Versailles Tour for Kids
Embark on a journey to the home of the Sun King with a family-friendly expert
$838
N/A
Book a Tour
Tour Details
Photos & Highlights
- Versailles Palace Tour for Kids led by a scholar trained to work with children
- Introduces children to the magic of Versailles through interactive activities
- Versailles Gardens and Versailles Palace
Tour Description
Just outside Paris, the palace of Versailles and its surrounding gardens offer a magical world of historical discovery. Covering almost 1,000 acres, the vast grounds include perfectly landscaped jardins à la française, whimsical fountains, colossal statues, and hidden groves, perfect for young royals to play hide-and-go-seek. Our four-hour Versailles Palace Tour for Kids, led by a family-friendly scholar, explores the many wonders of the château and its world-famous gardens, tying both into the story of their grandiose creator, King Louis XIV of France (hereafter known as the Sun King). Joining history, mythology, symbolism, and architecture, our tour provides children with an age-appropriate introduction to an illustrious time in French history.
A Royal Childhood
Our adventure begins on the short train journey from Paris to the royal estate, during which we will learn about the Sun King. Though we will focus on the estate Louis designed as an adult, by beginning with his childhood we can get a better look at the factors that shaped his future identity as King of France. Louis XIV became King at the very young age of five, in 1638. What's it like to be King before you're ten? Do you have to listen to the adults? It was only as his power was expanding that he began to transform his father's small hunting lodge into the grandest European palace of its era. The gardens, immaculately planned out in conjunction with the castle, are filled with symbolism linked to the Sun King. They would become the immense exterior theater for the court and, in some areas, secret getaway places for the royals.
Looking for the adult version of this tour? See our Versailles Tour.
Secret Gardens
Why are the gardens so structured? Why are the hedges trimmed just so? Together, we'll learn about the carefully kept palace grounds, learning the stories behind the fountains, statues, and plants. We'll learn how head landscaper André Le Nôtre designed the gardens to reflect Louis XIV's famous Sun King myth. Then, we'll go into "explorer mode," tracking down the secrets of the gardens and taking in the beauty of Le Nôtre's landscaping. On our journey through the gardens, our docent will introduce interactive games geared towards bringing the history of Versailles to life. What was it like to be part of the Sun King's court? Together we might discuss court life, and examine the outside of the palace.
"Our docent made it fun for kids, even bringing them sketch pads and encouraging them to draw their own crest, like those we saw around Versailles for Louis XIV. We loved seeing places that we might not have wandered to on our own. This was an incredible experience for our family."
Versailles Palace Tour for Kids
Finally, we’ll make our way to the interior of the palace, imagining how this immense 2,300 room structure could once have been a small countryside residence. How does it compare to your house? Which room might you take for yourself? While exploring the eternal halls and sumptuous apartments, we’ll picture life within the château, the fashions, the opulent balls, and the passion for art and music.
Take Aways
As our visit together comes to a close, we will leave with an understanding of the role Versailles played in maintaining the Sun King's persona. Additionally, we will know the stories behind various sculptures and landscaping in his manicured gardens. With our adventure at its end, we'll return to Paris or wander through the rest of the grounds with our family, stories of kings and queens floating through our heads.
Miscellaneous Notes About Our Tour
During the summer, there is a special music & fountain show on Saturdays and Sundays. On Tuesdays and Fridays, there is music, but no fountain show. During these days, the bosquets and groves are all open. On the other days of the week (Wednesday, Thursday), and in the winter months, they are not open, nor are the fountains on. Much of the site is closed on Mondays. It is for these reasons that we schedule our tour only on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in high season.
In addition to our family program tours (like our Louvre for Kids Tour), we may be able to adapt certain other tours to the needs of families, though please note such adaptations would not incorporate special activities. Please contact us for more details.
FAQ
Where does the tour start? Where does it end The tour meets in Paris, near the train station. Your confirmation will have the exact meeting point. Your docent will help you purchase the train tickets, and then you will take the train together. The ride is about 45 minutes, and is part of the overall 4 hour duration of the tour. You will end the tour in Versailles. Your train ticket is round-trip, and you can return to Paris at your leisure.
Does the tour include the interior of the palace? Yes, our tour will include the interior of the palace as well as the magnificent gardens surrounding the palace.
