The Grand Garden of Versailles

The Gardens of Versailles are the 17th-century ornamental palace gardens covering an area of  800 hectares of land.

They are perfectly landscaped in the classical French Formal Garden style, and many of them were designed by André Le Nôtre.

The Gardens have well-manicured grass, a variety of flowers, fountains and sculptures, which give them a royal appearance. with orange trees & canals, statues & fountains. the Gardens of Versailles

This article will tell you everything about the Palace of Versailles Gardens, including its location, hours, accessibility, history, and what you can see there.

Let’s start with their exact location!

Where are the Gardens of Versailles located?

The Versailles Gardens are situated on the western side of the Palace of Versailles.  They cover a large area, so there are several access points.

How to enter Versailles gardens?

Address: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France

Once you’ve entered the Palace of Versailles grounds, the easiest way to reach the gardens is to simply exit through the Cour des Princes, located on the left side of the Palace facing outwards.

This will lead you directly into the formal gardens. 

Other entrances are also from the north (Queen’s Fence and Neptune Fence) and the east (Petite Venise Fence and Ménagerie Fence).

You can also use them depending on your location on the palace premises.

What Time do Versailles Gardens Open? 

The opening hours of the Gardens of Versailles vary depending on the time of the year.

During the high season from April to October, the gardens have extended hours and are open from 8:00 am to 8.30 pm.

However, the gardens are open from 8 am to 6 pm from November to March during the low season.

The last admission is generally 30 minutes before closing time.

The gardens close early at 5.30 pm during exceptional events such as the Musical Fountain Shows.

Can I enter the Versailles Gardens for free?

Yes, in the low season (November to late March), entry to the Gardens of Versailles is free for all visitors daily.

However, in peak season (April to October), you need a ticket to enter the gardens on days with the Musical Fountains Shows.

Where can I buy tickets for Versailles Gardens?

You can easily book the tickets for the Gardens of Versailles online from the various ticketing platforms.

There are a variety of tickets available online; some of them also include transportation from Paris and access inside the Palace of Versailles.

By booking them online, you can:

• Save time by avoiding long lines.
• Save money with discounted ticket prices online
• Secure the entry & save yourself from the disappointment of tickets being sold out.

Free Entry: Children under 6 years old can always enter the gardens for free, regardless of the season or show schedule.

Why are the Gardens of Versailles so special?

There are a variety of things that make Versailles Gardens special:

Grand Design: The garden is well divided into parterres (elaborate flower beds), bosquets (wooded areas), and fountains, all arranged in a geometric layout that extends the lines of the palace itself.

Historic significance: The gardens were commissioned by King Louis XIV, the “Sun King.” They symbolized the absolute power and wealth of the French Monarchs.

Stunning Architecture & Engineering: The Gardens have a complex network of canals, fountains, and water features, and water was pumped into them from the Seine River. They show the engineering techniques of the French in the 17th century. 

How long does it take to walk the Gardens of Versailles?

Visitors typically take 1.5 to 2 hours to walk through the Gardens at Versailles.

However, once you enter the gardens on time, there is no time limit for visiting. You can stay as long as you want.

The time taken can vary based on your pace and interest in different garden features, including the various parterres, sculptures, fountains, and pathways.

What to See in Versailles Gardens: Key Highlights

During your visit to the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, you will see several eye-catching things. Some of them are:

Parterre

The garden has a variety of Parterre (arrangements of flower beds), including the Water Parterre, Latona Parterre and North and South Parterre.

Water Parterre is one of the major ones. It was designed to reflect sunlight on the water, illuminating the outer wall of the famous Hall of Mirrors.

The North Parterre features bronze statues of Venus and the Windmill. It also includes a large pond with the Pyramid Fountain.

The South Parterre, also known as the flower garden, offers stunning views of the Orangery from its balustrade, making it a perfect spot for photography.

Latona Parterre is the central location in the Versailles Gardens.

It has a stunning fountain that tells the story of the goddess Latona from a famous old tale called Ovid’s “Metamorphoses.”

The Orangerie

The Orangerie is a stunning greenhouse located below the South Parterre. 

Its sheltered location protects it from cold winds, making it ideal for growing citrus trees and other plants such as olive trees, oleanders, palms, and pomegranate trees.

Many of the trees in the Orangerie are over 200 years old and originated from southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Sculptures

With over 300 sculptures spread throughout the gardens, Versailles Palace has the largest open-air sculpture museum in the world.

Many of the sculptures in the gardens are themed around gallantry and love, represented by Eros, the god of love.

Another common theme is Apollo, the sun god, and childhood statues of children playing with dolphins and tritons.

The Grand and Petit Trianon

Besides the fountains and walkways, Versailles also has palace retreats for the monarchs: The Grand and Petit Trianon.

The Grand Trianon is an elegant Italian-style palace built with green and pink marble.

King Louis XIV used this palace for short summer stays and secret meetings with his mistress.

Parc de Versailles

The Park of Versailles is a vast, wooded area located at the southern end of the Grand Canal at Versailles.

Unlike the formal gardens with their manicured lawns and intricate flower beds, the Park offers a tranquil escape into nature.

You can access Parc de Versailles by walking through the gardens and riding the tourist train at the entrance. It will take 15 minutes.

Queen Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet

Queen Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet is a farmhouse inspired by the rustic architecture of Normandy.

The farm included a mill, a dairy, and several orchards.

It is the place where Queen Marie Antoinette enjoyed spending summer days here with her children. 

When were the Gardens of Versailles built?

The history of the Versailles Gardens is intertwined with the development of the Palace itself.

Before Louis XIV’s reign, Versailles was a small town with a hunting lodge favored by the king’s father and grandfather, but Louis XIV envisioned something grander. 

In 1661, he hired the popular landscape architect André Le Nôtre to transform the palace’s surrounding lands into the largest garden complex the world had ever seen.

The project was large and required the movement of massive amounts of soil to level the land, create water features, and establish terraces. 

Trees were brought in from all corners of France to complete it, and thousands of laborers toiled to bring the king’s vision to life.

Work on the gardens began around the same time as construction on the palace itself and continued for nearly 40 years. 

As a result, massive gardens in the formal French style, with proper symmetry, order, and a sense of control over nature, were built.

Le Nôtre transformed the barren land into well-manicured gardens with features like parterres, bosquets, and fountains throughout.

The Gardens of Versailles continued to evolve after Louis XIV’s reign. 

Later, during the reigns of Louis XVI and Napoleon III, some major renovations occurred, including replantings and the addition of the Grand Trianon.

Despite years of establishments, these gardens remain a popular tourist destination, attracting millions yearly visitors. 

Here’s a fun fact:

Do you know there was a time when the gardens overflowed with strongly scented flowers, such as jasmine, tuberoses and hyacinths, that made visitors sick?

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Featured Image: Chateauversailles.fr