Versailles had a bit of a natural odour issue caused by the very land it was built on. The former march land had quite the foul smell at some spots, especially during the summer, which mingled with the scents of sweat given off by the courtiers and their garments.

The Hall of Mirrors
The Hall of Mirrors, the most famous room in the Palace, was built to replace a large terrace designed by the architect Louis Le Vau, which opened onto the garden.

the French state
The Palace of Versailles is currently owned by the French state. Its formal title is the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles Since 1995, it has been run as a Public Establishment, with an independent administration and management supervised by the French Ministry of Culture.

The Palace of Versailles allowed a large Court to live close to the King. Depending on the day, there were between 3,000 and 10,000 people here, forming a highly variegated society governed nonetheless by a strict hierarchy that applied to all.

Being the home to the Kings of France between 1662 and 1789, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most important landmarks in French history. Versailles resisted until the French Revolution (1789 – 1799), being not only famous for its strategic place but also as a symbol of the absolute Monarchy system.

Name. The argument over the etymology of Versailles tends to privilege the Latin word versare, meaning “to keep turning, turn over and over”, an expression used in medieval times for plowed lands, cleared lands (lands that had been repeatedly “turned over”).

These gates were destroyed by the common people during the French revolution. Replicas of the 80-metre steel gate decorated with 100,000 gold leaves were made with help of private donors contributed 5 million euros (8 million dollars).

Each room and suite is a uniquely designed and decorated ode to 18th-century palace style. Rates at Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle start at $2,077 per night and include a dedicated butler, daily tours of the Château de Versailles, breakfast, and afternoon tea.

Actual building costs for Versailles are debated by modern historians, because currency values are uncertain. However, Versailles’ price tag ranges anywhere from two billion dollars (in 1994 USD) all the way up to a maximum cost of $299,520,000,000!

Pour assurer la sécurité et limiter le nombre de visiteurs, le château a mis en place plusieurs mesures et directives. Désormais, seule la réservation en ligne des billets du château de Versailles sera acceptée. Toutes les billetteries physiques sont fermées au public.

Le château de Versailles est ouvert au public tout au long de l’année. Toutefois, les heures d’ouverture varient en fonction de la haute et de la basse saison touristique. Tandis que la haute saison s’étend de la fin du printemps au début de l’automne, la basse saison se prolonge de novembre jusqu’à la fin de l’hiver.

Désormais, seule la réservation en ligne des billets du château de Versailles sera acceptée. Toutes les billetteries physiques sont fermées au public. Les visiteurs seront autorisés à entrer dans les locaux selon des plages horaires fixes.