We are planning to end our holiday in June with a trip to the Palace of Versailles and have booked 4 nights at the Huttopia Versailles. I have looked at the Palace website and I'm a little confused about entry. Can anyone who has been there offer some advice please?
I guess that we might need to take 2 days over this - one for the gardens and one for the palace itself. Does it make any real difference which order we do them in?
So far as I can see, entry to the gardens is free, but we will need a timed ticket. Is this right?
I'm not clear whether we need to pay for a ticket to the palace. As I said I'm confused. Again, advice please.
We will be 3 adults, visiting on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday. On the free day we may go into Paris by train.
Can we walk to the Palace from the site, or will we need to take the car? (We have a CritAir sticker).
If anyone has been there in the past couple of years (i.e. since entry rules will have changed with Covid) I would really appreciate your knowledge.
Jo
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We went there a few years ago so can't comment on any changes caused by Covid.
We went online and booked in advance passport tickets which allowed access all areas, palace, gardens and grounds, including the musical fountains shows they have on Sundays we also booked tickets for a small group tour (in English) of the Kings’ private apartments. We had bought the latter because we’d read it was a good way to get straight in without having to queue for ages (this worked well in spite of the grumbling of those queueing up for tickets). We really enjoyed the tour of the King's apartments.
We didn't explore the gardens too much as it was raining and we had plans for the following day anyway but as they are huge they'd probably warrant a separate day to visit.
The campsite is about 1km from a train station which will take you into Paris if you want (we went to the Louvre and Musée D'Orsay). From the campsite to the palace is about 3km, once you get up to the main boulevard which leads down to the palace you can catch a bus so there's no need to walk all of the way. There is a carpark in front of the Palace traffic is rather chaotic around there though.
We found siting on the campsite a bit haphazard but everyone was friendly and helpful and the facilities, whilst busy, were clean.
I can't recommend highly enough the benefit of booking online in advance for either the Palace or any of the Paris main attractions.
It's a shame you aren't going around Fête Nationale (Bastille Day), there's a free firework display at the palace on the night of the 13th, then on the day itself there's a big military parade and air display (flypast) along the Champs Elysée in the morning, all of the public museums are open for free and there's a massive firework display centred around the Eiffel Tower in the evening.
Thank you for the information. That is really helpful. It looks as if we will have to take the car to the palace, but can walk to the train for a trip to Paris, which my husband and son have never visited.
I will have to work slowly through the tickets information, it seems!
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
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In my experience, it’s usually better to do the house / palace before the gardens, because you get a “mental map” when you look out of the windows going round. Especially for big gardens like these, it helps you to orientate yourself when you’re in the gate. (Obviously you’re given a plan, but not everyone walks round checking it. Getting a bit lost is part of the fun.)
Did you enjoy your visit Fiona, we have always thought about a trip there.
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We went a few years ago - my mother was in her 70s and my son about 14. We stayed at a hotel and drove to the chateau. I bought tickets in advance. We managed to visit the chateau and the gardens in one day. It was tiring but I think we saw all we needed to. We could have ambled around the gardens but none of us are keen plantsmen and we felt we saw the beauty of them. The castle was busy and we were kept at the pace of the other people in there.
I'd happily go again. It's the sort of place you never fully appreciate - I'd been at least 3 times as a teenager and each time I see different things.
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Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 31/1/2022
Did you enjoy your visit Fiona, we have always thought about a trip there.
Yes, we were taken by French friends that we were staying with, a number of years ago so I can’t remember details.
You need to skim inside the palace, focussing on what you like rather than reading every single label, or you’ll get culture overload.
My work sometimes used to involve researching historic gardens & estates, and I enjoy photography, so I loved the iconic gardens. I’ll always sit down somewhere, let the crowds pass, and soak up the view.
I’m not a big fan of stately homes (overload as a child) but I loved the palace. We had the dog with us so my husband walked her round the grounds while I was in the palace.
We stayed at the Hutopia too and got the bus to Versailles. It’s not far on the bus, about 10 minutes.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Palace of Versailles
via mobile 31/1/2022 at 12:10pm
