmen to create the mirrors, a task that was previously exclusive to Venetians.

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The War Room

Next to the Hall of Mirrors is the War Room, which displays France’s military victories.

Construction of the War Room began in 1678 by Hardouin Mansart and was completed by Le Brun in 1686.

The marble walls are adorned with gilded bronze carvings that feature the emblems, trophies, and shields of King Louis XIV.

The Peace Room

While the War Room celebrates military victories, the Peace Room symbolizes the peace France brought to Europe.

Located symmetrically opposite the War Room, the Peace Room is part of the Queen’s Apartment.

It was also used for musical and game events during the golden period of Louis XIV’s reign.

The King’s State Apartments

The King’s State Apartments consist of seven rooms that were used for official events.

These State Apartments were open to the public during Louis’ reign, allowing everyone to see the king and the royal family.

The Hercules Room

The story of the Hercules Room is quite tragic.

This was the last room created during Louis XIV’s reign, but that’s not the saddest part.

French painter François Lemoyne created the massive painting “The Apotheosis of Hercules,” which features nearly 142 people.

The project took four years to finish, and the Hercules Room was completed in 1736.

Sadly, a year later, in 1737, Lemoyne committed suicide due to the exhaustion from working on this enormous project.

The Room of Abundance

The Room of Abundance is where evening gatherings took place during the reign of the Louis family.

It also served as an antechamber to Louis XIV’s Collection Room, where he kept his silver vases, gems, and medallions.

The king had a habit of placing The King’s Vessel on his table during important occasions to represent his power.

The Venus Room and Diana Room

These two rooms served as the main entrance to the State Apartment and acted as a lobby.

However, it was destroyed in 1752.

The Venus Room is dedicated to the Roman goddess of love, and the Diana Room is to the goddess of hunt.

The Mars Room

This Mars Room is dedicated to the Roman god of war and was known as the start of the King’s Apartment during Louis XIV’s reign.

The Mercury Room

The Mercury Room served as a stateroom, as Louis XIV slept in his private apartments.

However, until 1701, the room was used for the King’s public getting-up and going-to-bed ceremonies.

This room also held the coffin of Louis XIV, displayed from September 2 to 10, 1715.

The Apollo Room

Louis XIV identified himself as the Sun King, and this Apollo Room, also known as the Throne Room, was dedicated to the Roman god of the sun.

The room became a ballroom during evening gatherings.

The Queen’s Grand Apartments

Popular queens apartment inside the palace of versailles — Image: Chateauversailles.fr

The Queen’s Apartments include the Queen’s Bedchamber, the Nobles’ Room, the Royal Table Antechamber, and the Queen’s Guard Room.

The chamber was especially important to the Queen as it was where she spent a lot of her time and met with her guests.

The Queen’s Guard Room is the only room in the Apartments that has retained its 17th-century decoration, as it was never modernized since the Queen did not use it.

The Apartment played an important role in the birth of royal heirs. However, there is a common misconception that the Queens gave birth in front of the public.

In reality, only a limited number of people, including doctors, ladies-in-waiting, and the governess of princes and princesses, were present.

All others, who were part of the Courts, were waiting in nearby rooms.

Gallery of the History of the Palace

The Museum of the History of France, established in 1837, is located at the start of the Grand Apartments.

Architect Frédéric Nepveu designed it in Baroque and Neo-Classical styles.

The Museum is open every day from 9 am to 6.30 pm, except on Mondays. It attracts about one million visitors each year.

Inside, you can find the Crusades Rooms, the Africa, Crimea, and Italy Rooms, the Empire Rooms, the North and South Attics, the 1830 Room, the Gallery of Great Battles, and the Coronation Room.

Gallery Of Great Battles

The Gallery of Great Battles is the largest room in Versailles, spanning almost the entire first floor of the South Ministers’ Wing.

It showcases French military successes over the decades and is 120 meters in length and 13 meters in width.

Created by Louis Philippe, it stands as one of the finest art museums of the 19th century.

The Empire Rooms

The Empire Rooms are largely associated with the Napoleonic era.

These rooms reflect the transition from the Baroque style of architecture to neoclassical, which features gilded accents and elegant furnishings.

The large paintings in the Empire Rooms depict the legacy of Napoleon I.

The Royal Chapel

The construction of the Royal Chapel took place between 1689 and 1710.

Every day, usually at 10 am, the court gathered for the King’s mass.

Every Thursday, an orchestra performs, showcasing the European repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Royal Opera

The Royal Opera was inaugurated in 1770 to celebrate the marriage of the Dauphin, the future Louis XVI, to Marie-Antoinette of Austria.

It quickly became one of Europe’s greatest concert halls.

FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Chateau de Versailles.

How to visit Versailles Castle?

There are three popular ticketing options: entry tickets, guided tours, and small-group guided tours.

The Palace and Gardens entry ticket is the cheapest and most popular ticket.

If you want a local expert to guide you all through, the skip-the-line guided tour is the best option.

If you want a personalized experience, a small-group guided tour with Transport from Paris gives you the best experience.

Why is Versailles Palace so famous?

The Palace became popular when King Louis XIV moved his government and court to Versailles in 1682.

Since then, Versailles has played an important role in French history, witnessing historic events, including the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

Can I visit the Versailles Estate for free?

Yes, you can visit the Versailles Estate for free on the first Sunday of each month from November to March.

This initiative provides complimentary access, enabling visitors to explore the historic site without any admission fee.

Does Versailles still smell today?

During the reign of the Louis family, Versailles was infamous for its waste disposal issues and poor hygiene.

However, it no longer has odor issues and is well-maintained on a regular basis.