How to get to Versailles from Paris. How many kilometers from Paris to Versailles How to get from Paris to Versailles on your own

Address: Versailles, France
Working hours: from 9:00 to 18:30 (April to October) and from 9:00 to 17:30 (rest of the year). The museum is closed on Mondays.
Entrance to the palace: 15€ for adults (including audio guide), under 18 years free.
RER station: Versailles-Rive Gauche
Railroad station: Versailles-Chantiers or Versailles-Rive Droite
Website: www.chateauversailles.fr
Coordinates: 48° 48′ 15.85″ N. w, 2° 7′ 23.38″ h. d.

This amazing palace is located in one of the suburbs of the French capital of the same name. The path to this noble settlement is quite short, so to get to know the beauty you will have to travel only 20 km.

There are several ways to get to this wonderful place:

1. By electric train RER:

As you know, these electric trains have several routes, which are designated by letters of the Latin alphabet, and allow residents and guests of the city to move from the center to the suburbs and back. In order to visit Versailles in Paris You will need to take one of the stops located on line C and get to the final station - Paris - Versailles Rive Gauche.
The travel time of this transport from the center of Paris to the desired stop is about 40 minutes. The route interval is also quite acceptable, and does not exceed 20 minutes. For such a trip you will have to pay approximately 7 euros.
Remember! It’s better to purchase round-trip tickets from the beginning to save time and avoid standing in line at the ticket office twice.
When you reach the desired station, a fascinating walk awaits you all the way to the palace. To do this, you need to cross the road from the stop and turn onto Rue de Paris, and then walk in a straight line until you see the Palace of Versailles.

2. By SNCF commuter train:

When choosing this type of transport, you must initially count on a long journey from the stop, since it is located at a considerable distance from the old royal residence (you will have to walk 20-30 minutes). If this does not bother you, then feel free to take the route of line L (it is most convenient to do this at one of the stations: Montparnasse or Saint-Lazare) and get to the Versailles Rive Droite station.
You will have to spend about half an hour on the way, and the price of travel on this railway transport is half as low, amounting to 3 euros.

3. By bus:

There is no direct bus to Versailles, so you will first need to take metro line 9 to Pont de Sevres station. Then, not far from the exit from the underground passage, find a bus stop and wait for route No. 171. It will take you almost to the palace itself.
The duration of the trip is about 35 minutes. Buses run frequently, so you won't have to wait longer than 20 minutes. An additional advantage of such a trip is the picturesque area, which can be seen on the way to the noble palace.
also in Versailles of Paris You can get there on your own by excursion bus, rented car, taxi or even by bicycle, however, due to the presence of significant drawbacks in each of these methods (high price, long journey, high probability of getting lost), we will not describe them.

Versailles in Paris: opening hours and ticket prices:

Versailles in Paris is divided into several parts, each of which has its own operating hours, which also differ depending on the season. So, from April to October:
— the palace itself can be visited from 9 to 18.30 on any day except Monday

— the Trianon palaces and the village of Marie Antoinette are open from 12 to 18.30 also on all days except Mondays
— the garden and park can be viewed from 8 and 7 to 20.30 respectively.
Between November and March, visiting hours for the residence and palaces are reduced to 5:30 p.m., and the green areas are open for walking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It is important to know! The palace ticket office closes a little before Versailles itself closes. In the low season they are open until 16.50, and in the high season - until 17.50.

The price of tickets to the Palace of Versailles is 18 €, entrance to the garden and park is free. Visitors under the age of 18 do not need to purchase a ticket; residents of the European Union enjoy free entry up to 26 years of age; this rule also applies to disabled people and their accompanying persons. During the low season there is a promotion: the first Sunday of every month is an open day.

If you are planning a long-distance trip, you should remember a few simple but important rules: - carefully prepare your car for a long trip: check the level of engine oil, coolant, windshield washer fluid, make sure all lighting, etc. are functioning properly. - check the tire pressure. It is very important that it matches the pressure recommended for your vehicle. - prepare a spare tire and a tow rope - no one is immune from a tire puncture or breakdown on the highway, you should foresee possible troubles in advance and avoid them. - choose roads with high-quality surfaces - this will extend the life of your “iron horse” and save your nerves. When preparing for a trip, think through everything to the smallest detail so that the trip leaves pleasant memories and not a headache.

You can get from Paris to Versailles by train, bus or taxi. The train journey takes 1 hour 40 minutes, the cost of the trip is 8.8 euros. By bus, a traveler can also get there in 1 hour 40 minutes; the fare will cost you 4.8 euros. The duration of the taxi ride is 35 minutes, the cost is from 60 euros. The distance from Paris to Versailles is 22 km.

