How much time does this tour take...ok I know there are 50 different answers. let me ask another way. My teenage daughter saw the movie Marie Antoinette,is studying French history and is facinated by this period and this story in general. It's her birthday and we will want to do an audio tour and hit the highlights:
What do you suggest? Because it is her birthday I want to plan other things as well that day so any tips on how to save or maximize time would be appreciated.

We were in Versailles October 2006 and spent approximately 4 hours actually touring. We chose the guided tour in a small group, about 15 of us, and the guide was excellent, particularly with some middle and high school students in the group. He encouraged them to ask questions and answered very clearly. After the guided tour we wandered around at our own pace, looking at the gardens, etc. There was a lot of discussion about Marie Antoinette, so I'm sure your daughter will be able to get as much information as she'd like on this topic. Hope you enjoy your trip.

Just make sure you get to Marie Antoinette's' fake farm, Le Hameau De La Reine, where she used to play peasant. It's great.

Here's a tour that I thought looked REALLY fun and a good way to save a LOT of hiking:

http://www.fattirebiketoursparis.com...ike-tour.shtml

Go to Versailles web site and there you can see all the tours available, Le Petit Apartements, LEs Grands Apartements ( if my memory serves me right)
all those side tours are fascinating if you are interested in French History. Much better in French than in English because my guess is that in French they give much more information.

To really see Versailles, I'd say a minimum of half a day. That is if you want to see the main palace and the Petit and Grand Trianons, Le Petit Hameau, and the gardens and fountains. You could of course spend more time.

Add to that the time to get there and back and you've fairly well filled up a day. Maybe dinner and a boat ride on the Seine that evening would round out the day.

If your daughter is interested in Marie Antoinette, I highly recommend you visit La Conciergerie in Paris. I know a lot of people on this site give it short shrift, but I've always loved it, and when my daughter was 13 and in a Marie Antoinette phase, it was her favorite place in Paris.

Thank you all.
StCirq, I have put La Conciergerie back in our plans. You are right that a lot of people think it's a waste of time, but my daughter will love it!

Hi M,

>What do you suggest? Because it is her birthday I want to plan other things as well that day ....

You could easily spend a day at Versailles. Some of the Gardens might be in bloom.

I suggest that you let DD plan this day.

Her birthday wish is to go to Versailles and beyond that she has no expectations. Afterall she is turning 16 in Paris...what more could a girl want!

I would love to find a special place to have dinner or a place to have a special dessert. Any suggestions?

To fill in other options, Cityrama and Parisvision offer package tours to the Versailles, including bus transfers.

You may want to look at going yourself via RER. For this, look at the Forfait Loisir, which gives you a package deal for your visit.
More info:

http://www.transilien.com/web/site/a...rfaits-loisirs

For the Conciergerie, it's interesting. Note that M.A was only there for a couple of weeks druing her trial. She and Louis XV1 were imprisoned and living in the Temple prison for several months, which was torn down at a later date. It was located in the Marais, and there is a plaque that indicates where it was.

When I was there in Nov 06, I did a walking tour of the Marais. As we walked by the National Archives, I was there was an exhibit relating to her there. After the tour, I nearly ran back all of the way to see the exhibit before it closed. Very very interesting, many of her letters, with interesting content. Some before revolution, some the last days of her life. Also....some of the scenes from the movie where filmed here. Nice old mansion: Hotel Soubise 60 rue Francs Bourgeois.

www.archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr/chan/

Not sure what they display outside of that event.

Also in the Marais is the Museum of Paris, which traces history of Paris from way back, They have a very interesting collection of items from the time, including many from their stay at the Temple: Louis' razor, their playing cards, their son's exercise book,etc..Fascinating. Carnavalet Museum, located in Marais also.

http://www.paris.fr/portail/Culture/...t?page_id=6468

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B4tel_Carnavalet

Also, Paris Walks does a French Revolution walk on specific dates, I could not do one, but someone here has.

www.paris-walks.com

Also, after Place Concorde (where she was guillotined), head up to Chapelle Expiatoire. This is just off Blvd Hausseman, near Grands Magasins. This Chapel was built over the location where her /Louis' bodies where thrown after their execution. Neat small chapel, you may get to go into the crypt.

And, if you want to go to the final burial place, St Denis would be the place to go (also burial place of many french monarchs)

I'm a french revolution buff..


Mike

Coronation was at cathedral in Reims (a nice daytip perhaps). And, if you want to be around area where she used to go see plays...go to Palais Royal and its vicinity.

