We are a party of 3 who want to visit Versaille on Oct 10 this year. I have been following various threads here and on T.A. that recommend the Kings Apt Tour and have been checking the website so I could book. KAT tours currently show availability only through end of August. Is it usual to not go out any further than that? There is an English tour for my date called "Versaille, the Private Side." Does anyone have experience with this tour?
Posted by
3123 posts
I believe they offer different guided tours on different dates, so the King's Apartments might be offered on one day and the Royal Opera House or the Chapel on the next day. I've only taken one of these guided tours -- it happened to be the Chapel on the day we were there -- but I highly recommend them. Our guide was very knowledgeable and her commentary was very clear. She was receptive to questions.
These tours are worth it, IMO, if for no other reason than the convenience of entering the chateau at the guided tour side (on your right and up the stairs as you walk into the courtyard; the general entrance with airport-style security is on your left).
Posted by
OP
Twin Cities, Minnesota
2001 posts
Yes, thank you, my research agrees with you on the value of the Versaille official guided tours. I edited my topic as I am hopiing someone who has been on the Versailles, the Private Side can tell me what it includes. I searched the website and could find no description.
I would also appreciate it if anyone knows why the KAT tour only shows available dates for the next 6 weeks. I'll keep checking the calendar because that is the tour I'd really like to take.
Posted by
Chicago
8556 posts
After August the King's apartment area will be renovated and closed and they are offering 'the private side' in place of that. We just did the KAT and were underwhelmed. Now we have seen a couple of dozen chateaux and I am sure we would have found it more interesting if we hadn't -- but there is nothing all that interesting behind the scenes IMHO. It was not worth the 90 minutes it took although it did allow skipping the horrendous security line and there is a nice area to wait for the tour. I would recommend a timed entry rather than adding this tour on the front end. The timed tickets were not available when we booked so we went ahead and got the KAT tour. The things at Versailles that are truly unique are the public rooms; behind the scenes it looks like every other gilded chateau room in France (or Russia for that matter)
Posted by
OP
Twin Cities, Minnesota
2001 posts
Jane, thank you for this information. This is at least the 2nd time you have been of help to me. I am so disappointed as I really wanted to have a behind the scenes tour. I have been to Versailles at least 3 times over the years, but have never seen any but the public rooms. Looks like the timed entrance is the best option now.