♥ The best of Versailles in one day !!! Your Licensed English-Speaking Guide will pick you up from your hotel in Paris at 8.15 am in a luxury private vehicle. On the way to Versailles, he will give you a complete introduction to the century of Louis XIV, and the history of the Palace of Versailles, one of the jewels of French architecture. It took around 50 years to build the largest royal residence of the world between 1661 and 1710. Versailles became the capital of the French Kingdom in 1682 and remained so until the French Revolution in 1789.
Inside the Royal Apartments :
Only 12 miles southwest of Paris (approximately a 30 minute drive), you will begin your day with a private visit of the Royal Chapel, the Royal Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, the Queen’s bedchamber and the Hall of the Battles. Your licensed guide will have the reservation he has bought prior to your visit, so you will not have to wait in the long queues! (He will enter with you through a special entrance to start the visit). After visiting the castle, your guide will take you for a stroll through the gardens. During high season weekends (from April to October) you will be able to enjoy a magnificent show accompanied by music : Les Grandes Eaux Musicales. Not to be missed!
Lunch in the old town of Versailles :
Following this, you will have a typical lunch (not included) in a traditional restaurant in the city of Versailles. In accordance with your wishes, we will make a booking at the best place. Your guide knows all the authentic and local restaurants away from the tourist crowds, so he can best advise you with your selection. Depending on the weather, it is also possible to have a picnic in the park along the Grand Canal. You will buy your bread, wine and cheese in one of the best food markets of the French Island Region before going to the gardens for a wonderful lunch.
The Petit and Grand Trianons :
After that, it is now time to stroll in the beautiful gardens à la Française designed by the famous royal gardener, André Le Nôtre. Discover the great perspective, the Grand Trianon, a marble palace listed as UNESCO World Heritage since 1979, and the Petit Trianon, built for the mistress of Louis XV : Madame de Pompadour.
The Queen’s Hamlet :
Enjoy a last walk to the Queen Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet: a must for Americans! It depicts a small Normandy-style village where Marie‐Antoinette would play the country girl and escape the pressures of court etiquette. She actually tried to recreate a small Vienna. Feel the incredible atmosphere of this charming and picturesque place before heading back to Paris in the late afternoon where you will be dropped off at your hotel around 4.30 pm.
Tickets to the Palace are not included (no waiting in queues).
Build your own trip !!! Flexible Itineraries
Design your own customized tour by building on an existing tour itinerary or creating your own. We’ll help you design your own tour, whether that means coordinating your visit around a special event or adding excursions exclusively. To create your own itinerary email us at steeve@theamericansinparis.com.
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Category : Full-day tour, Private tours, Versailles
Tags: Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette, Palace, Trianons, Versailles