As you know, I love exploring the Île-de-France region, well, actually let’s broaden that idea, I love exploration in general. A little curiosity that pushes me to go everywhere, even if it’s nearby, even if we think we know it, whether it’s attractive or not in the eyes of others. As far as attractions go, we can’t say that Versailles is lacking… Yet, I still love spending a nice day in Versailles on the weekend. Even in the midst of tour buses, even if I have to take the RER or the car to get there, even if, even if…
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Table of Contents
Visiting the Palace of Versailles
There is no need to introduce this iconic place of Louis XIV‘s reign, which now attracts thousands of tourists every day. It is obviously a must-do for any day spent visiting Versailles! The appeal of this site is also that it offers many possibilities, as you can see below.
Indeed, you can come to visit the palace itself or focus on the park and the gardens of the estate. You can also come during the summer season to attend the Musical Fountains Show or the Night Fountains Show.
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The Royal Serenade in the Hall of Mirrors
Just before the Night Fountains Show, the Royal Serenade in the Hall of Mirrors is an opportunity to rediscover the Grand Apartments of the Palace of Versailles in the company of musicians and baroque dancers. This event offers a 45-minute tour of the Grand Apartments at sunset, from the Hercules Salon to the Marble Courtyard, via the Hall of Mirrors and the King and Queen’s Grand Apartments, accompanied by musicians from the Folies Françoises and the Compagnie de Danse l’Eventail.
Royal Serenade of the Palace of Versailles
Every Saturday from June 27 to September 19, 2020, before the Night Fountains Show
Prices for Serenade + Night Fountains Show: between €40 and €47 on-site_
The Musical Fountains Show at the Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is so grand, so vast, so beautiful that it is a place you cannot get tired of discovering and rediscovering (in my opinion, of course). That day, we had a special visit with my favorite photographer because we were lucky enough to discover the secret Versailles by visiting the underground tunnels of the palace gardens.
We explored, alongside the palace fountain technicians, the scenes behind the Musical Fountains Show and we were able to appreciate the scale of the work, as well as the architecture of the impressive historical hydraulic network of Versailles, mostly preserved for over three centuries! Afterward, we also took a short walk through the various groves of the King’s gardens, to witness the turning on of the most enchanting fountains of the Palace of Versailles.
It was also an opportunity to attend the Musical Fountains Show, which takes place in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles from April to October every year. This event allows you to enjoy, during a walk, the beauty of the palace gardens and its groves, which are exceptionally open to the public at that time and brought to life by the fountain displays and music. A very pleasant way to appreciate this place in a slightly different and above all quite magical way!
The Musical Fountains Show of the Palace of Versailles
From June 6 to November 1, 2020
Saturdays and Sundays
Prices: €11 full price / €9.50 reduced price / from €8 to €9.50 in presale
Groves open from 9 am to 7 pm
Music playing from 10 am to 7 pm
Mirror Basin water display every 10 minutes from 10 am to 7 pm
Neptune Basin water display at 5:20 pm (no display on Tuesdays)
Water Theater Grove water display every 15 minutes from 10 am to 7 pm_
The Night Fountains Show of the Palace of Versailles
We had the opportunity to experience the Night Fountains Show in 2017 (date of the video below) with my favorite photographer, but we did them again in 2020. And I can tell you that despite the Covid situation, well, it was a real success (that evening anyway). It’s truly a magical and timeless moment that allows you to see the gardens of the Palace of Versailles from a completely different angle!
The concept is quite simple: you follow a route that allows you to discover the groves, fountains, and basins, illuminated and filled with water to the rhythm of the Sun King’s music during a 2.5-hour enchanted walk. The evening ends with a grand final fireworks display launched from the Apollo Chariot Basin by the pyrotechnic wizards of Groupe F, a globally known collective of pyrotechnicians.
The Night Fountains Show
every Saturday from June 27 to September 19, 2020, from 8:30 pm to 11:05 pm
Prices: from €24 to €56 (€47 Prestige ticket)_
Visiting the Park and the gardens of the Palace of Versailles
This is not very well-known information outside of the people living in Versailles and the surrounding areas, but in fact, the park and the gardens are open every day and, most importantly, they are largely accessible for free!