Public transport runs from early morning until late evening (service stops at night). On trains and buses, passengers have access to minimal comfort: the interior is cramped, there are a lot of people, the seats are not adjustable. If you plan to travel to Versailles by train, be sure to validate your ticket and keep it until the end of your trip. Controllers can check it at the exit, and if there is no ticket, you will have to pay a fine. It is better to buy round-trip tickets for the train right away, otherwise there is a risk of standing in a long line at the ticket office for a return ticket. Bus travel may take longer due to frequent traffic jams.

Versailles - palace splendor

Considering the transport accessibility and proximity of Versailles to Paris, it is quite logical that a visit to the palace and park complex is included in the mandatory program of many tourists. Versailles is not just a castle, but a whole town, built for the amusement and relaxation of the French monarch Louis XIV and the entire high society court. The central figure of the complex is the Royal Palace, which is surrounded by parks and gardens with a total area of ​​800 hectares. In addition, the palace complex includes kilometer-long canals, a small ornamental village, and the Grand and Petit Trianon. Interestingly, the Marquise de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette rested in the Petit Trianon. The halls of this palace are tastefully furnished, they have a cozy and special atmosphere.

Price

Expectation

Travel time

For whom

Individual tourist

The RER train (line C) departs from several stations in the center of Paris (Musee d'Orsay, St. Michel-Notre Dame and others) and arrives at the Versailles-Rive Gauche station in Versailles. The trip duration is 40 minutes, the cost is 7 euros per round trip tickets.Tickets can be purchased at the box office.
You can also get to the palace complex by train SNFC (line L) from Saint-Lazare and Montparnasse stations. This option is not particularly popular among tourists, since it will take 25-30 minutes to walk from the arrival station to Versailles. On average, the trip lasts about 30 minutes, the ticket will cost everyone 3 euros.

Train Paris – Versailles:

Train RER (line C)

Schedule:

From 05:10 to 23:34

Route:

Gare d’Austerlitz – St. Michel-Notre Dame – Musee d’Orsay – Invalides – Pont de l’Alma – Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel – Versailles-Rive Gauche

Travel time:

1 hour 40 minutes (1 hour by metro to RER departure stations, 40 minutes by train to Versailles)

Expectation:

Comfort:

Low: cramped interior, many people; a large number of flights

Price:

8.8 euros (1.8 euros – metro travel to RER departure stations, 7 euros – round trip train to Versailles)

For whom:

For those who are thrifty, without children, who know the route, for young tourists

How to find the train departure station at Paris airport:

From Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles de Gaulle airports, take the RER line B, then change to line C. Follow the signs to find the departure station at the airport. To get to the RER train departure station from anywhere in the city, you can use the metro.

Price

Expectation

Travel time

For whom

Individual tourist

Bus number 171 runs daily from Paris to Versailles. The departure station is located near the Pont de Sevres metro station (line 9). The duration of the bus journey is 40 minutes, the cost is 3 euros. Tickets that can be used to travel in zones 1-2 of Paris are suitable for travel.

Bus number 171

Schedule:

From 06:00 to 00:00

Route:

Pont de Sevres – Place Gabriel Peri – Atrium – Puits Sans Vin – Pointe de Chaville – Grace de Dieu – President Doumer – Porchefontaine – Vergennes – Place d’Armes Versaiiles

Travel time:

1 hour 40 minutes (1 hour by metro to the bus departure stations, 40 minutes by bus)

Expectation:

15-20 minutes

Comfort:

Low: cramped interior, many people, non-adjustable seats; a large number of flights per day.

Price:

4.8 euros (1.8 euros – metro travel to the bus departure stations, 3 euros – bus).

For whom:

For budget travelers, without children, for young tourists

How to find a bus stop at the airport:

The bus departs from Pont de Sevres station, which is the terminus of metro line 9.

Price

Expectation

Travel time

For whom

If you do not want to use public transport to get to Versailles, it makes sense to order an individual Versailles?pap=57adbb36f2232">transfer from Paris to Versailles. This is convenient, first of all, because it eliminates not only the need to adapt to the train and bus schedule , but also the risk of getting lost in an unfamiliar city. A car will take you to Versailles in 35 minutes, the cost of an economy class car is 60 euros, a minibus for 7 passengers is 72 euros.

Schedule:

around the clock

Route:

to Versailles

Travel time:

Expectation:

The taxi will arrive in 10-15 minutes, as cars are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The driver of a pre-booked individual transfer will be waiting for you at the airport, at the exit from the arrivals area, or at the specified address.

Comfort:

Taxi on the spot: fast driving without stops and without fellow travelers
Individual transfer: possibility of prepayment by card, air conditioning/heater in the cabin, fixed price of the trip, wide choice of car class, child car seats.

