Just got back from Europe. A bunch of friends decided one day to go to Versailles. It was the first Sun. in the month and so it was "free". Normally, I wouldn't go on a free day because I figure it'll be crazy crowded, but there was no other time. So off we went.

All I can say is - the people running this world reknowned institution have no regard for those visiting it. We waited on a line, outside, to get in for 45 minutes. Finally inside (but still on line), I just happened to notice a woman at a desk and went up to speak to her. She told me that we only had to wait on line if we wanted to get into the special exhibit - one that would mean we would have to pay. So, out we went again, to try to find the way in to the palace. No one seemed to know which entrance to tell us to go in. And, they changed entrances and exits - REALLY! We went in through security and then 5 minutes later they decided to make it an exit. Tourists were wandering all over the place asking each other how to get in. Asking someone who worked there didn't help. They consistently gave conflicting and wrong information.

Who are these people?

When we finally left, we heard an annoucement to those waiting on line outside that if they didn't want to go the special exhibit, they didn't have to wait on line. Three-quarters of the line dispersed after hearing this. Unfortunately, they didn't make that announcement when we, and 100's of others, were on line to get in 2 hours earlier.

Oh yeah - Only some rooms were "free". If you wanted to see the king's or queen's quarters, you still had to pay. What a rip off.

A terrible day. Don't go.

I agree that Versailles can be a bit overwhelming on a crowded day as with any popular attraction. My wife and I were there this past September and attributed the confusion to the construction that was going on. I would not, however, tell people not to go based on one bad experience. We went with a bike tour, which made for great fun as we got pointed to the correct entrance, rode the grounds and ate lunch in the gardens. The only real issues that I found were finding the restroom and the exit once we had finished exploring the palace. Generally when standing in any line that we are not sure of, one of us will hold our place while the other asks to be sure that we are in the correct line. As a former Marine who has served on several Navy ships, I would always see a line and just stand in it. I have learned my lesson over the years however, that it is a good idea to ask rather than follow the rest of the cattle. I am only posting this so others understand that it is not always the chaotic mess you have described. Considering the history behind the palace, I would consider it to be one of the highlights of our trip.

I agree that the folks at Versailles act as if they have never seen crowds before or some of the simplest needs. I was there this July, and while waiting in lines was expected a bit (even though I had the pass), when I got inside, there was no way to just pick up a simple map of the estate. That's all I wanted -- I didn't want to ask any questions or anything. Instead of just having a place with maps piled up in various languages, or in cubbyholes in front of an information desk or something, like 99 pct of other museums in the world, the queen bee at an information desk was guarding them personally so you could not reach them and they were insisting you stand in line with all the folks who had elaborate questions and knew nothing just to ask for that map. I was really pissed, and when I got up there and then the information czarina decided to answer some other question or help someone who had cut into line right in front of me, I kind of got angry and tersely said (in French) that I just wanted a map, please give it to me. She looked at me like I had two heads or something because I had gotten annoyed at this routine, and made her little French moue as if I was doing something wrong, not her.

Have to agree that Versailles isn't the most tourist-friendly place in the world.

We rented the audio tour, and it was a hilarious disaster. You had tourists of all nationalities running around wearing headphones and asking, "Where does it start?" and "How can you tell which part of the tour you're on?"

One problem was that the rooms were numbered on the tour, but no one could find the numbers. Turns out, they were on the INSIDE of each room (for example, one was in a fireplace). So you didn't know you were in the right room until after you went in.

OK, so does it take a genius to figure out that you put the number on the doorway?

Versailles is in France, right? What did you expect?

The day we were there they closed all the bathrooms at about noon for "cleaning". People were lined up at the McDonald's in town. Why would you close all the bathrooms at once? When we asked one of the guards at Versailles where we could find another ladies room because they were all closed, he said, "they always do that..I don't know why."

perhaps they had borrowed the staff from the Vatican for the day.

it seems to be a problem that besets over-popular attractions - they don't have to try as people keep coming anyway.

I'm glad I went 25 yeears ago.

regards, ann

We were in Paris during Thanksgiving with a group of 20+ teenagers and Versailles was part of out tour package. This was during the strikes...metro, buses etc. As it turned out, the civil servants joined in on the strike and they would not open the palace. There were alot of other buses in the lot other than ours. We were disappointed, but our guide showed us the grounds anyway, including Marie Antoinette's little "play village."

After hearing these accounts, maybe we really didn't miss that much.

I have done Versaille several times with no issues. I do however spend a lot of time studying the guidebooks in advance which show the confusing entrances (A) for one thing (B)for another etc....