We did the Fat Tire bike tour. It was a lot of fun, but we only got a cursory glimpse of the Hameau. If you are going for the purpose of seeing Marie Antoinette's hangouts I would not take that tour.

The "Forfait Loisir" seems like a very good deal- round trip train tix, complete entry to the chateau and grounds and I've heard it includes the audio tour. At Versailles there is also an Open Tour shuttle bus for 10 or 8 euros. I'd take the shuttle and get on and off and use the audio tour to complete the experience.

We were in Paris when my daughter was 14 (and hope to go again for her 16th birthday!).

She also was interested in that time period and really enjoyed reading the trilogy about Josephine Bonaparte by Sandra Gulland before we left. (I loved reading them, too!)

We visited Versailles as a morning day trip, taking the train from the Musee Orsay metro stop.

So here's an excerpt of the Versailles portion of my trip report a while a back:

"We were on the 9:15 train to Versailles and there by 10! We waited until Saturday to visit so we could see the fountain spectacles, and we bought the Versailles pass at the train station that includes your train fare. The kids just needed a train fare.

The kids were eager to go, since they had learned about the French Revolution, but unfortunately, our visit was a bit of a disappointment.

Although we didn’t have to wait in line to enter (AND THE LINES WERE LONG!!), once we got in, we were herded like cattle through the rooms and through the hall of mirrors. Truly, it was wall-to-wall people and you had to worry about losing eachother. We could barely enjoy it since it was such a claustrophobic and frustrating experience.

The gardens were a nice relief. Don’t miss the Orangerie, which is off to the left as you enter the gardens. It is beautiful. We also rented bikes and rode to the Trianons and to Le Hameau. Everyone enjoyed that.

But then it started raining, so we headed back to the train station, and were sitting in CAFE BONAPARTE, eating delicious Croque Monsieurs again by 1pm. This place was also great, and recommended by this forum. "

What I forgot to add is that we also had a nice self-guided tour of the Mesdames Apartments (the King's daughters) -- it was empty!

Another lovely thing to do is rent a paddle boat in the garden, which we didn't do.

If you're interested in reading more about our family trip to Paris, here's a link to my trip report:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34832782

Have a great trip, and be sure to write a trip report when you return!

Dina

I would avoid the package tours and go with the forfait loisir. That itself saves you time because you do not have to wait in line, and you also get an audio tour. In addition, the package tours restrict how much time you get to spend whereas with the forfait you determine that yourself. Since we discovered the forfait it is the only way we go.

As for other birthday activities - boy, that really depends on your daughter's tastes and references. What sorts of food does she like, as a bit of a guide for dinner suggestions.

The National Galleries at the Grand Palais will have on view 300 or more items related to Marie Antoinette, your daughter might enjoy it. March 3rd to June 16th; I'm not sure you mentioned when you were going to Versailles.

dina4~I am cutting and pasting like crazy...LOVED your trip report. If I had posted that I was planning a day like your day 2 I would get a bunch of "cant be done" replys. We are the mothers of 2 teenagers we work and play at a much different level than most
I read your post and got a little emotional...I cant wait for our trip. Your trip report is going to make our trip better than if I had not read it so thank you!

Seamus~ She does not like seafood, but other than that not too particular, I am thinking of Le Souffle that Dina4 talked about. That sounds like something she would love. Not sure if I need reservations at most places in Early March.

MilenaM~Thank you. I think I will try and make that a surprise. What perfect timing we will be there the second week in March

Hello! I would recommend taking the RER on your own to Versailles and paying a bit extra to tour private rooms along with the state apartments. Most of the private tours last about an hour and operate in small groups. The cost for a private tour is quite reasonable and exceeds general admission by a small margin. I'd recommend arriving first thing in the morning. You could truly make a full day at the chateau.

Unfortunately, the Petit Trianon is currently closed, but the Queen's hamlet is lovely. Be sure to visit the grotto, too.

If your daughter truly is fascinated by that period, I would highly suggest purchasing Walk Through Marie Antoinette's Paris by Diana Reid Haig. The book lays out walking routes which address points of interest surrounding Marie Antoinette. The routes are straight forward and touch on the historical significance of the stops.

I'm so glad you found the trip report helpful!

I couldn't remember what our day 2 was, so i went back and read and laughed out loud. We did a LOT that day!

We were excited and eager to see a lot, as Paris is the kind of city I think you can stay in for weeks and not see and do everything you want to do. 5 nights seemed so short...

have a great trip! It is a truly beautiful city!