Price:

From 60 euros for an economy class car, from 72 euros for a minibus per group

For whom:

For a family with/without children, for a group of tourists, elderly tourists, for the first time in France, for those who have poor local knowledge

How to find a taxi rank at the airport:

Charles de Gaulle Airport: taxi stands are located at the exit from Terminal 1, exit 24, from Terminal 2A, exit 6, from Terminal 2C, exit 14, from Terminal 2D, exit 7, from Terminal 2E, exit 10, arrivals level. Orly Airport: taxi ranks are located at the exit from the South Terminal, exit L, from the West Terminal, exit B.

A solo trip to France allowed me to see The Palace of Versailles and other attractions of Versailles, walk along the alleys of the park, visit the Trianons, buy souvenirs from Versailles; if you want to know more, read the story about an independent trip to Versailles

My first acquaintance with Versailles was like everyone else, with a ride on a crowded train and the crush on the platforms upon arrival. Well, at least there was no jostling right at the entrance to the palace... In fact, you can get to Versailles from Paris on your own in half a dozen ways, but for some reason almost all tourists prefer one single option - they take the RER commuter train of the “yellow” line and fill it to capacity. This turn of events is, in general, understandable: the train with the designation “C5” arrives almost at the gates of the Palace of Versailles, at the Versailles Rive Gauche station, and from there it’s a stone’s throw to the world’s most famous palace ensemble. However, I personally don’t like this station, and the crowded trains spoil my mood, so I prefer other ways to get to Versailles from Paris. The town has three stations at once, and while hordes of tourists are storming the Rive Gauche, you can easily take the same “yellow” RER line to the Versailles Chantiers station, but you will have to take not the train with the letter “C 5”, but the composition "C 7". In addition, you can get to Versailles from Paris by rail by train from the Defense station, which arrives at the Versailles Rive Droite station - the ride is only 18 minutes, departing 4 times an hour. You can get from Montparnasse station to Versailles Chantiers station in 25 minutes, and there are also many departures. Yes, of course, both unpopular Versailles train stations are located somewhat away from the center, this is true, but getting from there to the palace is easy, even if you walk, but if you find out the Versailles bus schedule in advance, everything is simple in general. In addition, no one bothers you to get to Versailles from Paris by bus route 171 - it runs from the Porte Sevres metro station, and sometimes the intervals are only 6 minutes. The journey will be a little longer than by train, but as a bonus, the passenger will receive views of the suburbs of Paris, which are quite adequate in this part of Ile-de-France. Single tickets cost 3.35 euros one way, and if you are not planning a couple of more forays outside the French capital, you can get by with such tickets - there is simply no point in buying “Navigo Decouverte” zone 4 for the sake of Versailles alone, then it is better to take a weekly Paris pass to zones 1-2, and limit it to them.

By the way, when planning to get to Versailles from Paris on your own, you should pay attention to the problem of return tickets: “Rive Gauche” in the afternoon is simply filled with losers hanging out in huge queues to buy a ticket - they didn’t take care in advance, so they’re wasting their time. Therefore, you need to buy a return ticket from Versailles to Paris in Paris, saying the magic words “alle retour” to the cashier, unless, of course, you have one of those passes that I strongly recommend buying for anyone who is planning an independent trip to Paris.

On the other hand, both other Versailles stations are free of crowds of people, and tickets can be bought there without any special requirements. Again, let me remind you that the distance between them and the entrance to the palace is small, and in addition it can be overcome by local transport - the schedule and map of Versailles bus routes are on the website www.phebus.tm.fr Paris travel zones 4 operate at their best, but if you suddenly need to buy a ticket (we were walking, say, in the Versailles Park and went to God knows where), then travel on Versailles buses now costs 1.90 euros.

Just as all paths lead to Rome, so all paths to Versailles lead to the entrance to the famous palace. Those who came from Paris to the "Rive Gauche" immediately go to the center line of the ensemble, the rest are pulled up along the side branches, diverging from the center of the composition like rays. Once upon a time, this scheme symbolized the king’s power over the country - three roads stretched to all ends of France, to the south, north and east of Versailles.

Now the most important artery is the Avenue de Paris, through which the flow of tourists flows into the first courtyard of the ensemble. You need to follow him for the time being, but first it would be wise to look at the tourist office of Versailles, on the corner of this avenue with Avenue du Gen ral de Gaulle. There are usually a lot of people grazing there - some need a free map of the city, others are interested in booking excursions, others want to book a hotel - so get ready for some waiting: a map of Versailles will be very useful in the future, and booklets with information about interesting objects will not hurt: for some The sights of Versailles are not limited to the palace ensemble. And, the tourist office also sells guides to Versailles, including in Russian, so those who want to explore the palace in detail are invited to the stands.

