Grand Trianon, Versailles (must see)
Grand Trianon stands in splendour in its own park on the north-west part of Versailles and is one of the most visited of all Versailles’ beautiful buildings.
It stands on what was once the small hamlet of Trianon, which was annexed by King Louis 14th in 1668. He commissioned Louis le Vau to build a porcelain palace which he could use as a retreat for himself and his mistress Madame de Montespan.
The palace had a blue and white ceramic façade which began to look a bit tatty after a few years and in 1687 the king had it pulled down for a new, much larger building to be erected in its place.
This commission was given to architect Jules Hardouin Mansart, who built the palace you can visit today. The red marble, single storey building was finished in 1688 and the king used it as a summer residence, holding dinner parties there for personal friends.
During the reigns of Louis 15th and 16th the palace was used to house members of the royal family and visiting dignitaries. In 1708, a large wing was added to house the members of the royal family of Orleans.
During the French Revolution it became dilapidated, but was restored under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte and he often stayed here with his second wife. The furnishings you will see today date back to when he lived there.
It stands on what was once the small hamlet of Trianon, which was annexed by King Louis 14th in 1668. He commissioned Louis le Vau to build a porcelain palace which he could use as a retreat for himself and his mistress Madame de Montespan.
The palace had a blue and white ceramic façade which began to look a bit tatty after a few years and in 1687 the king had it pulled down for a new, much larger building to be erected in its place.
This commission was given to architect Jules Hardouin Mansart, who built the palace you can visit today. The red marble, single storey building was finished in 1688 and the king used it as a summer residence, holding dinner parties there for personal friends.
During the reigns of Louis 15th and 16th the palace was used to house members of the royal family and visiting dignitaries. In 1708, a large wing was added to house the members of the royal family of Orleans.
During the French Revolution it became dilapidated, but was restored under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte and he often stayed here with his second wife. The furnishings you will see today date back to when he lived there.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Versailles. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Grand Trianon on Map
Sight Name: Grand Trianon
Sight Location: Versailles, France (See walking tours in Versailles)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Versailles, France (See walking tours in Versailles)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Versailles, France
Create Your Own Walk in Versailles
Creating your own self-guided walk in Versailles is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Versailles Garden Fountains Tour
Besides its many wonderful plants and trees landscaped into amazing patterns, the gardens at the Royal Palace of Versailles have another key ingredient: water. The marvelous fountains and other fantastic water features here only serve to underline the magnificent beauty of the whole complex. Take our tour to see the best water features in the royal gardens.
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 10.1 Km or 6.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 10.1 Km or 6.3 Miles
Versailles Introduction Walking Tour
Situated on the southwest outskirts of Paris, Versailles is a small city famed for housing the opulent residence of French royalty, the Palace of Versailles. The latter is, by far, Versailles' main attraction, complete with its Hall of Mirrors, Grand Apartments and the Royal Chapel, as well as the spacious formal gardens adorned with fountains and sculptures. Another major attraction is the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles