Hi Everyone,
We are planning a day at Versaille later in May. Hopefully the weather is nice and we will be able to pack a picnic (bread, cheese & wine - going French !).
Is there seating available outdoors ? indoors ?
Unfortunately, we old people may be able to sit on the grass but it will be a struggle to get back up again !
I am sure they frown on sitting on the edge of fountains...
Thanks for your help.
On the weekend, someone asked whether they could leave their picnic at a locker or coat check at Versaille, as food and drink isn't permitted to be brought in. Their question has no replies, but it leads me to suggest youread the website further to see whether a picnic from outside is allowed.
It has bee a while since I was there, but there were benches near the boat house on the lake. It can get a bit congested, but a nice break spot between the Chateau grounds and a wander through the trees to Petit Trianon and the further sights.
Your question piqued my interest so I went to the official Versailles website and scrolled down to the very bottom of the page to the (not easy to find on my phone) search box and entered “picnic” and got this as the top response.
https://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/facilities/picnic
I also took a look at the “rules of visit” page and it says that alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the estate.
https://en.chateauversailles.fr/rules-visit#versailles-and-trianon-museum
I’m glad you asked this question. We are planning to bring a picnic, but i hadn’t really thought about what we are allowed to bring in and how it would work. I looked on the website and saw the part about picnics and see there are places you can have one, but not sure if that would be after you walked around the palace and the gardens - would you then leave and go to the park for a picnic? Can you go back in after you have the picnic? I couldn’t quite figure that part our from the website.
Further into that website link it states that food and drink are not allowed in the Chateau or the Petit Trianon. https://en.chateauversailles.fr/rules-visit#versailles-and-trianon-museum
TripAdvisor forum (Paris, or Versailles...or both) with local's knowledge may help where the website doesn't.
As grounds are free and there is an entrance near the luggage check directly to the gardens, it would seem that you can visit the chateau, exit, get your picnic (pack it in a regular backpack so it just looks like luggage) and re-enter the gardens. But I might consider a reverse strategy. Pack only the amount you can consume. Enter the gardens, have your picnic, disgard trash and then take your time Chateau tour. No need for a luggage check stop.
Thanks everyone for your insight and information.
I guess we will have to go with Plan B and save our picnic for another day and another location.
You cannot picnic in the gardens and food is not allowed in the Palace. You can picnic on the grounds e.g. down around the canal. I do not remember seeing picnic tables in that area; we have gotten snacks and ice cream there but sat on the ground near the canal. I vaguely remember that there were a very few benches here and there but it was never enough to give us a seat.
