The Palace of Versailles has been on our bucket list for a long time. Not only because of its sheer size, but because we wanted the answer to an age old question: Is this the building that can surpass the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg?
Ever since we visited the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg nothing else has really been able to match it. No wonder really; The Winter Palace is the most impressive building we have ever seen. Nonetheless, the Palace of Versailles is known to be amongst the most impressive buildings in the world. The french were, as we all know, quite fond of travelling the world and stealing… ehm acquiring the finest pieces of art each country could provide and showcase it in their own palaces. With this in mind we eagerly get on the train from Paris and head towards Versailles.
As we disembark the train and head north there is little doubt in our minds which way we have to go to get to the palace. A building with 700 rooms and a floor space of 62 000 m2 doesn’t exactly blend in with the surroundings. This is undoubtedly an impressive sight from afar and it must have been close to a divine sight three hundred years ago.
Inside the palace the audioguide takes us through rooms and galleries and explains the different purposes each room has had throughout the years. The rooms are undoubtedly impressive and have to be experienced. Even so the answer to our big question has to be “no”. Despite the recognition as one of the most impressive buildings in the world, the Palace of Versailles doesn’t quite live up to the sheer grandeur of the Winter Palace. If you wish to experience the most insane combination of gold, glitz, glamour and megalomania the world has ever seen, St. Petersburg is still the place to go.
BUT! And this is a big but! Versailles is not just the palace, it includes the gardens outside as well (technically Versailles is the name of the town where the palace is, but you get our point). And what a garden!
The garden area covers 8 km2 in total which includes ponds (or should we call them lakes?), fountains, sculptures, trees and lawns. The sheer size is so big that it is difficult to wrap our heads around. We walked for several hours and did not see the same place twice. The main attractions of the gardens are the groves or bosquets as they are also called. Between the colossal hedges there are footpaths, almost like a labyrinth, leading to wider areas filled with fountains, flower decorations and places to sit and enjoy the scenery.
210 000 flowers are planted annually among the 200 000 trees that are already standing here.
The fountains use pipelines laid there in the 1700s. In total there are 35 km of three hundred year old pipes, and they still work! However, a team of 13 engineers are needed to keep everything going, but this is still impressive. Quite the leap from a normal garden hose…
The gargantuan size of the garden has a practical side too: Even though Versailles is an extremely popular tourist attraction (5 million people visiting the palace and 8-10 million people visiting the gardens each year), the gardens do not feel crowded with this much space. The palace is filled with people, but in the gardens you are actually able to breathe.
Practical
Getting there
Going by Metro or train is the easiest way to get to Versailles from Paris. Go to the nearest Metro station, buy a ticket to Versailles ChateauRG (may also say Versailles Chateau-Rive Gauce or Rive G) and take the metro to the nearest RER C-line station. Get on the train going to Versailles ChateauRG (may say Versail.Chat.), the trains are marked VICK or VITY in front. Versailles is the final stop so it is hard to miss. When you get out of the train station go right (north). After approximately 200 meters you take a left at the intersection. If you don’t see a ginormous palace by now you have either walked the wrong way or you are in dire need of new glasses.
Entrance
Entrance is free for EU citizens under the age of 26. This includes EEA citizens, but the staff aren’t always aware. If you are an EEA citizen you might find it handy to have a printout from their website along with your passport to show that you too should get in for free.