The tourist office has some souvenirs, but it is better to do your shopping elsewhere, and of course ignore the neighboring building occupied by the Press Maneges store: the prices there are completely obscene, and magnets with views of Versailles, for example, will cost 6 euros instead of the normal three , postcards cost one and a half euros, in a word, the price tags are extremely inflated. Meanwhile, there is a demand, and what a demand, because those tourists who did not bother to buy souvenirs and realized about them before leaving simply have nowhere to go. I’ll tell you a little later a few useful places where you can buy souvenirs from Versailles much cheaper, so “Press Maneges” can and should be left alone.

Let's now move on to visiting the palace. It’s pointless to talk about the beauty of the main attraction of Versailles; you need to see this attraction in person, but it’s definitely worth speculating about how and why they began to build the palace. The point is not even that the French ensemble became the prototype of such famous palace and park complexes as the domestic Peterhof, the Bavarian Herrenchiemsee, the Portuguese Quelush, the Vienna Belvedere, the Berlin Sans Souci - these are only direct borrowings of layout and style, there are countless imitations, not to mention about the general influence on minds and architecture. Versailles is important because Louis XIV considered it as a symbol of his unlimited power, power capable of commanding the world and, of course, transforming nature. According to general estimates, the cost of building the palace and developing the park cost approximately the same amount as all the grandiose transformations of Paris undertaken by Baron Haussmann. It was not for nothing that Voltaire said that if the king had spent on his capital at least one fifth of what his victory over nature in Versailles cost him, then Paris would be as good everywhere as it is near the Palais Royal and the Tuileries...

The construction of Versailles required the hard work of a huge number of craftsmen and artists of various specialties. The entire territory of the future park was leveled, the villages located there were demolished, and the builders did not even spare the hunting castle that belonged to the customer’s father, King Louis XIII. In fact, this relatively small building, erected in 1624 and rebuilt a decade later by the architect Leroy, gave impetus to the entire enterprise: the prince, the future Louis XIV, visited Versailles more than once and probably appreciated its location - it seemed like it was close enough to Paris to keep the city is under constant control, and at the same time far from Paris, which the monarch hated, considering it a breeding ground for the damned Fronde. And so the Sun King decided to oppose Paris, with its dirty neighborhoods, crooked streets and terrible disorder, with a clear and measured plan that reflected dreams of a rigid hierarchy. Descartes at one time was indignant that, supposedly, ancient cities, growing over time from small towns and becoming large cities, are usually so poorly planned, in comparison with fortified cities built on the plain according to the plan of one engineer, that one might think that this is more a matter of chance rather than the intelligent activity of people. Probably, if possible, the philosopher would have ordered to demolish all the crooked streets and replace them with straight avenues. Louis XIV had such an opportunity...

It is believed that the image of Versailles was inspired by the Vaux-le-Vicomte ensemble, which belonged to the controller general of finance N. Fouquet, to the ruler of France. The most outstanding masters of the time worked on this impressive estate, whose names would soon become famous throughout the world - Levo, Lebrun and Le Nôtre. Their joint work, as the legend says, made such a strong impression on the king that he immediately dismissed Fouquet, put him on trial, confiscated his estates and rotted in prison. The authors of the project were ordered to surpass themselves and create something even more amazing. The place where the royal will was embodied was the new palace under construction at Versailles. Each of them was responsible for a specific area of ​​work, so the entire organization of the huge complex called Versailles can be divided into three component, interacting parts - buildings, interiors, and park area.

And before our tour of the Palace of Versailles begins, let's get to know the main characters better. The French painter Charles Lebrun was a student of the Italian school. In 1642, he came to the Apennine Peninsula, where for four years he studied ancient sculpture, the works of masters of the Renaissance and the Bolognese school. One of the founders of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, he became its director in 1668. Six years earlier, Lebrun was recognized as "the king's first painter." Contemporaries considered him a real dictator of the artistic life of France in the second half of the 17th century. The painting of Charles Lebrun is characterized by the normativity of classicist composition and theatrical pathos, which are combined with lush decorativeness, that is, his work contains precisely those features that are considered signs of the so-called grand style of the absolutist monarchy of Louis XIV. During the construction of the Versailles complex, Lebrun supervised the creation of decorative ensembles (painting ceiling lamps, cardboard for tapestries, sketches of garden sculpture, furniture, etc.). Working with him was the “general controller of buildings” of Louis XIV, Andre Le Nôtre, who developed the principle of geometric planning and pruning of plantings, characteristic of Renaissance gardens. Combining the rationalism of classicism with the spatial scope of the Italian Baroque, Le Nôtre created a system for constructing an extensive regular, so-called “French” park. He is also known as the author of the projects for St. James's Park in London and the park in Greenwich (1662). Finally, Louis Leveau (or, more correctly, Le Vaux) was considered "the king's first architect" from 1654. Levo's buildings were distinguished by their strict elegance, complexity of layout, and decorative richness of interior decoration.

