"VERSAILLES, A WOW EXPERIENCE" Versailles by ForestqueenNYC

Versailles Travel Guide: 657 reviews and 2,428 photos

It took me three trips to Paris to finally go to Versailles. I don't know why because I had read Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser during my first stay in Paris and I really wanted to see where she lived, to get more of a feel for her and the King.

So finally two weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon at the beginning of February, 2008, I took the RER C from Musee d'Orsay, and went out to the town just to walk around, not to actually go to the chateau. The town was beautiful, but cold and not like a little French village, but more like a military academy in the U.S. The next Sunday was magnificent so I took the train out again just to walk around the town and the gardens which required no ticket. I entered through the gate where the bassin du dragon is and walked and walked until I finally came upon le jardin where I saw the chateau from a distance and WOW. I couldn't believe it. People actually lived there??
http://www.chateauversailles.fr/fr/le-chateau/0157-plan-du-domaine.html

I will go out again several more times in the Spring with ticket in hand, because there is no way that I am going to stand in line to buy a ticket. I think the ville de Versailles must be absolutely beautiful in the spring and look forward to my next visit.

I will update this page with more tips each time I go there.

Le Bassin du Dragon

Le Bassin du Dragon, Versailles

This is the bassin du dragon near where I entered the park. It is free to walk in the gardens and you can spend a whole day there or more.

Street In Versailles

One of the nearby streets in Versailles. It had a very cold, lonely, feeling.

Last visit to Versailles: Feb 2008
Intro Updated Feb 16, 2008
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Reviews (4)

WALK OR TAKE TRAM IN THE GARDENS Things to Do (1)

This can be very pleasant and you don't have to wait in a line to get in, at least not for the walk. I went in through... more travel advice

RER C Transportation (1)

I took the RER C from Musee d'Orsay. It stops very close to the Chateau. more travel advice

EAT HERE Restaurants (2)

There does not seem to be an abundance of restaurants in Versailles. At least not anywhere where I walked. So I would... more travel advice

DON'T EAT HERE Restaurants (2)

Directly across from the RER station there is a MacDonald's and to the left of that a bistro or cafe. I had to use the... more travel advice

Travelogues (1)

Written Feb 17, 2008

8 photos

VERSAILLES

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Comments (2)

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globetrott Sep 15, 2011 at 3:58 PM

I have seen this palace lots of years ago in wintertime, hope to get there again some day in summer !
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Yaqui Jun 23, 2009 at 9:46 AM

I agree, to see where Marie Antoinette lived would had been fantastic. Lovely page and good restaurant tips!