What if I never go to Versailles?

So what if you don't? It's your vacation, and it's your life. No reason not to seek out the experiences that are most interesting and rewarding to you, and feel free to skip the ones that aren't.

I've lived in Paris for 20 years and made my only visit to Versailles the first year I was here to see the Hall of Mirrors because of the Bismark connection At that time there were no crowds, no wait, no problems of any type. I have had no desire to go back. Splendor is not my thing. For a palace or castle experience you could go to Malmaison, or to the Bois de Vincennes to see the Parc Floral and the chateau. Both are pretty much off the Tourist Trail.

There is no such thing as a "must see." Everyone should do and see what interests them. And it isn't about how great or important Versailles is (or isn't), but whether it is something that is worth your time and effort.

If you aren't crazy about palaces don't go. It's at least a half day tour that you could use doing something else. Log into YouTube and follow someone's trip. Probably would be good enough for you.

. So what if I never visit Versailles???

Then you never visit Versailles. You said yourself that you aren't that interested in palaces. Life is too short to waste it on doing things that hold no interest or excitement for you. Do what YOU want to do!

I've been to Versailles twice. The second time was only because DH hadn't seen it before. Frankly, I've been to a lot of other palaces with big gardens that I liked a lot more. And the crowds were a huge turn off (for me). Unless you're really excited about seeing it, save yourself the aggravation.

I went 2 times - once in the winter and once in the summer.
Then, I didn't feel the need to go again.

I went once in 2000 and it was crowded then off-season, in March. It was amazing and I'm glad I went once. But to go in August with the heaving masses is not at all appealing to me. If I were you, I would go another time when it is shoulder season, March - April or Sept - October, or even winter. The heat of August would be overwhelming for me.
Someone else has suggested other palaces that are lovely and not packed with tourists.

I did a RS Paris city tour a few years ago (it was great) and skipped Versailles day. It was toward the end of the trip and I needed a rest. Just lounged around, read a book, sat in a cafe all day. Best possible decision for me.

You bring up an excellent point - many of these monuments are filled with people visiting because they think they have to! I'd get a lot more accomplished on each trip to the Louvre if only people interested in art went. Versailles is beautiful and it is interesting culturally and historically, but if that's not your tasse de thé, do what you enjoy.

I've been twice...once on my first visit to Paris in 1973, hahaha, then on the Best of Paris tour in 2014. Both times it was hot as heck in the Palace (first time mid-August, second time mid-Sept) and I was squished like a sardine. In one room the guide on the Paris tour suddenly said into our whisper set ear pieces, watch your purses, the guard just told me there are pickpockets working in this room. Yikes (and why couldn't the guard stop them??).

To me the most interesting part was out in the Petit Trianon and Hamlet area. I really enjoyed the outdoor portion and might consider going back there again.

Inside the palace? Nope....

If YOU feel like this is a critical part of your European education, then go. Otherwise, don't feel bad about skipping. I got to Chantilly last Fall and really enjoyed it. Not nearly as opulent but so much more interesting!

"Am I missing an essential part of my European experiences?"

No, you are not.

You will be part of the 99% of the people on the planet who have not been there. If that kind of place is not of real interest to you, just skip it and go do what you enjoy. The earth will keep rotating.

I cant imagine thinking anyone should see anything they don't want to see.. I personally will never go to see the Picasso museum as I hate his stuff.. and I don't feel I am missing a darn thing..

I love Versailles.. its the history.. and I have been many times.. but I absolutely think you should skip it.. you don't sound the least bit interested so why deal with crowds and travel for that? I sure as heck wouldn't !!

I rather enjoyed visiting Versailles but it was very crowded indoors during the last week of October 2016. It was a spectacular day weather-wise so walking and investigating outdoors was particularly memorable. But I certainly wouldn't consider it essential for everyone. Visit only if the history and art of that period interests you.

There was also a stunning Giacometti-Picasso exhibit at the Picasso Museum at the time so I was glad that we visited there. I was happy to see a number of works by artists Picasso appreciated....paintings by Cezanne and Matisse for instance. Some of my photographs I took looking out from the museum onto the rooftops nearby received many compliments.

So there you are. It's unanimous ...... we approve of you not going to Versailles. We even approve of you not being interested. Have a nice Paris visit doing what you enjoy.

Last time we went in 1989 and it was jam packed inside the chateau. Can't imagine what it's like now.

Yeah, we're going again but our main emphasis will be the gardens as we like to walk. Also the Marie Antoinette area...

I’ve been to Paris three times and still haven’t been to Versailles. I don’t feel I’ve missed much.

No, you will not miss an essential part of your European experience. After all is said and done, what really is essential? Doing what you enjoy. When given the option, why do anything that doesn't please you. As another pointed out, the world will still go on. It won't make a bit of difference a hundred or even fifty years from now. You have my permission (not that you need it) to skip Versailles and do something else or nothing at all instead.

If you ever go to Madrid, I like the Royal Palace there better.

Pat, so funny you mentioned the Picasso museum. I was near the Paris Picasso museum a few years ago, museum pass in hand, with some extra time. I don't really like his work much but I thought...why not, it's free. The things I enjoyed most were his personal items such as the charming postcard to someone (a child maybe??) also signed by Monet, Rodin, Renoir, Victor Hugo and others. To think of all those men sitting around signing a post card just made me smile!

