Is Versailles too crowded on Bastille Day?

Roberta.. you aren't going to get a different answer than the one I gave you on your other thread.
I have visited Versailles at least 9 or 10 times now .. and the last 5-6 years its been very busy and very crowded no matter what day I visited in either june, july, august or September. Its just become a huge victim of its own popularity.

If you choose to go then do a few key things to make it less miserable

First.. go with ticket or pass already purchased. You can do this buying online ( on the official Versailles website ) or by booking a tour of the Kings Apartments ( also from official website) or buying purchasing a Paris Museum Pass ( which can be handy to have for sightseeing in Paris also) .
Second go BEFORE it opens.. at least 45-60 minutes before. You then get in security line ( which is unavoidable) the exception is if you purchased a Kings Apartment tour, they have a separate security line and your entry is timed,, so no need to go much ahead.

If you arrive after opening you will stand in that hot rocky courtyard in the blazing sun for at least an hour. Funsy.. plus you will then be in mosh pit of people inside..
If you arrive before opening and are at beginning of line you may actually be able to enjoy walking through the rooms.

Another option that some note to work ( it worked for me just once) is to tour the grounds and other buildings first and don't bother entering palace until later in afternoon.. most bus tours have shoved their heaving masses through by then.

The palace is not air conditioned and you will literally be channeled through rooms elbow to elbow.. it can be most unpleasant if its a warm day.

So in that respect early morning is best bet I think.

Kings apartment tour does let you skip the longer security line.. but once you are done the private apartment tour ( which is only your group so not crowded) you then enter rest of palace and crowds.

Fete National is of course a national holiday .. Versailles will have many locals choosing to picnic on the grounds , not a big deal as the grounds are huge so wont seem too crowded, but I imagine some of them will also visit palace.. so I would not go there on the 14th!

As Janet pointed out, the Louvre is free that day, that's where I would go..

If you go on the Versailles website ( which is huge and a pain to navigate but stick with it) you can find a calendar that outlines busiest times. The entire month of July is marked as high at all times of day. Its just is what it is..

I love the history so I go and hold my nose so to speak.

My parents happened to have a long layover in Paris on Bastille Day a few years ago. They had no idea. They decided to go into the city and do a little exploring before their flight back to the US. My mom talks about it being one of the most magical experiences of her life! She even gets teary when she talks about it. Maybe the fact that they didn't know about the holiday made it more of a pleasant surprise. I'm sure if they had known, they would have waited it out at the airport and missed this great experience.

Paris - YES.. one does not have to be stuck in huge crowds and lines in Paris ..

Versailles.. -NO, you WILL be stuck in huge crowds and lines there.. Bastille day or not.

I love Versailles.. been multiple times.. and it has gotten much much worse last 5-10 years than it ever has been ( and its been busy and popular for decades.. my last non crowded visit was in the 70s.. lol )

Dear Victoria, and VMorris....I am ecstatic ! The stories of your experiences have given me the last bit of info I needed to make a good-as-it-can get decision, and convince me that I should move my trip to Versailles to Thursday, the day before Bastille Day, and not fear that Paris will be "too" crowded, or chaotic (I knew to plan for either Thurs or Fri in V based on Rick’s Paris book). In fact, based on your info, Victoria, I now realize that Bastille Day in Versailles would be even more massive (which was the flip side of the fear coin). I hadn't expected to take the tour, but based on your comments, Victoria, perhaps I should consider it? I always use Rick's guidebooks and audio (where others aren't available) and always felt satisfied that I've seen the most important sights. But perhaps the extra cost of this tour is worth it? Did you feel it was worth the money? In any case, I fully intended to go super early (always an early riser when traveling), but thanks for also mentioning it being non-AC – another incentive to arrive early – and maybe if I feel I want to try it under less “suffocating” conditions, will swing back thru at late afternoon time. It also appears that the Gardens will be an extra cost since it will be a “spectacle day” on Bastile day. A final reason that makes the decision clear: PARIS it is! I’m so grateful to you for helping to make this decision easy for me Thank you!

Ps. About that tour: I had expected to have the Museum Pass as my entry pass that day. Did you take that tour in conjunction with the Museum Pass, or buy it separately online? Thanks again!

Roberta with the museum pass you will have to pay a supplement .. ( and btw.. if you used the pass on Bastille day they would have made you pay a supplement for the gardens as on the fountain days they are not free. and when they are not free they are not included on the Museum pass) . they will be however if you go on the Thursday)

The Kings Apartment tours are special as you will be in a small group touring through parts of the palace not open to the public.. the extra fee is 7 euros.. and you have to book it online ,, on the official Versailles website.

Thank you Pat (and I apologize for previously calling you Victoria, which I see now is where you are from:-)
This is exactly the information I hoped to receive, and I'm so happy I asked. Based on your final comment, I think spending extra to see the Kings Apartment is the way to go!

Best Wishes for your travels in 2017:-)