K. I Do Not Recommend Versailles

The Palace of Versailles - I managed to get a picture without hoards of people

And yes I was there

Yes it is an amazingly beautiful and opulent palace.  That I won’t deny.  But the crowds.  Actually Paris was incredibly crowded the whole time – around the touristy stuff I mean.  The Louvre, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Champes d’Elysees – not to mention Versailles.  You’d think it was the only interesting city around.  Of course it was Easter Weekend so that probably didn’t work in our favour.  But I can’t imagine what it is like in the summer, if this is just the beginning of April.  I don’t remember it being so busy when I was in Paris in 1985.

Being entertained on the train to Versailles

The three fountains part of the gardens

Paul doing his best Fred Astaire

But back to Versailles.   So Paul and I almost went on Monday, and luckily at the last minute, we read on the website that it was closed, so we had to wait until Tuesday.  So we get up fairly early on Tuesday but don’t kill ourselves to get there.  We read online that it might be good to get your tickets online ahead of time since then, as the website said, you can just go straight to the entrance.  But because we didn’t have a printer, we couldn’t do that.  Which begs me asking, when are all these organizations that offer such possibilities with online going to start to realize that a lot of people like myself are travellers and in transit so likely do not have a printer with me – they need to offer another alternative.

Rain soaked statues

In anycase, we figured we would just deal with the tickets there.  So off we went to the metro to catch the train to Versailles.  This by the way is about an hour and ten minute trip.  Not too bad really.  But once we got on the main train for Versailles, it was pretty packed.  This should have been a sign.  It did say on the website that Tuesdays were not the best day because that is when all the museums are closed.  But it was the only day we had so we had to go if we wanted to see it.

The Royal Chapel

So when we arrived at Versailles, I had a true taste of how many people were there by how many unloaded of the train.  It was crazy.  I didn’t realize that many were on the train.  It took about 10 minutes just to get out of the station.  As we walked towards Versailles, we found a ticket agent selling tickets so we figured this would be better than actually at the Palace since it was raining and this location was undercover and likely with a shorter line up.  Well that line up took us about half an hour.  So we got tickets for the Palace and the gardens.  Twenty-five euros.  So Paul and I made our way to the Palace.

Incredible 3D effects of ceiling paintings

When we got through the main gate, we saw this massive line up winding up and down the main Palace entry grounds.  We thought at first it was for the tickets and we looked over to where the tickets were being sold and there was next to no line up.  So we realized that it was the line up just to get into the Palace.  It was nuts.  So Paul and I decided to visit the gardens first thinking this would be better.

Massive opulent gold guilded doors

Then the rain started.  So there are Paul and I trying to look at these gardens with horizontal rain soaking us and wind making the umbrella pretty useless.  And to think that I had chided Paul for bringing an umbrella.  I certainly appreciated it now.

Amazing marble and gold guilded hearths

After a brief foray around the gardens, we gave up and decided we might as well get in the line up.  Well the only thing positive I can say about the line up is that at least it moved constantly.  However, we had to be in that line up for about one and a half hours before we finally gained entry into the Palace.  We both agreed, had we not already bought our tickets and had seen this line up first, we would not have bothered to go in to see the Palace.  There are better things to do with one’s time and twenty-five euros.  So, what are the stats now?  One hour and 10 minutes travel, 10 minutes to get out of the station, 1/2 hour in the ticket line up, and an hour and a half just to get in the entrance.

The Queen's Bed

A Video in the Hall of Mirrors and the Crowds

Now the herding begins.  The crowds in the Palace were constant and complete.  There was barely any room in any place.  Most people had audio guides so were oblivious to other people trying to see things.  Paul and I skipped getting an audio guide because it would have meant another line up.  But I will admit that the Palace was beautiful and opulent, but it was so hard to get a feel for it and really get lost in its history with the constant flood of people that never stopped.  So for now, just enjoy the pictures and the could of videos.  All you can do is laugh.

Chandeliers in the Hall of Mirrors

From the War Room

In the future I recommend that you time yourself to get there at about 3 pm, because the line slows down by then, but there will still be too many people.  Or alternatively buy the book and the dvd and watch it from the comfort of your own home.  As a side note I do have to say that Buckingham Palace manages its entry much better by limiting numbers and assigning entry periods.  But maybe Versailles just has to try to get as much money as possible and will take as many people as are willing to squish in.

Ghostly Sara