Three outstanding masters, each an ace in his field, created the Palace of Versailles literally from nothing, from a run-down village. Even now, when tourists can travel around the world as much as they want and admire the most outstanding buildings, the ensemble of Versailles is still amazing.

This belief is completely shared by a great many people, so there are usually just hordes of people wanting to get inside, unless, of course, it’s on Monday, when the Palace of Versailles is closed to the public. The queues at the entrance reach gigantic proportions, and if you take into account that tourist groups are given priority, some have to wait for two hours - first an hour at the ticket office, then another hour for security. Therefore, I advise everyone who is planning to visit Versailles on their own to purchase a “Paris Museum Pass” card, which gives, firstly, free entry to the Palace of Versailles and other buildings of the ensemble; secondly, it provides skip-the-line access; you just need to go to the security control and present your card. Otherwise, you will have to pay 18 euros for a complex ticket “palace and Trianons”, or 15 euros only for the palace, but, in my opinion, there is no point in saving three rubles by depriving yourself of the opportunity to see the famous park pavilions from the inside. You can also get into the Palace of Versailles for free on the first Sundays of every month from November to May - but then the crowds are drawn in immeasurably. As for the entrance to the park, it is always free, except on summer Saturdays and Sundays, when the fountains turn on - you can check the schedule of events and the general opening hours of the park and the palace on the website http://www.chateauversailles.fr

Now, having finished with practical, mundane, so to speak, questions, you can move on to contemplating the beautiful and surrender to the palace with all your heart.

The layout of Versailles is formed by three roads fanning out. Through them, the royal will was spread by messengers throughout France, and through them, the nobility who lived in the neighborhoods adjacent to the palace flocked in the mornings to take part in the ceremonies of the court. Every day at 5:30 the front gates of the Palace of Versailles swung open and visitors walked out into the first courtyard, now decorated with an equestrian statue of Louis XIV - it was always called the Courtyard of the Ministers. The so-called Wings of the Ministers, two long buildings in the background, complete the appearance of Versailles in the first stage, passing the baton to the Royal Court, also limited by buildings: on the left is the Old Wing, on the right is the Gabriel Wing; Only the king's carriages were allowed access to this part of the palace. Finally, the third and last courtyard bears the name of Mramorny. It is surrounded by ancient buildings, reminiscent of the former existence of a hunting castle. The alternation of brick and cut stone in the façade creates an atmosphere of elegance and festivity; the service wings connected to the palace add picturesqueness to the composition; the towers topped with steep roofs dissect the composition in accordance with the intended plan. The consistent reduction in the size of each subsequent courtyard is also part of the plan; this move allows the visitor to gradually enter the palace and at the same time the ensemble becomes connected with a fan of three avenues diverging in different directions.

From the Royal Court, a gallery leads to the western façade of the Palace of Versailles, the most beautiful and most famous. Its harmony is all the more amazing because two different architects were involved in the construction: the central building was erected by the great Levo, and the no less great Hardouin-Mansart managed to give stylistic unity to the side wings. The idea of ​​focusing the observer's attention on the horizontal lines was completely successful for both of them; For this purpose, the builders installed flat roofs instead of the pointed roofs common in France, and the equal linearity and height of the buildings was emphasized by the two-level division of the order. The lower order with arched window openings is somewhat different from the upper one, made in the strict rhythm of pilasters and columns, but together they form a single whole. Please note that the central building and two wings belonged directly to the royal family, and the attic floor crowning the building was intended to accommodate various kinds of noble persons. In the very center of the building was the king's bedroom, further emphasizing his power and importance.

