Palace of Versailles - France

Visiting the Palace of Versailles is perhaps one of the best escapes during a trip to Paris,don't forget to use bitbook.net and get the best prices and an amazing cashback!.

Located in a nearby suburb of the capital of France, the castle was the home of French nobles during the 17th and 18th centuries and is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country, receiving almost 10 million tourists a year.

Close to Paris, the Palace of Versailles combines the best of Europe with architecture, history and nature in a huge garden

If the interior or exterior architecture of the Palace of Versailles doesn't catch your eye, the 800 hectares of one of the most beautiful gardens in all of Europe is certainly worth a visit.

The construction base began during the reign of Louis XIII who, as a young man, was enchanted by the forests he used to go hunting with his father and king until then Henry IV.

The story goes that it all started with a small house built in 1624 so that the king and his son could sleep at night after hunting. However, Louis XIII decided to rebuild and expand the residence in 1634.

However, the current architecture of the Palace of Versailles began to take shape during the reign of Louis XIV (successor to the throne and son of Louis XIII).

The monarch had a strong connection with Versailles and, therefore, decided to further expand the Palace throughout his reign, from 1643 until his death in 1715. And that is how the palace gained its most impressive spaces, such as the Hall of Mirrors and the artificial canal that is in the gardens.

Work on the gardens lasted about 40 years and was not facilitated by the swamps that took over the land at the time. Did he know that during the reign of Louis XIV, it was common for parties and meetings of the monarchy to be held in the Gardens?

Despite more than 50 years of investment, the Palace of Versailles was still not ready when Louis XV (monarchs weren't very creative with names) took the throne in France.

With the mix of emotional attachment to space and decades of investments by monarchs, the Palace of Versailles became the greatest symbol of luxury and extravagance of the French crown.

The reforms and structural changes lasted until the reign of Louis XVI, who, despite remaining longer in Paris, reigned until the French Revolution in 1789.

With the advance of the revolution, the Palace of Versailles had its entire collection of works and furniture removed and was transformed into a storage place for confiscated goods.

Years later, the space that had been home to the royal family and one of the most recognized symbols of power in France became a museum in 1794 and officially opened in 1796.

The collection at the Palace Museum houses more than 60,000 works from different periods.

The collections reflect the two moments of the palace since its founding as the home of monarchs, until it became one of the most visited museums in the world, as well as the Louvre.

The facilities of the Palace of Versailles remain almost intact since the 18th century. Despite the French revolution and its bloodthirsty history for monarchs and the two world wars, the Palace has remained almost intact since its construction.

It is possible to visit the king and queen's rooms, which were located on opposite sides of the French monarchy's house.

Another of the biggest attractions is the Hall of Mirrors. The space, marked by having been the stage for the signing of the Treaty of Versailles that announced the end of the 1st World War in 1919, has more than 370 mirrors.

The eccentricity of Louis XIV resulted in one of the largest museums that can be visited in the world, as the palace has 2,153 windows, 67 stairs, 352 chimneys, 700 rooms, 1,250 fireplaces, among other decorated environments “covered” with art.

The truth is that, despite its size, you are more likely to get lost in the crowd of people who pass by daily than in the rooms and garden.

It is impossible to visit the Palace of Versailles without seeing its gardens.

Louis XIV did not skimp on the aesthetics of his private garden and brought several species of plants and trees that make up a unique diversity to the space.

At around 800 hectares, or 8 square kilometers, the Gardens of Versailles are gigantic and walking through its length can be tiring.

Therefore, within the park itself there are little trains (paid) that take tourists for a ride and, there is also the alternative of renting bicycles and electric cars to enjoy the park.

And it is outside the Palace of Versailles where you will find options for lunch: La Flotille, a restaurant with a terrace next to the canal and La Petite Venise.

Tickets to visit the Palace and Gardens of Versailles can be purchased in advance online at the museum's official website.

From 20 euros per person you have access to the entire palace, the grand trianon, all the temporary exhibitions, the gardens.

Because it is very popular, tickets have scheduled entry times. The tourist must enter the palace within half an hour of the scheduled period. You can also secure other combined packages with skip-the-line, transport from Paris or guided tours.

Now that you've got all the tips, all you have to do is set up the itinerary, choose the accommodation using BITBOOK.NET, pack your suitcase and throw yourself into the charm of this amazing place.

I have no doubt that you will have unforgettable days. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and we'll be happy to answer them!

Safe travel and enjoy this amazing place!