Overview

Hype:

The Gardens of Versailles occupy part of what was once the Domaine royal de Versailles. Situated to the west of the palace, the gardens cover some 800 hectares of land, much of which is landscaped in the classic French Garden style perfected here by André Le Nôtre. The gardens are now one of the most visited public sites in France, receiving more than six million visitors a year. In addition to the meticulous manicured lawns, parterres of flowers, and sculptures are the fountains, which are located throughout the garden. Dating from the time of Louis XIV and still using much of the same network of hydraulics as was used during the Ancien Régime, the fountains contribute to making the gardens of Versailles unique. On weekends from late spring to early autumn, the administration of the museum sponsors the Grandes Eaux – spectacles during which all the fountains in the gardens are in full play.

Time:

Fees: Entrance Fee

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Links: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/
https://en.wikipedia.org/

Getting There

Navigate to 48.807340, 2.110717.

Location

Closest City or Region: Versailles, France

Coordinates: 48.807340, 2.110717

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Brochure

August 8, 2017 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Greg Dye, Laura Dye,

Story

We definitely picked the wrong day to visit Versailles (not that we had a choice, but still...). It rained almost the entire time. Our guide showed us the orangerie (orange groves). All the orange trees were planted in pots so they could be brought indoors for the winter. He also told us about a statue of the king that was not very flattering, so the king had it placed so far away from the palace that no one could see it. After we toured the Versailles Palace, we went back and explored the gardens. We walked down to the little village and ate lunch. Then we split up. Tara and I went over to the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon. Then we came back through the gardens on the way back out. We tried to zig-zag our way through the gardens, but then we discovered the large grass area down the middle with "do not walk on the grass" signs, so we were only able to walk through half of the gardens. I really liked the wood lattice with all the moss and lichen on it. The fountains were also really neat, even though most of them were not running while we were there.

Pictures