In creating the effect of pomp and splendor in the interiors of Versailles and their splendor, a huge role belongs to decorative art, which reached a brilliant peak in the 17th century. The interior decoration took a long time and was not completed even with the death of Louis XIV. Nevertheless, the “first artist” and his assistants completed the bulk of the work themselves. The state apartments of the Palace of Versailles are a suite of halls, many of which are dedicated to the Olympian gods and bear their names - the Hall of Hercules, the Hall of Venus, the Hall of Mercury. The ceilings are decorated with lampshades with allegorical paintings glorifying the greatness of France. The walls are lined with colored marble, decorated with sculptures and paintings, reliefs made of gilded bronze. The decoration is abundant and varied, the forms are massive, but strictly subordinated to regular outlines, in which straight lines, right angles and regular semicircles dominate. The central, most important building of the palace is occupied by halls decorated with extraordinary splendor for ceremonies, receptions and balls - first of all, everyone who visited the Palace of Versailles remembers, of course, the 73-meter long Mirror Gallery, flanked by the halls of Peace and War. On the huge semi-circular vault of the Mirror Gallery there are frescoes by Lebrun. All of them depict scenes of glorious victories of French arms. These paintings subtly mix baroque and classicist features. If “Crossing the Rhine” is symbolized by the chariot of Jupiter, overturning enemies and accompanied by baroque canons by many mythological figures, then in the composition “Preparation for the Dutch Campaign,” on the contrary, an element of classical rationality prevails; a certain staticity is felt in the poses and staging of the main figures. The main thing is that with all the wealth of decorations in the Palace of Versailles, there is a sense of proportion and thoughtful coordination of parts. Although personally, I am not entirely sure that the French king, whose military successes are glorified by Lebrun’s creations, fully enjoyed them - Louis XIV actually did not achieve much success, being forced to leave the Trans-Rhine regions and leave Holland alone. He just ruined the country...

The windows of the palace offer the best view of the Versailles Park, where you should definitely go after the end of the tour. The park is distinguished by its extraordinary harmony and it would not be an exaggeration to say that on a vast territory the viewer is presented with a real hymn to classicism. The strict organization of all elements begins with the palace, which, as already mentioned, on the park side is distinguished by the same height, emphasized by the linearity of all buildings, which is fully consistent with the flat style of the park. Surprisingly, compared to the total three-kilometer length of the Versailles Park, the height difference is extremely insignificant, and is equal to only twenty-five meters; in other words, we have before us clear evidence that the planimetric principle has prevailed over the spatial one. From the park side, the palace looks like a huge, widespread cornice. Its facades are subordinated to the main, and essentially single theme - the theme of the order. In front of the main facade there is a so-called “water parterre” with two symmetrical reservoirs. From it stairs lead to the Latona fountain, depicting the goddess with her two children - Diana and Apollo; this sculptural group rises above an elaborate pyramid of concentric pools. From the Latona Fountain, a long green lawn leads the park visitor to the majestic Apollo Fountain, which is also extremely impressive. The ancient god is depicted riding a chariot drawn by four horses, which is carried out from under the water in rapid motion; Tritons, subordinate to Apollo, blow their shells, announcing the imminent approach of the deity. It must be said that the choice of composition is not accidental - as is known, in the late period of the development of Greece, Apollo was identified with the sun in all the fullness of its healing and destructive properties. Who else, if not Apollo, should the authors of the park project give the honor of being near the most beautiful palace of the most powerful “Sun King” in Europe?

Having seen enough and taken photographs, we move on, especially since another candidate for creating a mass of photographs is about to appear: right behind the Apollo pool, the Grand Canal begins, 62 meters wide and 1520 meters long; in the distance the Small Canal crosses it strictly perpendicularly. The flourishing of gardening art made it possible to create an extraordinary optical effect - in the evening it seems to the observer as if the sun at sunset is descending into the mirror waters of the canals, that is, it turns out that even spontaneous and unpredictable nature becomes part of the measured composition of Versailles. In general, the cult of the Sun was given a special place in the decoration of Versailles; after all, the king himself was called the “sun”. Numerous paths radiate from certain centers, and all this rationality, taken together, forms the symmetry of the park, in which “the grove leans towards the grove, each alley has a brother. One half of the parterre is a reflection of the other, it is painful for the eye to see this violence against nature; the trees are like statues and statues are like trees.” Perhaps nowhere is rationalism, and, consequently, cold, academic classicism, more clearly manifested than in the pruning of trees and bushes, in man’s attempts to curb and remake nature. Untidy, wayward forests had no place in the Versailles Park, and only many years later wild trees again occupied a significant part of the territory that once belonged to them. Currently, only a small part of the park has retained the organization of the original plan. But even to this day there are elegant pavilions, decorative elements, and various sculptures. F. Girardon, A. Coisevox and other authors took part in their creation, and their work was inspired by ancient myths. The names that enchant the ear speak for themselves - the fountain of the nymphs of Diana, the fountain of Neptune, the statue of Venus, the fountain of cupids. It is worth noting that many of the sculptures of Versailles have Baroque in their compositional and plastic basis, and in this respect they contrast with unusually clear linear, geometric examples of architecture. Another “living” detail in the realm of calculation and geometry was the endlessly flowing water of the fountains, although here the builders did not allow nature to run wild. In the world of rhythm and proportions there was no place for the stormy passions of waterfalls or the living streams of streams. In Versailles, man's desire to subordinate nature to reason and will is evident everywhere. This is the pinnacle in the development of the French so-called regular park.

