Versailles Palace and Gardens Half Day Tour

In this four-hour Versailles Palace and Gardens Tour excursion from Paris, we will join a historian to see the magnificent palace and gardens of Versailles, the seat of the royal court from 1682 until the Revolution. As we walk with an expert in history or art history, we’ll contextualize the architectural and historical significance of this immense site—including the expansive royal gardens designed by renowned landscape architect André Le Nôtre—all the while taking in its awe-inspiring beauty.

Arriving at Versailles, we’ll begin our tour with the royal gardens, taking in the carefully manicured hedges, reflecting pools, and artfully carved open-air statues. We will dissect Louis XIV's powerful solar myth which led to Le Nôtre’s conception of these gardens and contributed to the decorating scheme of the State Apartments. Next, we'll proceed inside for our Versailles Palace Tour, discussing the château's successive architectural evolutions during the reigns of Louis XIII to the 19th century, including Louis XIV’s addition of more wings, the marble court, and the famous Hall of Mirrors. Throughout the tour, we’ll immerse ourselves in the lavish narrative of Versailles, and as our walk comes to a close, come away with a better understanding of Le Nôtre’s innovative designs and their relationship to Louis XIV's commitment to maintaining his image as the Sun King.