Palace of Versailles

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, the Palace of Versailles is the supreme expression of 17th-century French classicism. Originally a hunting lodge for Louis XIII, it was transformed by his son Louis XIV — the Sun King — who moved his entire court there in 1682, making it the largest palace in Europe over the course of a construction that lasted more than fifty years. Versailles became a formidable instrument of royal power until the French Revolution. In 1830, King Louis-Philippe converted the palace into a museum dedicated to "all the glories of France".

Our visit takes in the King's and Queen's Apartments, as well as the sumptuous Hall of Mirrors, built in 1678 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, which expresses in all its splendour the political, economic and artistic triumph of France.

You will also discover the magnificent formal gardens, with their groves, pools and fountains, designed by the brilliant landscape architect André Le Nôtre with the aim of creating a harmonious setting to glorify the Sun King. Particularly original was the Grand Canal, 1,670 metres long, which provided the backdrop for numerous ceremonies and even welcomed two gondolas sent by the Serenissima of Venice.

For those wishing to spend the entire day, it is also possible to visit the Petit and Grand Trianon, Marie Antoinette's private retreat and the English-style garden.