The Château de Versailles is a masterpiece of the 17th-century architecture and one of the greatest museums in the world, a testimony of refinement in French art. King Louis XIV transformed Louis XIII's modest hunting lodge into the palace we know today and moved from the Louvre to Versailles with all his court in 1862. Versailles remained the official residence of France's kings until 1789 when the royal family returned to Paris after the first days of the French revolution. In 1837, Versailles became the museum of French history.

Famous attractions at Versailles are the Hall of Mirrors, the Trianons, the Hamlet of Marie Antoinette and the French gardens. The Hall of Mirrors is a very large room, about 240 feet long, filled with full-size mirrors on the walls and is considered one of the most beautiful rooms in the castle. Its purpose was to impress everyone who visited Versailess and celebrate Louis XIV's power. The king was portrayed on the ceiling of the chamber by painter Charles Le Brun.

The Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon were built near the Versailess castle by order of Louis XV and the Hamlet, a small but luxurious farm, was commissioned by Louis XVI for his wife, Marie Antoinette.

The gardens at Versailles are especially popular for their fountains and statues and the illuminated shows that take place at night.

The Versailles castle is open Tuesdays to Sundays, except on French public holidays, 9am to 5.30pm from November to March and 9am to 6.30pm from April to October. The entrance fee for the palace is 8 euros, the Trianons are 8 euros also but you can take a stroll in the gardens for free.

78000 Versailles
Tel: 01.30.84.74.00
http://www.chateauversailles.fr