The Palace of Versailles, just outside Paris, is royal architecture on an almost unreasonable scale. Expanded from Louis XIII’s hunting lodge by Louis XIV, it became the seat of the French court and government in 1682. Until the royal family was forced back to Paris in 1789, Versailles was both a showcase of absolute monarchy and a stage on which court life became a tool of political control.
The palace’s grand apartments lead to the Hall of Mirrors, where 357 mirrors catch the light from arched windows overlooking the gardens. It was here, in 1919, that the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending the First World War. The gilding and painted ceilings can be overwhelming, but the rooms are most compelling when you imagine the elaborate rituals and rivalries that once filled them.
Outside, André Le Nôtre’s formal gardens stretch towards the Grand Canal, with fountains, statues and secluded groves breaking up the geometric vistas. Farther into the estate, the Grand and Petit Trianon offer a quieter contrast to the main palace; nearby, Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet turns an idealised rural village into an intimate royal retreat.
Book a timed palace entry in advance and allow a full day if you want to see the gardens and Trianon estate as well as the interiors. The palace is closed on Mondays, and garden admission rules can change on Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens days, so check ticket details before visiting. From Paris, the RER C to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche puts you within walking distance of the entrance.