Five things to see in Versailles (besides the Palace)

On this week’s podcast, we have ventured beyond the borders of Paris to the town of Versailles. Don’t be fooled by the pomp and luxury of the famous royal palace, there’s so much more that meets the eye to Versailles. We travelled, by train from central Paris, with Bertrand d’Aleman, from My Private Paris, and his passion for the town is infectious, as you will hear in the episode below.

Bertrand’s top tip for a Versailles trip? Don’t only visit the palace and immediately return to Paris. Instead, make a day of exploring the town, with all it has to offer. And when you do, here’s what to see.

1) The covered markets of Versailles

The market of Notre Dame in Versailles has been serving fresh, local produce for over 300 years. In any of the four indoor markets, you’ll find delicious cheese, bread, fruit and vegetables. For double the culinary delights, try to go on a Tuesday, Friday or Sunday and enjoy the outdoor market, which sets up in the square, come rain or shine.

2) Eating and drinking in Versailles

Versailles has a fantastic gastronomic culture with a distinctly royal atmosphere. There’s a lot to be said for making the short journey (either by car or train) to have a memorable meal, at a price lower than you would pay in Paris. Here are some places worth the effort of visiting:

Pierre Hermé Café – both a restaurant for lunch and tearoom for an afternoon pick-me-up (pictured below).

La Table du Onze – spend a luxurious evening of fine-dining at this Michelin-starred restaurant, situated at the gates of the Palace of Versailles.

Alain Ducasse at Le Grand Contrôle – break the bank with their spectacular brunch or afternoon tea à la Marie-Antoinette, within the grounds of the royal palace.

3) Architecture of Versailles

Once a small country hamlet, the arrival of the royal residence and court meant that Versailles was the capital of France for around a century. The architecture of the town more than reflects that, with an imposing cathedral and austere hôtels particuliers, seemingly around every corner. Taking advantage of the vast array of historical sites on offer, we visited the famous Salle du Jeu de Paume (where the French Revolution officially kicked off), the Cathedral Saint-Louis and the church of Notre-Dame, designed by the famous Mansart architectural family.

4) Browse the antiques in Versailles

No royal town would be complete without an impressive antiques market, and Versailles does not disappoint. Nestled between the palace and the market square is the picturesque antiquarian quarter, which is pretty enough to visit in its own right, even if your budget doesn’t stretch to purchasing a Napoleonic-era ceremonial sabre.

5) The estate of Versailles

If visiting the Palace of Versailles is non-negotiable, remember that the famous building represents merely a fraction of what you can discover on the estate. Manicured gardens, fountains, a grand canal, vast parklands, it really does go on and on. Though it is too much to explore on foot, we recommend visiting on bikes or horseback, which can be organised My Private Paris too.

That’s us signing off for this week. With recommendations like these, here’s hoping your next day trip to Versailles will be a success.

This season of The Earful Tower is brought to you by the award-winning travel company My Private Paris, which specialises in tours in Paris, day trips outside Paris, and travel itineraries. See what they offer here. Specifically, here’s their Versailles full day tour.

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