Versailles & Museum Pass
 

Hi all! My husband & I plan on visiting Versailles during our January 04 trip. I plan on buying the 5 day Museum Pass. Does anyone know if the Museum Pass gives you access to all areas of Versailles (i.e., the Chateau, the gardens, the Trianons, etc.)? I couldn't tell from the intermusee's website. Thanks in advance for your help! DU

It does give you access to the Trianons and the Chateau; however, we had to pay extra for the gardens. I don't think you will have to however, becuase we were there in summer on a Sunday when the fountains are on--they charge extra for that. If you just go on a regular day, I'm pretty sure the gardens are included.

Hi, we used our pass at Versailles and I know we paid a separate admission to the apartments (they were great - be sure to see them). Our pass allowed us into the Palace itself, the gardens and the Trianons. There is an audio guide that you can rent to listen to while touring the palace - please consider renting it as it really explains the art & decorative objects. Also, there is so much there to see - plan on getting there early, it is easy to spend the whole day there! Have a great trip!

Thanks Rachel & Margie--I appreciate the help! DU :-)

You will have access to the palace and the grand/petit trianons...but and this is a big - you do not have access to the gardens. To get to the trianons, you must walk through the gardens (the free route was closed off during the summer anyway) so we had to pay to walk to the free palaces. It was frustrating - also, the pass doesn't cover the trams to the little palaces either. Given that it was over 100 degrees and the tourism office had told us the pass was good throughout the entire complex,it was not well received.

We were there midweek in May 2002 and didn't pay anything extra to see the gardens.

Unless something has changed the gardens are free except during "Les Grands Eaux" when the fountains are on and classical music is piped in. As you will be there in January the fountains will be off.

I was at Versailles in June 2003. The museum pass did not cover the gardens. They were 3euros. I just checked my journal. :)

The gardens were free when I was there last October. I can't imagine that they would charge in January.

There was no extra charge for the gardens when we visited. But, apparently this has changed (perhaps to fund restoration following the storm damage a few years ago). See http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/5..._and_times.php

I was at Versailees two Saturdays ago and had to pay extra for the gardens. The cost is 6 euros. Pass only cover entrance to the chateau. To see the fountains in operation you must go on a Saturday or Sunday.

Larry J

We also used the museum pass for all of the buildings at Versailles, but it was necessary to pay for the gardens. I thought it was 5 Euros. We did not go there on a weekend fountain show day. We were told by our guide that the cost was due to restoration of the many trees that were lost in a major wind storm in 1999 (?). We didn't mind paying the extra charge. It was well worth it to see the wonderful sculptures that are in the gardens. I read somewhere recently that the oldest tree in the gardens of Versailles died after the summer heat. It was once a shade tree for Marie-Antoinette.
Laura

The cost for the gardens is 3 euros. You can avoid this cost by taking the little train, only a little more expensive ..saves your feet too...

What is so special about the apartments in Versailles? I am not familiar with them.