Does the tour include the Trianon Palace and Marie Antoinette's Hamlet? No, but you can visit these on your own after the tour (if booking a morning tour), or you can arrange a full-day private tour with us. Please contact us for more details about this latter option.
Will the fountains be turned on? Fountain shows are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays, April 1-October 31. There are also fountain shows on certain Tuesdays during this period. On all other Tuesdays and Fridays, April-October, there is music in the gardens, but no fountain show. On Wednesdays and Thursays, April-October, there is no music or fountain show. In the winter months, there is no music or fountain shows on any day.
I see you offer the tour in both the morning and afternoon. Which is better? We don't necessarily recommend one over the other. The 9am start time allows you to stay on for the rest of the day to explore the rest of the grounds independently. The afternoon tour would not allow for this, but you do have the benefit of slightly reduced crowds.
Can we take a car instead of the train? For private tours starting in Paris, yes. Please contact us for pricing. The docent and driver will meet you at your hotel.
Will you pre-purchase entry tickets for us? Yes, and the tour price includes the entry tickets. Your docent will have them for you at the start of the tour.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible? This tour is designed to use public transportation to travel to and from Versailles, and unfortunately not all of the RER stops are wheelchair accessible. Please contact us to discuss in more detail your mobility concerns so that we can best advise. We are also happy to design a private, customized tour using car service for visitors with mobility concerns.
Do you have an adult version of this tour? We do indeed. Please see our our half-day Versailles Tour.
Where You'll Start
Tour Experts
Marie
The daughter of a sculptor, Marie has been surrounded by art ever since she was born. A native Parisienne, she holds an undergraduate degree in history and art history, with a specialty in iconography and French and Flemish paintings from the 16th to the 18th centuries. She also holds a Master's degree in museology from the Ecole du Louvre and one in Art History from the Sorbonne. She currently works for the French National Art History Institute on special cultural events. Since she loves literature, ballet, theatre, opera, jazz clubs, and classical concerts—she has been playing the piano since she was 9—Paris and its artistic life are a perfect fit.
Caroline
Caroline is an adoptive flâneuse and has been wandering Paris' narrow streets and leafy boulevards since 2003. She holds an undergraduate degree in French and art history with a specialty in 19th-century art and literature, and pursued graduate studies in art history at Paris IV La Sorbonne, writing a thesis on popular imagery and caricature in Revolutionary and Napoleonic Paris. Her research was published in the journal European Comic Art. She also writes exhibition reviews and features. Her writing has been published in Apollo Magazine, the TLS, Condé Nast Traveler and WSJ Magazine.
Marie
After traveling around Australia and America, Marie decided upon return to her home country of France that she wanted to share the richness of French history and culture with others. She now has a degree in cultural heritage from ESTHUA in Angers, France and has also received her French National guiding license. Marie perfected her guiding skills in the Loire Valley of France, specializing in the cultural history of the Châteaux at Blois, Amboise, and Cheverny. She later worked in Normandy, leading walks of the WWII landing beaches and the UNESCO world heritage site of Mont St. Michel. Marie has recently relocated to the city of light and looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm and passion for the "open history book" that is Paris with travelers.
21 Reviews
Laurent amazingly gave us a full tour of the chateau and gardens with detailed, interesting (riveting) information about the kings, lifestyles and history of the chateau. We, unfortunately, had to cut the tour short because of a dinner reservation we had made and he valiantly forged ahead and gave us a terrific tour. We appreciated his enthusiasm, knowledge and storytelling skill. A fantastic afternoon. We would gladly have Laurent as a tour guide again.
Jenny
Aug. 11, 2018
Everything was great. The only thing is the cost. It is a lot of money for the tour, but overall well worth it. Sandra really brought Versailles to life for my son and me.
Alison
Aug. 2, 2018
We had a great tour of Versailles with Thibaud. He customized the tour for our family and everyone enjoyed it. We learned about history as well as present-day life in Paris. Thibaud went out of his way to help us with our return trip home on the metro since several stations were closed in anticipation of World Cup volume. We truly appreciated it!
Ann
Jul. 20, 2018
Tour Experts
All Context Experts are scholars or specialists in their field.
Marie
Read bio
Caroline
Read bio
Marie
Read bio
You May Also Like
