Versailles selfie sticks

Ben, I understand your point, but Versailles has a great many guards all over the place as well as putting all visitors through airport-like security. If they were serious about a ban, they'd address it at the security station by either making people check the sticks to be retrieved later, or at least verbally informing visitors coming in with selfie sticks "you cannot use this inside the building."

We witnessed a photographer and model being escorted out because (apparently) they were trying to do a professional photo shoot while making it look like they were just taking casual snapshots of the woman -- who was obviously a fashion model.

"We're dealing with narcissists here"

..or people with short arms! The four pictures I took of my husband and I while in London a few years ago consisted of the top of his head and my left eye and the monument in the background (sometimes...or the sky). We are not the kind to stand there and get the perfect picture by taking multiple pictures then checking it out and retaking, snap and go! The selfie stick (aka Monopod) has been around for a while and I WISH I had it last trip so we could actually take pictures together otherwise its tons of just me and none of us together...looks like I went on the trip alone.

Letizia, I totally get it. My arms are short too. The selfies I've attempted usually go right into the "delete" bin as soon as I view them on the camera. And my husband is the world's worst photographer.

Therefore, when we travel part of the fun is asking other tourists to photograph us in front of whatever landmark we're visiting. Some come out great, some so-so, but it's a nice social interaction.

That said, I can appreciate the value of a selfie stick at certain times & places. Inside an extremely crowded place like the Versailles chateau does not strike me as one of those places.

Agreed! I am visualizing more outdoor areas....I would think it downright dangerous in a crowded place to be swinging a selfie stick around.

Hi Epl, they're everywhere. We visited Versailles in May and encountered many, many people using selfie sticks. I wasn't aware of the ban but it didn't appear that anyone else was either. The one I remember the most was a 20-something guy on the top of the Aiguille du Midi. He was taking a photo of himself against the blank wall of the gift shop. I motioned for him to turn around... and at least get the breathtaking view of the mountains in the background.

Aka " selfish sticks"

Letizia -- my camera view screen flips up so I can pose the shot while it counts down 3 seconds -- if you must take selfies, get one of those -- the Sony R100X if one of the cameras that does this.

But I have a dozen great shots of my husband and me at various historic spots in Austria, Czech Republic and Russia over the past couple of weeks and I got them by just handing my camera to a nearby tourist and having them make the shots. Our Christmas card is in there somewhere. And I of course return the favor.

It's been a year or so since I was last at Versailles, but I don't remember any selfie sticks at that time. However, on my recent trip to Europe they were being used all over, regardless of country. The selfie-stick vendors were everywhere. What an annoying situation!

We were there in july. I think selfie sticks were banned in Hall of mirrors and one other room. I think they are one of those things you either love or hate. I am firmly in the hate camp. It didn't make much difference, it was shoulder to shoulder anyway. I also noticed Stonehenge had signs saying no selfie sticks on the viewing platforms.

Well, thank goodness if they are at least banned in the Hall of Mirrors and one other room! The Hall of Mirrors being lined with statuary, it's hard to imagine the statues being safe from getting hit by the back of people's cameras when they are so busy staring at themselves in the viewfinder that they ignore what's on the other side of the apparatus.