Read that some of you were disappointed to go to Versailles and NOT see the fountains on. Have seen photographs of these fountains and quite honestly, they do not look that phenomenal. Is it, perhaps bad photographs that do not capture the beauty? Have seen lovely dancing fountains and regular fountains in many places. Will I be disappointed if the water is turned OFF when I go there?

Try to go when the fountains are on. They are beautiful. I have been both when they were on and when they were off.The other place that has wonderful fountains is Ville d'Este in Tivoli near Rome.

Try to go when the fountains are on. They are beautiful. I have been both when they were on and when they were off.The other place that has wonderful fountains is Ville d'Este in Tivoli near Rome.

Speaking as a lover of all things gaudy and over-the-top, Versailles is spectacular no matter what. The fountains, on a bright and sunny day, do add a lot to the vista and grounds, but don't not go if the fountains aren't spewing.

"Les Grandes Eaux Musicales" are every Sunday from 4 April to 10 October and every Sat. from 3 July to 28 August, and the 14 July (Bastille Day). A "Grand Perspective" of the principal fountains comes between 11am and noon; and -- best of all, the "Grandes Eaux" between 3:30pm and 5:15, when there are six different musical suites for different areas around the gardens; and "Bassin de Neptune" from 5:20 to 5:30 during which they apparently use colored lighting in certain areas (we didn't see it, were going for the train). <BR> <BR>DON'T MISS these, although you should be aware that they don't turn on the waters between noon and 3:30 on those days (sorry, don't know about the schedule of fountains on weekdays). <BR> <BR>Being there when they turn on the fountains and the music blares forth was magical and uplifting and a high point -- pretty much the only one -- in an otherwise disappointing visit to Paris. There's no way photos, even my own, can do justice to the views, the feel, the sound, etc. <BR> <BR>Warning: there are crowds there on these days, but by-pass the tour of the palace and go directly to the (left as you face the palace) ticket lines for the grounds. Even with lots of people, it's possible to enjoy the prescribed walk from fountain to fountain, accompanied by wonderful (classical) music. But be prepared to leave early or stay late (and eat somewhere in the area) unless you are willing to stand in a crowded train back to Paris. <BR> <BR>Take the RER C (from Musee d'Orsay, Invalides, or Champ de Mars), which gets you closer to the chateau than the other train -- but be sure to take a train with a "V" name (Vick, etc.) and be sure you have the right ticket (the Carte de Visite for the city won't do it) to avoid having trouble exiting at Versailles. Coming back you can take any train, but again, you need the right ticket.

Cassandra, <BR>Thanks for description. I need to sort out this puzzle. <BR> <BR>Les Grandes Eaux Musicales: is what takes places between 3:30pm - 5:30pm between 4/4 - 10/10 on Sundays. <BR>Is this SAME as what takes place on Saturday 7/3-8/28, and the 7/14 between 3:30pm-5:30pm? <BR> <BR>A ticket line for the ground is mentioned. Do I presume this part of the chateau is not covered by the Museum Pass? <BR> <BR>Do you have to wait to buy ticket for the ground only just before the "Grand Eaux" or can you buy the ticket when you get to Versailles in the morning ahead of time? <BR> <BR> <BR>A "Grand Perspective" of the principal fountains comes between 11am and noon. <BR>Which ones are these principal fountains? I am looking at http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/100.htm and I presume that some of these circles in the picture are the principal fountains <BR> <BR>Regarding RER C ticket, I believe you cannot use the ticket that comes with the Carnet, and that you have to buy different ticket for this, is this correct? I believe I have read in Rick Steves' book that with Eurailpass while you cannot ride directly on the train, you can get free ticket for this trip on RER C by presenting Eurailpass at the ticket counter, do you know about this? <BR> <BR>Also where do you eat when you spend the whole day there? Will the restaurants outside the Palace be mobbed after the shows and it would be hopeless to eat there unless you have made the reservations?

I think I can help with a few things. There is an extra ticket for the grounds - not covered in the regular admission ticket. I know there is a booth for them near the garden entrance outside the palace, but I don't know whether you can purchase them inside. There is pretty decent food on the grounds. I ate a good crepe for lunch at the outdoor restaurant near the Grand Canal. It was a Sunday in late August, and there was no wait for a table. I couldn't tell you about the restaurants in town, except that I have heard you can save some money by eating off the grounds. <BR> <BR>We bought a separate ticket for the ride to Versailles. It is not very expensive. We didn't have any types of rail passes, so I don't know about the coverage. <BR> <BR>I don't know about the Saturday activities, but I have always read that they only operate on Sundays.