They are in the middle of a major upgrade which will give them a "visitor center" which should hopefully reduce the various entrance confusions....

Having done both Versailles and the Vatican.... Give me the French any day. I have made repeat visits. I don't ever plan to step foot in the Vatican Museum again....

Just curious--why the disdain for the Vatican Museum? We were there two weeks ago, and it was one of the highlights of our trip (granted, only three days in Rome). We didn't go on an organized tour--just wandered around, including the loooooong march to the Sistine Chapel.

For those of you who have been to Versailles recently, how does the forest look? Has it recovered from the big windstorm some years back (late '90s, maybe?) that leveled huge numbers of trees? Thanks!

Having been "poisoned" at a resto across the street from Versailles, I never managed to see it,-- except for the bathrooms - which weren't that bad (or good) but the lines were unbearable (and would have been even if I had not ben ill).

Some interesting comments. I've done audio tours in at least a couple dozen palaces and castles in Europe, and I can't recall a one where the numbers weren't INSIDE the actual rooms. In fact, I suspect if I saw a number on a door frame, I'd assume it was the number for the room I was in, not the room I was about to enter.

There are dozens of guidebooks on Versailles. Sure the place is massive, and I can't defend the lack of good information from the various workers, but as a person who doesn't speak French anyway, I make sure I know where I'm supposed to go BEFORE I get to a place like that. The same would be true of a place like the Vatican museums. I arrive with a well organized plan and all the background information I need.

There are many organized tours of places like Versailles. For many people they really are the ideal way to do it -- especially for those who don't want to do the research in advance to find out the best way to do it yourself.

Now please don't misunderstand me. I agree that it could all be organized infinitely better than it is, and I agree that more workers should be able to help you. But I guess I take the approach that I won't count on that being the case, and I am rarely disappointed in such places as I go prepared.

We were prepared, but not for incompetence.

There is no reason to say the day is free when, if you wanted to see the real highlights, it was not free. There is no reason to not have signs ANYWHERE saying "Entrance" or "Line for Special Exhibit", rather than no signs at all. There is no reason why the people who work at Versailles don't even know where the entrance or exit is!

I think you missed the point of my post. I don't disagree with a single thing you say. All of that shouldn't happen. You're totally right. But in many years of travel in Europe I've learned to find out where the entrances are that I need to find, what the fees are (or what is free on the "free day" -- I usually don't expect much to be free on those), and what my specific plan of action is going to be, usually complete with downloaded maps and directions.

By the way, we laughed at the Metropolitan Museum in New York when we had to ask at least four employees where the restrooms were, and each one told us where to go ask someone else. Employees not knowing anything other than their actual duty is not an unusual thing anywhere in the world that I'm aware of. And we've been to lots of museums where we asked about a particular special exhibit or even part of a permanent one and no one working there knew a thing about it.

since you ask, Don, I'll tell you.

1. the endless signs saying "to the sistine chapel" which wrongly give the impression that there's a quick route there. [we didn't want the quick route, but lots did, and it would have got them out of our way]. the signage was appalling.

2. the bottle necks which it is impossible to avoid, which we did twice, 'cos DD wanted to see the mummies.

3. the way in which the sistine chapel is beset with people talking, which is bad, and the attendants whistling and shouting at them, which is worse.

I suppose that as we went at easter, we should have expected nothing less than chaos.

I would never go again, except on a private tour.

regards, ann

"Who are these people?"

The French.

Neo: I get your point about being prepared, etc., but it tends to give a pass to attractions that take the attitude that it's the customer's problem because of a lack of preparation. That's the stuff of a bureaucracy, like the Dept. of Motor Vehicles.

For all the criticism of the Disney approach, maybe Versailles could use some Disney-izing. (OK, now I'll duck.)

Yes, how much preparing can one do? Shall I investigate everything there ever is or was to know about every single site I'm thinking of going to? And wouldn't that not help if they change things anyway? Shouldn't the venue be the responsible party and be welcoming and organized? The people who were telling us the wrong ways to get in/out looked quite harried themselves.

It's the top of the organization that I blame. As a Sicilian gentleman I met a few years ago said, "The fish smells from the head."

I can appreciate your less-than-perfect sightseeing day and you know what? Most of us have had them.

"Normally, i wouldn;t go on a free day..." but you did and it was an adventure.

I honestly do not understand how you can really say to people, "Don't go" just because your own experience wasn't as ideal as you would have liked.

But I'll take the whole thing as ffiednly piece of advice from someone who doesn't want others to make the same misstep.

If anybody is planning to visit Versaille tomorrow, perhaps re-consider. Kadafi will be there (with his troop of 20 or so limousines). I just heard on the radio (France-Info).