So, don’t deny yourself a little stroll in this vast estate regardless of the season you come to visit Versailles! During the summer season, I also advise you to take advantage of the weather to take a boat ride on the Grand Canal. It’s really not cheap (€14 for half an hour of rowing and €18 for an hour) but it’s truly a very pleasant moment if the weather is nice! After the time it takes to go around and half an hour later, you will have already paddled a lot and you might also have blisters on your fingers, like me…
Park and Gardens of Versailles Open every day from 7 am to 8:30 pm, the Park and gardens are free (access to the Gardens is chargeable on days of Musical Fountains Show and Musical Gardens)
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My favorite addresses in Versailles
Below is a selection of great addresses (restaurants, hotels) that I have had the opportunity to discover during my various getaways in the Yvelines town.
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Where to have lunch in the Park of Versailles? La Petite Venise
This restaurant is ideally located in the heart of the Palace Park, not far from the Grand Canal. It is housed in the former residence and boathouse of the gondoliers invited by the Grand King to sail and offer delicious and original rides to the royal family or the Court on the Grand Canal.
This historic building is today the lair of the restaurant’s new Chef, Robbie Denis Pepin, who offers a menu with Italian influences. We were particularly won over by the setting of the place, of course, and the summer terrace of the establishment is truly charming!
To taste: for starters, the creamy Apulian burrata with heirloom tomatoes (€12); for the main course, taglierini al pomodoro with tomato basil sauce and a Burrata heart (€18); for dessert, the vanilla panna cotta with strawberry marmalade (€10) or the tiramisu, of course (€9); for wines, you will find a small selection of wines from northern to southern Italy (wines by the glass between €5.20 and €7.50)!
Getting there and a cheaper parking tip: if you are coming by car, I advise you to park in the Park estate after the Queen’s Gate (Grille de la Reine) (access between 9 am and 6 pm). Plus, it’s a good deal because the entrance to the estate at this gate for a car is €6 and you can park there if you find a spot until the gate closes, which remains much cheaper than the city’s parking lots!
Thanks to La Petite Venise for this lunch invitation and for the boat ride.
La Petite Venise Enclos de la Petite Venise Parc du Château de Versailles 78000 Versailles Prices: starters between €12 and €33 / main courses between €18 and €22 / desserts between €9 and €11 / children's menu at €12 restaurant open every day, except Monday, from 11:45 am to 3:30 pm for lunch, until 6 pm for afternoon snacks or tea
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Where to eat in Versailles? Restaurant Corte
We also took advantage of our getaway to Versailles in 2017 to have an Italian lunch at the restaurant Corte, which is located in the town of Versailles. This restaurant, specializing in Italian products and more particularly in pizzas, is located about a 15/20-minute walk from the palace, but honestly, it’s very doable, especially after a good meal, a little walk was perfect to digest!
To taste:
- As a starter, we shared a roasted polenta with parmesan cream “crostone di polenta” (€8) and it was really delicious!
- We tested their specialties for the main course with a pizza with truffle cream, parmesan, pecorino, and arugula, la corvo (€20), and it was really very good.
- For my part, I had the fresh pasta of the day, cappelli stuffed with radicchio and speck (€14), a super original dish, delicious, and quite visually appealing.
- For dessert, I don’t need to tell you what I had, you might guess… So here, no classic tiramisu but a version with limoncello (€8). If you really crave a classic tiramisu, you might be a little disappointed, but otherwise as a lemon cake, it’s quite nice.
Special attention is paid to the wine list with a selection of small producers and organic and natural wines. This is simply because the owner of the establishment, Thibault, is a fan of these types of products.
Price for wine by the glass: between €5.50 and €6.50
A little extra for sunny days: the charming little inner courtyard which offers during the summer season a great hidden and quiet terrace far from the street.
Restaurant Corte 69 rue de Montreuil 78000 Versailles
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Where to have brunch in Versailles? At Positive Café
This great address is run by a charming couple, Odette and Tristan, and it is located right opposite their canteen, which had become too small and which was, in 2015, the first organic juice bar in Versailles.
To learn more about this healthy address in Versailles that I tested in 2018, don’t hesitate to take a look at my specific article on this establishment!
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The Trianon Palace of Versailles
To learn more about this upscale address that I tested in 2016, don’t hesitate to take a look at my specific article on this establishment!
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I hope that with all this, I have made you want to take a day trip to Versailles, and if you too have your favorite addresses to go out and visit in this Francilian town, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
Find below all my articles on the Île-de-France region:
⇒ All my articles on the Île-de-France
⇒ All my articles on the Yvelines
⇒ All my articles on Versailles
MY ARTICLES ON VERSAILLES
⇒ Brunch at Positive Café in Versailles
⇒ A day at the Palace of Versailles
⇒ Lunch at the Trianon Palace
⇒ The Great Stables of Versailles
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos not royalty-free, photographer's authorization mandatory before any use
