My husband and I want to visit Versailles in early July. I read something recently about an extensive restoration project there that began last November, but haven't been able to determine whether this means that Versailles, or parts of it, are closed, or whether it would be worth seeing it during the restoration. Does anyone have information about this? Thanks.

the impact on the average tourist will be little - the gardens especially are getting a long overdue makeover but haven't heard about the palace.

M-Antoinette's Trianon has been getting a thorough restoration and believe it may have reopened - many tourists never get beyond the palace to explore the park and this Trianon.

If can come on a Sunday when the fountains in the park are mainly on and there is classical music piped into the grounds. Could be on Saturday as well.

Thanks, Bob. I think it is Le Petit Trianon that's now being restored --artwork, walls, etc. I'm confused. Was this the one Louis XVI had built for Marie Antoinette? Is the hamlet he built for her so that she could have some privacy something else? (Haven't seen the movie!)

I wrote something about the Trianon a bit ago:
Versailles Update: Petit Trianon to Close
Date: 10/09/2006
...in November for renovations, but for how long? www.chateauversailles.fr



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Author: PalenqueBob ([email protected])
Date: 10/12/2006, 10:59 am
Many of the mobs who visit Versailles and mainly see the palace and a bit of the adjoining gardens never venture over to the Petit Trianon...but this is one of the most interesting aspects of Versailles, both from a historical and interesting aspect.

News From France - the French Embassy's newsletter in the U.S. reports about Marie-Antoinette and her Petit Trianon:

"Hollywood blockbuster film nominated for the Palme d'Or award at Cannes...hit American theatres Sep 20, was filmed at Versailles"

"this pleasure house is yours," Louis XVI reportedly told the teenage Marie as he presented her the Petit Trianon as a wedding gift - the 86-acre 'Domaine' of Marie-Antoinette became a retreat where she gambled, played parlour games, held concerts and theatrical performances and received guests" (the article makes no mention of how she purportedly played a peasant farmer!)

"The somewhat removed site attracts only 300,000 visitors a year and has no permanent restaurant, cafe or gift shop, not enough restrooms only a few parking spots and an ineffective means of getting from the main chateau to the queen's estate"

So the 'needed renovations' will also add tourist Schlock to the site - not sure that will improve it - currently i like its sleepy appearance, but i don't know.




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Author: PalenqueBob ([email protected])
Date: 10/13/2006, 10:54 am
The article continues:

"The current renovations are part of the 'Grand Versailles' project that aims to show Versailles contrasts: Classical and Baroque, destitution and extravagance, male inspiration from Louis XVI and female inspiration from Marie-Antoinette to Madame de Pompadour. A vast planting poject is in progress, and a tiny farmhouse where cheese was once made and butter churned has been opened. A small 'educational farm' with chickens, roosters, goats and sheep, used mostly to welcome schoolchildren, will continue to operate while the rest remains very much a work in progress.

'We have a vision but one that will take time, says the Director of Versailles, The chief architect adds 'this is a dynamic project. We want to model it after Mount Vernon or Monticello...we need to find sponsors. And that requires imagination.'"

Modelling after Mount Vernon or Monticello????? Not sure that is good or bad.

As a member of the Friends of Versailles association, maybe I can give some insight.

A considerale restoration project for Versailles was launched in 2003 and should last until... 2015. Therefore there is always going to be some construction at Versailles, but this should not scare visitors away, considering that there will always be some parts which will "scaffolding free". The main palace will not close. Much of the work is being done through corporate funding.

In July, you will be able to see the newly restored Hall of mirrors, without scaffolding, due to be inaugurated next May after three years of restoration(for an update, see http://www.vinci.com/sponsorship.

However, at the main palace, several exterior areas will be under construction :

- the main courtryard, with repaving work, and reconstruction of the "Royal grillwork", torn down during the revolution,
- parts of the garden facade

I read that the Petit Trianon did not close in November, work being postponed.

Dear Trudane, I am very excited about visiting Versailles in Sept. Have read several books related to Versailles. Do you recommend studing a tourbook about the rooms etc to get the most out of visit ? Somewhere, I saw this recommended. Thanks

Let me also recommend a wonderful, family-friendly Versailles attraction that is far less crowded than the chateau. Directly across the street in front of the chateau are the old royal stables, Les Grandes Ecuries, which for the past couple of years have housed a riding school run by the famed horse trainer Bartabas. On weekends during much of the year, you can attend the morning training sessions, called 'matinales.' For 8 euros (4 for kids), you're seated on bleachers in an arena -- a very elegant one, with chandeliers and classical music playing in the background -- and watch trainers put the horses through their paces. It's a beautiful, almost dreamlike spectacle, as the 'Bartabas method' is extremely quiet and gentle. Afterwards you can visit the stables and see some of the magnificent animals close-up. The riding school also puts on musical performances in the evening which cost 20 euros. Details are on their website, in English & French, www.acadequestre.fr

TO Marcielee and others :

Here is an available online guide www.podibus.com/versailles/index_eng.php.
Additional info on the various places, the famous people can be found on the chateau website (www.chateauversailles.fr/en)

If you are interested in the gardens, the symbolism of the statues, etc, and can read French, here is a great site which, additionally, gives you an update on the construction work in progress : www.leparcdeversailles.com

If possible, devote a day to Versailles, which is much more than the crowded state apartments. Try to see the areas that were really lived in , such as the Dauphin's and Mesdames' apartments,or the king's private apartments (guided tours only).

If baroque gardens interest you, try to see the Three Fountains'grove (bosquet des trois Fontaines), fully restored in 2004 with American donations.

In the gardens, crowds get thinner and the light gets better as the afternoon wears on. The château garden facade lit by the setting sun is quite a sight.

As indicated by the previous poster, the spectacle equestre in the Stables is worth seeing. So is the carriage museum (musée des carrosses)in the said stables.
Some people like to see the nearby King's vegetable garden (Potager du roi) which in particular boasts espaliered fruit trees.

Sorry, the website in French on the gardens of Versailles is http://720plan.ovh.net/~jardinsd/

PalenqueBob, I'm curious what "Hollywood blockbuster film" that article is talking about, it couldn't have been the mildly successful (or mildly unsuccessful) Marie Antoinette this past summer could it?

By the way, the Petite Trianon was built for Madame Pompadour, but given later to Marie-Antoinette, who had much of it redone.

NewPat: well those were the words the press release from the embassy said - prematurely perhaps of the Marie Antoinette less than blockbuster film.

Yea, I always love it when a film that hasn't been released yet is announced as a "blockbuster" -- just wishful thinking.

We actually saw that film in Nice, France in July -- in English with French subtitles. I've been curious if they edited out any of the historical "mistakes" in the film.

I'd like to add a bit of info to this thread. When my sister and I were there in Sept. of 2006, I noticed quite a few of these green golf carts being driven around on the garden grounds. We walked down to where the boat rentals are and were able to rent one of these golf carts (make sure you have your drivers license as they will hold that). I think the maximum time for the rental is an hour, but I could be wrong. Anyways, you're shown how to use the cart and given a map that has this course you follow. There's also this recorded tour that plays along as you travel. What I noticed about the recorded bit was that it didn't keep going if you stopped the cart, so if you stopped to look at something, it wasn't going on to the next bit that you'd be seeing. I know that PalenqueBob said that most people never get to the Trianon, but with the golf cart is a quick and easy ride. Or there's the "train" that you can get on to go there.

I hate those freaking golf carts!.. they kick up so much dust and just look so out of place... the tram looks out of place too, but it doesn't seem to have as much free reign as do those dadgum golf carts. Now biking - that's fun!