Since Versailles Park occupies a decent area, a walk through it will require a lot of time and effort. To make it easier to get to know the area, a tourist train runs around the area every half hour. This pleasure costs 6.90 euros, departures are made from a platform near the left wing of the palace, if you stand with your back to it and look at the Grand Canal. Tickets are valid for the whole day, that is, you can get off at stops, see the next attraction of Versailles and board the train again (if there are free seats). It is convenient to make inquiries about this opportunity to see Versailles Park on the website http://www.train-versailles.com

Another way to see the multifaceted beauty of the park has recently been electric scooters. The rental office that rents out this miracle of technology is located in front of the entrance to the palace, on Place d'Armes, where the Versailles tourist office is also nearby. Rental costs 10 euros per hour; participation in excursions, which are held when there is a decent number of people willing, will cost a little cheaper. There are also electric cars driving around the park, but to use them you have to pay a tidy sum of 30 euros per hour and have a driver’s license with you. On the other hand, if you take on the task with a group of four people, then renting an electric car in Versailles will not be much more expensive , than 4 tickets for a tourist train cost.

There is another original entertainment in Versailles - boating on the Grand Canal. A half-hour rental will cost 11 euros, an hour will cost 15 euros. In order to ride a boat on the Grand Canal, you will need a deposit of 100 euros or documents.

Using the means of transportation listed above, you can explore the Versailles Park quite quickly, although, to be honest, you should explore it leisurely and unfussily: the park atmosphere is conducive to thoughtful walks. For example, I walked through the park three times, and still many of its corners remained “terra incognita” for me.

Of greatest interest to tourists who want to explore the Versailles Park on their own are a couple of mini-palaces known as Trianons. The first object, the Grand Trianon, appeared on the territory of Versailles under Louis X I V, when the king bought a piece of the area north of the Grand Canal for his own needs. The small provincial village of Trianon was razed to the ground, replaced by an elegant building designed for royal relaxation; the French monarch used to say that Trianon was created personally for him, while Versailles was created for the court. The construction was made in the style of classic Italian palazzos - a one-story building made of soft pink marble with large arched windows and Doric pilasters between them fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape. In the right wing of the palace lived the king's favorites - Madame de Maintenon and Madame de Pompadour. The interior decoration turned out to be lost over time, but it was subsequently adequately replenished, and now the interiors of the Grand Trianon look absolutely luxurious.

Not far from the Grand Trianon is the Small Trianon, built in 1762-1764 by Jacques Angers Gabriel. It was no coincidence that Louis XV invited this particular architect: Gabriel was a typical representative of classicism, whose works, rational in layout, clear and clear in form, elegant in decoration, still delight the eye with their logical completeness. Adjacent to the Petit Trianon is a landscape park with the Belvedere, the Temple of Love and the Small Theatre. All buildings were erected at the beginning of the last quarter of the 18th century, literally a decade before the revolutionary storm struck. The most famous “tenant” of the palace was the well-known Marie Antoinette, who chose it for a serene pastime away from the boring Versailles. And the future victim of the guillotine was relaxing in the Queen’s Village. It became the final touch in creating the ensemble of Versailles Park. The skillful imitation of rural houses with thatched roofs, a dairy farm and a mill powered by a small stream delighted the wife of the hapless Louis XVI until the very fall of the regime; Marie Antoinette spent time in the idyllic village with her ladies when she wanted to spend time in the fresh air away from the wide, long alleys of Versailles, where people felt small and defenseless. Construction of the ensemble began in 1785, and before the start of the French Revolution, architects erected half a dozen picturesque buildings, including a mill, whose wings should be oriented when walking through the park; it’s clear, there are signs, but an extra landmark still wouldn’t hurt. Now the artificial village looks very cool: there are fish in the ponds, vegetables are “fatten” in the gardens, there is complete peace all around...

The Versailles ensemble is famous for its beauty, but believe me, when the fountains of Versailles are turned on, the park and palace are transformed. And since they turn on, as they say, “a teaspoon per hour,” there is simply a sea of ​​people wanting to see the wondrous spectacle. Therefore, it is reasonable to make three trips to Versailles: one exactly on Monday, when the palace is closed, but the park is open and almost deserted, the second to explore the palace premises, and the third visit to coincide with the time when the fountains of Versailles are working - they are launched from 11 to 12 and from 15:30 to 17 hours on Saturdays and Sundays; At this time, you will have to pay 8.5 euros to enter the Versailles Park. There are also night fountain shows of Versailles, they take place in July, August and early September every Saturday and on some other days - for more information I refer to the website http://www.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr

The magnificent palace and park attract the attention of tourists almost entirely, leaving other attractions of Versailles far behind. Meanwhile, the city has at least half a dozen very interesting buildings, the inspection of which will, in my opinion, be a pleasant addition to the main program of the visit. For example, on Rue de la Paroisse, a couple of blocks from the palace, stands the elegant Notre Dame Church. It was built between 1684 and 1686 by order of Louis XIV, and the construction was carried out by none other than the famous architect Hardouin-Mansart. Thanks to his talent, the church came out extremely balanced and harmonious; Its location in the Rue Hoche area gives it a special charm; this allows you to first evaluate the building in perspective, and then get closer and study its individual details.