So...I could easily have managed the rest of my life without having gone in but it provides me with a Midnight in Paris smile moment from time to time.

I have been to Paris several times. My only visit to Versailles was on my first trip - it was one of those" ten countries in a month" bus tours and I was a teenager traveling with my mother. All I could think about when I was there was that people in Paris were starving while Louis was eating off gold plates and his queen was playing milkmaid. I have never had any desire to visit the place again

For a touch of gilt without so much attached guilt, Opera Garnier is an interesting site.

So what if I never visit Versailles??? Am I missing an essential part of my European experiences? Input please!

I think you will live! I've been to London 10+ times plus went to university for one semester at UCL and have never seen Buckingham Palace. I've been as close as Hyde Park Corner and even St. James's park but still never walked a hundred meters or so to the Mall to even look down the street. I guess I'm still waiting for my official invitation.

I guess I can also say the same thing about the entire city of Paris. I've only been once almost 20 years ago even though I'm often in France for work. It's just one of those places where I always seem to just miss visiting.

"All I could think about when I was there was that people in Paris were starving while Louis was eating off gold plates and his queen was playing milkmaid. I have never had any desire to visit the place again/"

Exactly

"All I could think about when I was there was that people in Paris were starving while Louis was eating off gold plates and his queen was playing milkmaid. I have never had any desire to visit the place again/"

If that bothers you, best not plan to visit the White House either then.

I often say travel is like art. What appeals to one person might not appeal to another.....nothing wrong with that. We may not like a certain piece of art today, but 10 years from now, it might appeal to us. So it is with travel.

Re: Versailles, the part that we enjoyed the most was the Hamlet Gardens, and interestingly that is where the Queen went to escape the palace...it was her special hamlet. So, don't feel bad about not being attracted to the palace itself. I toured it, and I found the stories interesting of what life was like, but again, the Hamlet garden tugged at my heart. The main gardens and fountains were grand, but I did not feel as embraced there.

It gladdens my heart to see this stream of support for you to travel your own way. And IMO that includes visiting Versailles if it's really bothering you that you haven't done so until now. But I'd agree that you'll suffer no lasting - or even noticeable - harm from skipping Versailles and doing things that make you happy.

I will never see Machu Pichu. But I have seen Angkor Wat and climbed its central structure; I have seen. Xian and the warriors; I have seen Chichen Itza and Uxmal and the four corners cliff dwellings and the Ardeche etc etc etc. You can't do it all. Versailles is one of those places on the list for many people, but the world is full of wonderful things.

I would not these days visit the chateau at Versailles because of the extreme crowd mismanagement; I know it would be a misery for me (and luckily I did see it 25 years ago). But the gardens are lovely especially on fountain days and it stuns me that people whine about paying a few Euros to see the fountains in operation; the cost to maintain and to pump water to the fountains is staggering; they don't stand up to use every day; I felt it was money well spent to see them in operation:
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2016/02/15/fountains-of-versailles-a-little-chaos/

Thanks all for your input. I think my decision is made.

You asked a very good question. I'd say that you're not missing a must see experience UNLESS it's something that's so vitally important to you that you've spent ages thinking about it, planning for it & mourning previously lost opportunities.

I haven't even made it to Paris yet except to change planes. You're way ahead of me in that respect.

My thought is that if you want/need to see it - then go. If not, then bypass this site in favor of something which speaks more deeply to you.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!!!

One other point about Versailles: The Hall of Mirrors. Many have heard of this very famous place, and probably have a firm mental picture of a vast hall with thousands of mirrors.

Reality: It is a much smaller place than I had envisioned. In fact, it was really small. The "wonder" of this hall was that when it was built, the mirror with mercury under glass was new. Thus, even the small "Hall of Mirrors" was a wonder. To the 20th century eye, it's just not that overwhelming.

It gave me a historical view of reality, true.

I enjoyed Versailles, but probably not as much as many. Seeing when Louis XIV went to the toilet did not change my view of history.

I'm also 70, and I'm possibly the only tourist in the world who didn't much like Versailles. It was hot, the crushed limestone walkways are dirty, and the interior is not nearly as interesting as, say, a good English castle or a large cathedral. If you want to see a lot of gold stuff visit the Paris Opera, which I personally found much more interesting and a lot less trouble to visit. YMMV but I suggest you just give Versailles a miss.

Am I missing an essential part of my European experiences? Input
please!

Nope. I had no use for Versailles. So much of what you see are reproductions too.

My wife and I have visited a number of castles/palaces. We often do not tour the mansion. We have been to the Schönbrun, and merely toured the gardens, which are pretty amazing and extensive. Looking at the toilet of a king is not that much of interest to us.

What if I never go to Versailles? I'm pretty sure Marie Antoinette had a similar thought. ;-)

It wasn't the relatively small charge I complain about on fountain days as much as the disappointment (especially after seeing the fountains at Peterhof, in St. Petersburg).

If you want to avoid crowds, maybe there will be rain in the forecast one day during your visit? I was there a couple Septembers ago. Rain was forecast but barely materialized. The crowd was tiny even though it was a fountain day.

Personally, I'm much more interested in older sights. I'm fascinated with the history (personal stories, battles, alliances, etc.) from when France was forming a nation than I am about all the excesses in the days of wealth and power that followed.