Versailles...visualize this...this should make you all smile

Gee it's too bad about your experience, but I have known the Hall of Mirrors was under construction for a couple of years. Several websites have mentioned it, and I believe the official one for the Palace had this information. I informed friends who were going to Paris during the renovation to not go there. I also knew when it re-opened recently - have to keep on top of things!

ahhh thanks BG,

i'm not a newbie traveler I do my homework thoroughly and I certainly keep on top of these things....

this experience was 4 years ago and I can assure you at that time no one said the actual Hall of Mirrors was under renovation. Not even at the ticket counter, not on the website and not in Rick Steves book

AND yes I heard it was all put back together....It reopened in 2007 after undergoing a 3 year renovation..perhaps they tore the Hall of Mirrors apart earlier in 2004 than they expected and failed to notify all channels!

OK -- I heard about the renovations after 2004, for sure. Must have been an emergency thing!?

whatever it was...the hall was horrible...

The exact date escapes me, but it would have been between May 1 and May 8

it's not like I wont ever go back, but I thought it was interesting to share the story as you just never know...

it's all about going with the flow anyway, our 45 days had only a 2 or 3 glitches and Versaille was one of them!!!

I was at Versailles in August 05, and July 07, and both times the hall of mirrors had some tarping and scaffolding up,, but I could still clearly see enough of the hall to imagine how grand it was, frankly it was the "sea of heads" that ruined the view more then anything else, and there is nothing one could do about that.

Anyways, I didn't just go for one thing, I went for the whole experience, and , it was my third and fourth time , LOL.

I also ended up at St Chapelle when the altar and altar wall was completely covered, shame, but it didn't ruin my visit.

I do agree that going to Versailles is nicest May- Sept ,. when gardens look their best and weather is decent.

The Hall of Mirrors was partially covered when we were there in June 2006, but we felt the visit was still really worth it. Just seeing the opulence, and hearing "the story" again was worth the price. And if going inside isn't your thing, the walk out to the farm is worth your time....even in 90+ degrees! We had also read Rick's tip about buying our tickets into the palace at the train station...it was cheaper, and we got to go in a side entrance, and avoid the blocks long tickets line at the palace.

The Hall of Mirrors was unavailable for viewing in July 2006 also. But that wasn't the most memorable part of the visit on a very, very hot day. Evidently all of the bathrooms were out of order. Did I say "all?" Wait, I misspoke...there was an operating WC at the food service kiosk/cafe a frog march away from the chateau. With some VERY long lines of people assuming frantic visages.

Sans context, I will say this..if you are ever at Versailles especially on a hot day, take advantage of the golf carts. You can't possibly cover very much of the substantial property without one, and if you have kids it's a fun thing to do.

On the subject of "renovation", nothing can top Rome in summer of 2007. The entire city was covered with scaffolding. Meh.

We had a similar experience in August 2005, BUT we knew ahead of time, I don't remember now where we got teh information. We did not now that the fountains only work on certain days. Renovations happen all over Europe. It is better that they do that than let history decay. They do not knock buildings down and replace them with concrete and glass like we do in North America.

On teh same trip we found the astronomical clock in Prague, St. Stephens in Vienna, the clock tower in Venice and I am sure other places, all under the wrap of renovations. As rick says, plan to return!

Iain

This happened to me also! I was there in April of 2004. the morning we went we waited 2 hours outside Versailles in line-- there was an electricity strike. My friend and I almost gave up but right before we left they let everyone in. I was very disappointed that we didn't get to see the Hall of Mirrors in full glory... ugly floors... extension cords....
And then to top it off we were told that our pass didn't allow us to enter the gardens. We were on a very tight budget and couldn't afford to pay extra to get in, so all in all, it was a disappointing trip!