Paris is a series of visual splendours in itself, but if you’ve ogled the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa from every angle, had your fill of Art Nouveau and thigh-expanding gateaux, a day trip to Versailles from the City of Light could be just the cultural break you’ve been craving.
The Palace of Versailles
Once you leave the bus at Versailles, you’ll be able to smell the glorious, fresh-cut grass drifting in on the breeze from the Palace of Versailles. Its 250 acres of manicured gardens are impressive and surprisingly peaceful, even when the mazes of shrubbery and topiaries are overrun by tourists. Don’t miss the fountains, especially the Grandes Eaux on Sundays at 3.30pm (only from May through September).
In 1623, King Louis XIII visited Versailles and built a small brick and stone lodge. When he became the lord of Versailles a decade later, he enlarged it, although Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, is largely responsible for the building that stands today, including the infamous Hall of Mirrors – his most notable contribution to Versailles.
It wouldn’t be a French lunch without some fresh French bread and cheese, so why not grab some wine too and have a picnic in the gardens of the Palace? This would be the perfect time to do some people watching and make the most of a glorious day outside the hustle and bustle of Paris. Ooh la la.
Don’t miss the Royal Tennis Court
Built in 1686 in order to meet the needs of the court of Versailles palace, the Royal Tennis court remains a must-see site on a day trip from Paris to Versailles. It was the scene of the Oath of June 20, 1789, when 576 deputies of the Estates-General declared themselves the National Assembly and swore not to fold before France had been blessed with a constitution.
During the French Revolution, it was put forward that the Royal Tennis Court should be replaced with a commemorative monument, but in 1880 the hall was transformed into a museum instead. Today the site is open only for guided tours. Ask our dedicated Concierge team to help arrange a visit.
Get perfumed at the Osmotheque
The Osmotheque is well worth a visit on your day trip to Versailles, and not just because this repository and conservatory for the formulae of perfumes smells great. Founded in 1988 by Jean Kerléo, along with several other perfumers, the aim was to reconstruct the formula for perfumes that have long shaped various trends in the perfume industry, and occasionally bring old scents back to life.
These days you can visit this perfume museum and conservatory in Versailles and discover the important role its team of scientific and technical experts played in recreating the perfume worn by the sweet-smelling Marie Antoinette. Let our team of travel experts know you want a sniff around and they’ll be happy to make a booking to the Osmotheque on your behalf.
See how Marie Antoinette lived
The Trianons and The Hamlet (Le Hameau) in the grounds of Chateau de Versailles is a small hamlet that Marie Antoinette had built in 1783 so that she could play at being an ordinary lady. Wander around this living fairy tale and step back in time to when a woman overwhelmed by her own position in society felt the need to hide away with her friends, one of whom was the designer, Richard Mique.
Built to give the impression of being deep in the countryside, the rooms at the hameau also allowed for more intimacy than those at the Petit Trianon, not to mention the giant, ornate salons at Versailles. Now there’s a day trip fit for a queen.
If you need help booking anything on your trip from Paris to Versailles, call our dedicated travel experts today and prepare your taste buds for all the fresh baguettes and butter you can handle.