Since the symmetry of the entire area is set by the Palace of Versailles, it would perhaps be unnecessary to be surprised at how symmetrically relative to the church of Notre Dame the Versailles Cathedral is located - if you take a map of the city and fold it in half along the central Avenue de Paris, the temples will almost coincide. The Colossal Cathedral of Saint-Louis was built in the middle of the 18th century according to a project that at one time caused a lot of controversy. Some of the opponents of the construction bluntly said that the swampy soil would not support such a large building, and problems with the foundation indeed haunted the cathedral for a very long time. As a result, the large temple was completed only almost a hundred years after the laying of the first stone. However, the results of the work should be considered more than satisfactory: the temple went anywhere, and looks luxurious both outside and inside - the Rococo style requires great attention to be paid to the design. So I definitely recommend visiting the Saint-Louis Cathedral, the existence of which most people who come to Versailles probably don’t even suspect...

An additional incentive to get to the Versailles Cathedral will be the presence of the Chez Gaby restaurant next to it, which I must definitely advertise. A visit to the establishment allows you to have lunch in Versailles inexpensively; fortunately, they offer clients a full three-course lunch for only 9 euros! Imagine, it turns out that you can have an inexpensive lunch for just 9 euros in such a tourist-filled place as Versailles, getting an appetizer, main course and dessert for this modest money! Drinks, however, are not included in the indicated price, but the meal is still very inexpensive.

And all because, while walking around Versailles, we deviated from the trodden paths, well known to tourists. It is worth continuing this trend, and in the vicinity of Rue Royale there will be many interesting houses, neat courtyards, deserted alleys with greenery emerging from behind the fences. Walking around this part of the town is damn pleasant, also because there are no tourists around; if you come across any, it’s only local residents. At 14 Rue Royale, by the way, I came across another excellent place where you can have an inexpensive lunch in Versailles, the restaurant “La Voltaire”. This establishment with French cuisine offers set lunches for only 11.50 euros, also three courses, and also very profitable. These prices are much nicer than those offered by establishments in the city center, such as, for example, "Place d'Armes" on the square of the same name. Yes, a view of the Palace of Versailles from the tables is included, but the prices... They ask for 5 euros here for a nonsense sandwich, an ordinary omelette costs almost the same, and lunch will cost a pretty penny...

The situation is absolutely the same with souvenirs: I already mentioned the shop next to the tourist office and the Rive Gauche station, where the prices are prohibitive, so you just need to move a little away from the tour group routes, and the price tags will magically halve. For example, at Rue Carnot 45 there is a store called "Civite Royale", where you can buy souvenirs from Versailles very cheaply: a huge panorama postcard will cost 1.20 euros, a souvenir bell with an idyllic landscape of the park costs 3.50 euros, a glass ball with a model of the palace inside it costs 6.80 euros.

Of course, there are other shops in the area where you can cheaply buy souvenirs from Versailles, but I’m citing only those points that caught my eye - you know, I had no intention of scouring the streets in search of the cheapest souvenirs. However, I can name one more interesting place, although not directly related to souvenir products, but which allows you to purchase them. This is the flea market of Versailles, spread across the square formed by the intersection of Rue de la Paroisse and Rue du Mare chal Foch. There was a lot of all sorts of things like jewelry and sunglasses laid out on the trays and right on the ground, there was an opportunity to buy CDs with French music, and, of course, there was also clothes, and they seemed to be of good quality.

Right next door there is a large supermarket "Monoprix", hidden from prying eyes by shelves of cosmetics. These shelves disguise the true interior of the store, which is in fact almost entirely devoted to food and drinks - a great chance to buy water or juice before a walk in the Versailles Park, you can also follow the example of the locals and stock up on baguettes, cheese, sausages and a bottle of wine for a picnic.

There is a grocery supermarket in another part of Versailles, almost next to the Versailles Chantiers train station, at 47 Rue Etats Generaux. It is best to use the services of "Franprix" for those who plan to combine a visit to Versailles with a trip to Rambouillet: therefore, you stock up on food before boarding the train, and have a snack on the go if there is no time for a full lunch. After all, entry to the Rambouillet Palace is limited, and those who are late for the next session can only bite their elbows in frustration. So let's try to get from Versailles to Rambouillet to see the castle-palace there...