Between the train and the palace there are several reasonable sandwich shops or restaurants. We got a light meal in one of them after we finished sight seeing- not crowded at all,

Greg, <BR> <BR>Sorry it's confusing. Here are some other answers to questions not already answered: <BR> <BR>1. Presumably, the Sat. and Sun. programs are essentially the same -- i.e., the same music and (for the Grandes Eaux) all the fountains. (I don't see much room for variation.) <BR> <BR>2. You can buy the ticket for access to the grounds anytime after 8:30am (that's according to the brochure -- which also says these tickets are also available at entrances to the gardens other than at the Chateau entrance - i.e., while the Mus&Mon Carte de Visite would get you into the Chateau, I don't think it's necessary for, and would not get you into, the grounds.) Cost = 30F. <BR> <BR>3. The "principal fountains" involved in the Grande Perspective (11-noon) appear to be about 5 of the 24 total, those closest to the Chateau (and not, in my estimation, the best ones). I looked at that (rather weird) diagram at the website, and the circles just represent walkways and open areas, some of which do indeed have fountains located there, and some just have a pool. But the fountains are large and small, in a main cross-walk or tucked into a side grove, scattered all over, and it's too bad I don't have a scanner to scan in the brochure's diagram. <BR> <BR>4. Re: RER and Eurail -- don't know about Eurail arrangement, but for the $2. or so, I'm not sure it's worth confronting the bureaucracy in the ticket window on a weekend -- and by evening it might be hard to find someone. The general Carte de Visite/metro pass is available for three, five or (???) 7 days and for 1, 2, or three zones. Versailles is outside zone 1, and we figured that -- since that would have been our only trip outside the main city area=zone 1 -- it wasn't worth the higher-priced pass. So we bought the RT ticket for Versailles separately. It's not prohibitive, and the difference between a RER train and the regular Metro lines is almost invisible. <BR> <BR>5. We ate in the cafeteria actually in the Chateau, found it pricey (like all French restaurants)and unremarkable, wish we'd ventured into the town -- not a small one, by the way. I'd take the advice of others in the forum or the guidebooks for an out-of-the-way restaurant. It seemed to me that French tourists brought food and ate out front of the Chateau, while "foreigners" are the ones likely to crowd restaurants -- and most seemed eager to head back to the city by the end of the day. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps -- hope you go -- hope you enjoy it!

YES.......... they really are THAT great! My Mom and I just got back from 2 weeks in Paris and Versailles was the first day trip we took on our second day there, a Sunday. The fountains were on the entire time we were there, the sun was shining, the weather cool and comfortable, and the music filled the air and could be heard throughout the gardens like angels harps would sound like playing in heaven! There was even a beautiful cave/waterfall with statues, etc. that was on the grounds where the music poured out like a concert in the woods and people were just sitting on the rocks and grass around this beautiful scene and listening to a free concert! It was so magical and special that I can't even put it into words that would give it high enough praise!! <BR> <BR>We loved Paris and everything we saw. We will be going back again for sure. We just got our pictures back last week and put them together in albums and the ones from Versailles with the flowers in bloom, waterfalls, etc. were exceptionally nice. Some of the waterfalls have gold statues in them also. One of them with little Cherubs with their backsides up was very sweet and cute. It came out nice in the photos too. They looked like little Cupids in the waterfalls. I give Versaille with the music and fountains on an A plus and very worth seeing! People have different tastes on what they like, but I would be very surprised if anyone experienced this and did NOT feel as we did!! Go and ENJOY...... fountains and music ON!!! <BR>Michele

Greetings Elvira! <BR> <BR>Sounds like you and I are two peas in a pod. You would like my living room. Baroque-style Italian paintings (cherubs, nude ladies etc.) and Louis XV furnishings (reproduction, of course). <BR> <BR>As far as Versailles, I would go no matter what. As Elvira says, it's over the top and worth the trip even without the fountains on. Great decor, great history. Why pass it up? <BR> <BR

Who is Elvira? I am the person who mentioned the cherubs and fountains being spectacular, etc. Did I miss a post somewhere? <BR> <BR>Michele

Michele - <BR> <BR>I was referring to one of the original posters near the top. She mentioned that Versailles was "over-the-top" and I agreed. As for the cherubs, I was making a side comment to her about how I thought she would like my living room because much of it is done in the Louis XV style. I was not commenting on the fountains. <BR> <BR>I'll also repeat to anyone reading this, go to Versailles with or without the fountains on. It's beautiful. <BR> <BR

Cassandr, ok, two more questions: <BR> <BR>1.Les Grandes Eaux Musicales on Saturdays: Rick Steves does not mention it, nor Frommers, or even the official Versaille Web site. Where did you find the Saturday schedule? Also since the admission is addition to the Museum Pass, I presume I have to wait in the L-O-N-G line to get the admission ticket, is this correct? <BR> <BR>2. Grand Fete de Nuit de Versailles (Son-et-Lumiere) on selected Sundays: has anyone been to this one? Since it ends around mid night in July, can you still get back to hotels in Paris before the metros shutdown?

I don't expect that you will find a huge line like the one for the chateau. We just walked up to the booth, payed, and entered the gardens. I guess it might be worse if you wait until nearly time for the fountains to start up.

Hi, Greg -- <BR> <BR>I got the schedule from the brochure I picked up on the grounds while I was there! I don't know why the website doesn't have the schedule -- seems the obvious place to post it. Didn't have much of a line to cope with in getting onto the grounds/into the gardens -- nothing compared to the endless line waiting to get into the Chateau (not to mention the "dames" room). Didn't do the Nuit program, but I think you're right to worry about the Metro closing -- hope someone else can be more helpful on that.

...just to be clear: I didn't pick the brochure up off the ground! -- they give it to you (I think when we bought the ticket) -- and remember that entering the gardens is unrelated to entry into the Chateau. The Museum pass covers the Chateau; you pay separately for the gardens -- two different lines -- and you don't have to go into the Chateau line first or at all. In fact, I infer from the brochure that you can actually enter the gardens from several other places other than the side of the Chateau (left as you face it). There appear to be gates at five other points around the outside, but I guess you'd have to know the streets around it to know where to go.