Secret Versailles and its hidden wonders.
Practical advice on the off-the-beaten paths marvels of Versailles.
Dear reader, after sharing useful advice on how to wonder at something small—the Leonardo da Vinci notebooks—we switch to something rather big: Versailles castle.
As someone who has long organized private tours in the Paris region, this is genuine, first-hand, practical guidance. Both in words and images, you will discover what most visitors miss, either for lack of time (one needs at least a day to enjoy the site) or for following internet tips.
To prove the point, this is going to be different. If you want the Hall of Mirrors empty, here it is:
Is the Hall of Mirrors amazing? Yes, of course. But it does not look like this for most visitors, particularly those who spend a handful of hours in Versailles. Instead, it feels like being in Mona Lisa's room at the Louvre—crowded, noisy, and disappointing for many.
Avoiding missing out on the wonders of Versailles castle
You spent years dreaming of a place, as seen in movies, documentaries, and books, so why miss out on a deserved memory of a lifetime? That is what Moment of Wonder stories are for; they prevent this by giving you, dear reader, the means to avoid missing out on lifetime memories.
That is why we will illustrate and discuss places few people may know about when they plan to visit Versailles. The first puzzle piece is understanding that the castle has hidden wonders. The second is that the castle is part of immense gardens.
How large? How about 800 hectares? And no, the gardens of Versailles are not a patch of green, a pond, and a few flowers. They are architecture, gigantic works of art using nature instead of stone. They hide unexpected marvels.
To help you understand their size, I will gladly confess to you, dear reader, that I keep discovering new things there. But there is no need to go miles into the gardens to find the hidden wonders of Versailles.
Some are truly under the noses of most visitors. But for lack of time or thinking, the Hall of Mirrors is all there is to see; they miss the marvels of Versailles right in front of them.
The hidden wonders of Versailles' castle
Consider, dear reader, that over 8 million visitors visit the castle of Versailles annually, an average of 25,000 persons daily. To steer such a flow of visitors, there is an obligatory route that all visitors and tours must follow.
It includes the castle's grander rooms, the King’s State Apartment and bedroom, the Queen's State Apartments, and, of course, the Hall of Mirrors.
Yet, if you search for them, there are the ground-floor apartments of the Dauphin—the King's son—and Dauphine, his wife. They mirror the State Apartments on the first floor, but underneath.
One massive advantage is that while the State Apartments are mostly unfurnished, the Dauphin apartments offer the best way to imagine life at the time of Kings and Queens in Versailles.
The other bonus is that they are not crowded, mostly: group tours never venture there. The tens of thousands of visitors during the high season do not have the time or do not know about them.
Here it is, for the not-so-secret corners of Versailles castle; take your time, ask for a map, and try to find the Dauphin and Dauphine Apartments.
It is a bit confusing, but there are also Private Apartments for the King and Queen. They are small and can only be accessed at a sizeable extra cost, which will be explained in another story.
The Dauphin and Dauphine Apartments are included in the regular ticket fee and are available at no additional cost.
Versailles' real treasure is the gardens
Now, if you were a distinguished guest and Louis XIV wanted to show you his castle, he would invite you to visit his gardens. They were so important that he wrote a guidebook, "Manner to Show the Gardens of Versailles."
He genuinely wrote the guidebook; it was not someone else doing it. Since every different fountain references Greek mythology, wondering at the rhythms of nature, the various gods or heroes are reminders of the orchestra conductor behind it all: the sun, Apollo, also known as Louis XIV.
Living at Versailles was a great privilege, but it also meant being tied to Louis' chariot as if he were a Roman conqueror parading his glory.
Avoiding missing out on the wonders of Versailles gardens
Now, illustrating some of the bosquets—groves—that are not to be missed. They only open on special days: the Fountain shows—most summer weekends—, the Musical Gardens, and the Musical Fountains Shows.
Check with the links at the end of the page before planning your visit.
The Night Fountain Shows at Versailles
Is it worth coming to the summer fountain and fireworks shows at Versailles? Yes, a resounding yes.
With a very important but, it must be your second visit to Versailles. If you only come during the evening, you will miss the Trianons that do not open at night.
If you plan on visiting all day, having dinner in Versailles, and returning for the evening to walk the gardens again, that is a big no. You will quickly run out of steam unless you train for a marathon.
At the risk of repeating myself, the gardens are immense, way beyond your imagination.
Visiting Versailles with mobility issues
This begs the question: Is visiting Versailles with mobility issues possible? Yes, absolutely, as long as you plan.
You must accept that visiting Versailles properly means at least 8 miles of walking. If you spend the day visiting, it is nothing more than strolling, but with mobility issues, there are options:
- The golf carts have seating for four, and special ones have space for a wheelchair. You must have a driving license. If you have a Disability Card, you will have a 40% cost reduction.
Personal experience tip: It is impossible to reserve a golf cart, and there likely will be a queue. Have no qualms whatsoever about going right to the front of the queue and asking for a car because you need it.
If you do not have an official card but really need a golf cart due to mobility issues, the advice is the same: go to the front of the queue and politely explain your situation.
You are not asking for a discount or a favor. Even in a site that gets millions of visitors, people will make exceptions to the rule, as long as you ask nicely.
- The little train helps go from the castle to Trianon, or, if you run out of steam after visiting Trianon, you can return to the castle, as this time you walk uphill.
In both cases, the reality, as explained here, is that the wonders of Versailles, even when hiding in plain sight, are not easy to find, so you need to plan.
Here is the plan of Versailles.
And an interactive map with photos (in French):
With this practical information, you can plan your trip and be ready to enjoy a Moment of Wonder at Versailles. And there is so much to see that another story will explain the Trianon and Hameau de la Reine.
Useful links to plan a trip to Versailles Castle and Gardens:
Discover the groves of Versailles gardens.
The Dauphin and the Dauphine’s apartments.
Louis XV's daughters' Apartments.
The fountains of Versailles gardens.
Booking your tickets to Versailles.
