Half day private trip to the Versailles Palace
Once you arrive at Versailles, you will skip the queue and enter the Palace via the reserved group entrance. The Apartments of King Louis XV and XVI have limited access which means not only will you avoid the majority of the crowd but you will also learn about the undisclosed world of the French monarchs. All of our guides are fully qualified professionals who are passionate about Versailles and will be delighted to share with you all the secrets of the palace.
It was King Louis XIV – The Sun King who first created a suite of rooms for himself and his most intimate courtiers, away from crowds allowing him a measure of a private life. Later these rooms were extended and adapted by Kings Louis XV and Louis XVI, to suit their personal interests and needs. Visiting this part of the Palace is a unique opportunity to get to know more about the real characters of the royal family and to take get a closer look into their private lives .
To complete your visit to the private Apartments, you will also have the chance to see either the Royal Opera or the Royal Chapel (depending on the opening hours). The Opera, though started by Louis XIV, was not finished until 1770 to celebrate the wedding of the future King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, despite its grandeur over the next 20 years less than 25 performances would actually be held there!
The Royal Chapel was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, one of Versailles most celebrated architects. Sadly he never saw his masterpiece finished as he passed away 2 years before its completion. One of the most famous of the Chapel’s events was the wedding of the young Marie Antoinette, only 15 at the time, and the crown prince, future Louis XVI.
Your tour to Versailles cannot be complete without seeing the gardens.
With its 70 hectares, the gardens are vast and not surprisingly, it is easy to get lost among the many different alleys. Your expert tour guide will walk with you through special paths to his/ her selection of the best places to see. When the gardens were designed, the King was 26 and he had a love for art and all things beautiful. For him and for the men of his time, beauty meant Classical Antiquity. King Louis identified himself with Apollo (nothing less!), the God of the Sun in Greek and Roman Mythology. Each grove, fountain and statue have been designed to tell the stories of this Greek mythology.
Together with your tour guide, immerse yourself in learning and in revealing the meaning behind the many wonders of the gardens! During your visit, you will also see the Orangerie and its amazing 2,000 orange trees, the French gardens as well as the English garden.
Versailles private Full trip to Versailles with hotel transfer
Your private VIP tour to Versailles Palace will include everything as described above plus the following:
During your lunch, you will have the chance to relax and enjoy the beauty of the park and take a hearty lunch in one of the restaurants (your guide will be happy to give you recommendations).
After lunch, your walk will take you to the Estate of Marie-Antoinette which forms part of the larger Trianon Estate.
Visit the Petit Trianon, a royal residence gifted to Marie Antoinette from her husband, allowing her to take refuge from the strict rules of the royal court. The famous Queen created a world of her own in this part of the estate, with the hamlet of cottages, a mill, farm animals and a dairy. Animals are still roaming the fields here, for the joy of many children!
This is a unique occasion to see, feel and appreciate the life of the most well known Queen of France.
At the end of the visit, your tour guide and your driver will take you back to Paris at the location of your choice.