The Palace of Versailles is a former royal house that King Louis XIV ordered built. It is situated in the Yvelines Department in the Île-de-France region of France, approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) west of Paris.
The French government owns the palace, which has been run by the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles since 1995 under the authority of the French Ministry of Culture. One of the most visited tourist destinations worldwide, Versailles' palace, park, and gardens welcome almost 15,000,000 visitors annually.In 1623, Louis XIII constructed a hunting lodge at Versailles. The château underwent multiple expansions in phases between 1661 and 1715 under his successor, Louis XIV. Both kings loved living there, and when Louis XIV relocated his court and government to Versailles in 1682, the palace became the de facto capital of France. Kings Louis XV and Louis XVI carried on this situation, mostly renovating the palace's interior, but the French court and royal family left Paris in 1789. The population of the nearby city fell, and the Palace of Versailles was mainly deserted and stripped of its belongings for the remainder of the French Revolution.From 1810 until 1814, Napoleon utilized the Grand Trianon, a secondary palace, as a summer house after being crowned Emperor; he did not occupy the main palace during this time. When the monarch was reinstated after the Bourbon Restoration, he lived in Paris, and the palace did not undergo significant restoration until the 1830s. The courtiers apartments of the southern wing were replaced by a museum of French history.Because of its significance as the epicenter of French power, art, and science in the 17th and 18th centuries, the palace and park were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.The palace, its gardens, and a few of its auxiliary buildings are listed as culturally significant monuments by the French Ministry of Culture.Generally speaking, spring (April to June) or fall (September to October) are the finest seasons to visit Versailles. The weather is delightfully temperate during these months, and the Palace of Versailles' gardens are either in full flower or exquisitely in the fall, providing the perfect setting for your visit.
Experience luxury and adventure together as you travel some of Europe's most breathtaking rail routes, passing through well-known tourist spots and taking in stunning landscapes, tunnels, and mountains.
Explore Train RoutesIdeal Time Vacation Rocamadour, France: 3-4 days
Best Time to Visit Rocamadour, France:May, June and September
Know MoreIdeal Time Vacation Provence, France: 5days
Best Time to Visit Provence, France:June through August
Know MoreIdeal Time Vacation The Loire Valley, France: 3days
Best Time to Visit The Loire Valley, France:April-May and September-October
Know MoreIdeal Time Vacation Mont Saint-Michel, France: 1-2 days
Best Time to Visit Mont Saint-Michel, France:March and October
Know More