{"id":950,"date":"2013-06-21T23:19:18","date_gmt":"2013-06-21T13:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/?p=950"},"modified":"2014-11-03T22:09:23","modified_gmt":"2014-11-03T11:09:23","slug":"28-marie-antoinette-and-her-versailles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/28-marie-antoinette-and-her-versailles\/","title":{"rendered":"28. Nine Top Tips for Visiting Marie Antoinette’s Versailles"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ch\u00e2teau de Versailles<\/em> is a name that brings to my mind both the pinnacle, and the demise of the French monarchy. It is simultaneously the most glorious of all palaces, golden and gargantuan as the centerpiece of the town of Versailles… as well as the most shameless; the most decadent and indulgent trophy home of it’s time.<\/p>\n

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We visit on a cold, wet and grey Autumn day (not too dissimilar from today in fact). Funny – the way I always end up at this palace in the rain… still, it sets the mood, as the stormclouds gather above, casting a rather fitting, grim shadow over the dark history of Versailles.<\/p>\n

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While it is a sight not to be missed when visiting France, the buildings that comprise the Ch\u00e2teau de Versailles and their surrounding grounds require serious planning if you intend to cover it all in a single day. The palace alone spans 67,000m2<\/sup>, before you even get to the gardens – which more than doubles the distance you have to cover. So believe me when I say you’ll need every minute of daylight afforded to you, and you’ll need to use it wisely.<\/p>\n

The following are 9 simple suggestions for an itinerary which I hope will help make your visit an efficient and memorable one.
\n
\n1) Don\u2019t take an organised bus tour – do take a packed lunch!<\/a>
\n2) Start early.<\/a>
\n3) Visit the Grand Apartments first (90 minutes).<\/a>
\n4) Take a morning tea break at the Angelina cafe (30 minutes).<\/a>
\n5) Visit the Apartments of the Dauphin and the Dauphine (60 minutes).<\/a>
\n6) Explore the gardens (60 minutes).<\/a>
\n7) The best fries in France (30 minutes).<\/a>
\n8) Dedicate half the day for the Trianons and Hamlet (4 hours).<\/a>
\n9) Stay until closing to see the sunset over the palace.<\/a><\/p>\n\n

 <\/a>
\n1) Don’t take an organised bus tour – do take a packed lunch!<\/strong>
\nUnless you enjoy sitting with a bus load full of elderly tourists and having your day dictated to you over speakerphone, I suggest you find your own way there.<\/p>\n

You can buy your tickets in advance on the official Versailles website<\/a>. Then, take the 7:57am RER C train from Saint-Michel Notre Dame to Versailles Rive Gauche. (Check the official SNCF website<\/a> for the full, current timetable.) <\/p>\n

You’ll arrive at 8:35am, which gives you just enough time to find your bearings, walk to the Palace, and start lining up. The map below will help you find your way to the Palace from the train station – it’s quite impossible to get lost! <\/p>\n