I know all about the RER-C train from various Paris stations to Versailles-Rive Gauche, but has anybody taken a SNCF commuter train to Viroflay-Rive Gauche and then connect back to the RER-C to Versailles-R.G?

The reason I ask is that our hotel will be next door to Gare Montparnasse, and the commuter trains (REPU, GEPU, MEPU) should be faster than taking a Metro back north to Invalides or Saint-Michel, and then the RER-C. And those commuter trains run every 15 minutes, so it seems pretty convenient. It is going to be one connection either way.

So my questions are:

1a. Has anybody taken this route before?
1b. If yes, how far is the connection at Viroflay-R.G between SNCF and RER?
2. Do you know the fare of SNCF/RER in contrast to Metro/RER? Unfortunately, this ticket can't be bought on sncf.fr and no fare is shown.

I'm not absolutely sure because i never went to versailles this way, but don't some trains running from Montparnasse to Chartres stop at Versailles?

There will certainly be a poster who wil know for sure, and anyway it can't hurt since it will top your message.

Thanks for the reply. After a little more searching, I've found that:

1. The trains that go from Montparnasse to Chartres (as well as the commuters to Viroflay-R.G. I'm considering) only stop at Versailles-Chantiers, not Rive Gauche. I have no idea how far that station is from the chateau.

2. I'm not going to save much time during the time we want to go (Saturday morning) anyways, as there will be a 19-minute layover at Viroflay-R.G. between SNCF and RER. So, the time I save on actual train travel is wasted at the platform. [Since RER-C runs every 15 minutes, apparently SNCF's planner don't think we can transfer in 4 minutes anyways]. And since I'll need to spend more time at Montparnasse looking for tickets and the trains, I might just as well take a Metro to Invalides instead.

But thanks to all who've read my inquiry, thought about it, and/or replied to it.

I looked on the RATP web site http://www.ratp.fr. The suggested route from Montparnasse to Versailles Rive-Gauche was a train to Versailles-Chantiers and then a five-minute bus ride to Rive-Gauche.

The Versailles-Chantiers station is not as close to the Chateau as Rive-Gauche. We walked it in about 20 to 25 minutes.

It's kind of funny about the ratp.fr site. Depending on the exact minute, I can sometimes get various bus rides. And even for trains, one minute it'll tell me to take Metro #13 and change at Invalides; if I type in a minute later, it'll tell me to change at Saint-Michel.

Anyways, I've heard that the 13/RER connection at Invalides is quite a walk. Does any one know if a 6/RER connection at Bir-Hakeim/Champ de Mars or a 4/RER connection at Saint-Michel will have shorter walks?

I really want to save our walking strengths on the grounds of Versailles, not between trains.

Given the short distance, I would just guess that the SNCF fare would be about 10 euro or less.

YOu can't let a little walking from the metro stop to the RER stop scare you in Paris. Most transfers from the metro stop to the RER stop involve quite a hike, but I don't think the Invalides stop is that bad. I think the one at Bir-Hakeim is really far, in fact, I don't think they are even considered the same stop as the others are (Bir Hakeim metro and the RER Champ de Mars aren't the same stop). St-Michel and Invalides are about the same, I think, although I can't swear to it. I just find Invalides fairly nice compared to St-Michel.

Well, I don't mind walking myself, but I am not quite sure about a few others in our group. You know, we're from Houston, TX, and people circle around parking lots to get that spot that's closest to the mall!

Anyways, last time I was in Paris, I did change from Metro to RER at Invalides. It was somewhat long, but I can't remember whether I was changing from #13 or not.

Yes, I do know Bir Hakeim and Champ de Mars are seperate stops, but they are connected for transfers (according to Metro maps I've seen), same thing between Solferino (#12) and Musee d'Orsay (RER). Those look like long walks on the map, and I'll try avoid those connections.

I guess #13 to RER at Invalides it is. Another reason is that our hotel is slightly closer to the Gaite stop for #13, then Montparnasse itself... Just thinking out loud.

If your hotel is close to Gare Montparnasse, take the train to Versailles Chantier and walk to the chateau from there. I have done this and it was fine.

The train is MUCH faster than the RER. I Would say that Versailles Rive Gauche is about a 5 minute walk from the chateau where as Chantier might be 10 to 15 max. Its only a 27 minute train ride vut via Metro RER it will 1 hour or more. There is a city bus if you are scard of the walk that will take you from Versailles Chantier to the Hot

errant mouse click made me post the message before i had finished... was saying that there is a bus from Chantier to the Hotel de Ville which is very close to the chateau. You would take the Bus G direction Pershing.

I would do that anyday over dealing with the Metro / RER.

Hmm just saw the 20 to 25 min estimate for the walk from chantier. I am a pretty fast walker so maybe for someone walking slower or reading a map it could take 20 mins or so. The bus is a 2 minute ride to the Hotel de Ville which is within site of the Chateau and even closer than Versailles RG to the Chateau.

Just to confirm what Morgan said. We just did the Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers on Feb 24, 2004. Very easy walk to Chateau, it is marked the whole way from the train station. PJ

Wow, great infomation, Morgan and pj. I'll find out the "walking capabilities" of the people in our group of about 10, and decide. If it were just me, I'd definitely take the SNCF. Save some time, and get ahead of others at Versailles. Or we might take the bus instead of walking...

Just found out that the private hotel shuttle that we're using may be able to take us all for about € 100 from hotel to Versailles door-to-door. That's a little more than the train, but with a group of 10, it may be not be the worst idea.

But all the info will still apply for the return trip. Thanks again.

Your welcome rkkwan. I would go for the shuttle! 10 euros per person is worth it. Otherwise I find the train a much more pleasant ride than the RER and with not as many stops.

I am sure you know this but just in case : buy advance tickets or a museum pass for going to Versailles. The lines can be terrible for tickets.

Thanks again for the advice all of you have given in this thread. I just came back from Paris, and this is my experience:

From Montparnasse, the SNCF commuter train is absolutely the better way to get to Versailles:

- 6 trains leave Montparnasse for Versailles-Chantiers between 7:35 and 8:32. It's more frequent than the RER to Versailles-RG.

- The slower 4 of those trains take 19 minutes with stops; the faster two take 12-13 minutes with no stop in between. [In contrast, it'll take about an hour to take Metro and connect to RER-C.]

- The walk from V-Ch to the chateau is about 10 minutes longer than from V-RG. It's hard to say exactly how long the whole walk is, as seen in this thread, because it depends on whether you count to the end of Ave de Paris, the iron gate of Versailles, or the ticket office. [A leaflet with directions at V-Ch suggest 7 minutes of walking time, but I think that's optimistic.]

- Cost is the same either way. You buy tickets at the lower level of Montparnasse, not the regular SNCF booths on the top level; even though some trains do leave from the top-level platforms. Individual ticket is $2.50 each way, but you can also get a carnet for $20.

And finally, Versailles really isn't that crowded in early March. We arrived Saturday at around 9:30, and bought the combo tickets for the King's Chamber and State Apartments; no line to get into King's Chamber, and afterwards there's a seperate entance to the State Apartments for combo ticket holder - no need to wait either, at around 10:30am. I think that's a pretty good deal for €12.

Glad it worked out for you! I personally think that is a better way unless you are really far from Montparnasse or very close to the RER that goes to Versailles. Plus its alot more comfortable in my opinion.

Glad it wasnt crowded . Thats the best way to see it.