VERSAILLES BIKE GUIDED TOUR DESCRIPTION
Le Chateau de Versailles awaits you in all its grandeur as you return to the time period of the most famous French kings and queens. This tour will certainly be a highlight of your time in the Paris area as we explore more of the 2,000+ acres of royal property than you would ever be able to see on your own.
After meeting at our Paris office, we'll walk to the nearest RER station for the quick train trip to Versailles. Once at Versailles, we will grab your beach cruisers and head to the village market to buy baguettes, cheese, ham, wine or whatever you desire for our picnic later in the Chateaus' gardens. We will then spend most of our day riding through the tree-lined gardens and near the Grand Canal. The average Versailles tourist doesn't realize that they can only visit a small fraction of the gardens on foot. We'll see it all!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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Versailles Open Market - Our first stop at Versailles will be at the world-famous market to shop for our picnic supplies. Stock up on fruit, cheese, meats, wine and, of course, pastries. Be sure to bring your appetite and a corkscrew.
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Grand & Petit Trianons - Built by Kings Louis XIV and XV respectively, they offer a fantastic view into the original Versailles. Each is located in the exterior gardens, away from the Chateau. Charles de Gaulle had an office in the Grand Trianon after World War II.
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Picnic along the Grand Canal — We settle down at the far end of the Grand Canal for the best picnic of your life. Typically everyone buys a little too much of something and it becomes a feast for all.
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The Chateau - Located some 20 kilometers southwest of Paris, it was originally the royal hunting lodge. King Louis XIV moved his court officially to Versailles in 1682 and it became the seat of the French government and monarchy. The Château housed the royal family until 1789 when Revolutionaries forced them to return to Paris.
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Hall of Mirrors - Used by King Louis XIV as the place to welcome important guests (and also for opulent parties). Try to imagine walking the length of the Hall with servants lining both sides and King Louis himself sitting in a chair at the far end. Also the site of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 that officially ended World War I.
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Chateau Gardens - The world-famous gardens are alone worth the trip. We spend most of our day in the outer gardens and along the Grand Canal. These are only enjoyed on a bicycle and are virtually impossible to see on foot. Our guests typically enjoy the gardens even more than the Chateau itself.
• Your tour meets at our office located at 24, rue Edgar Faure, 75015 Paris.
• The closest Métro station is Dupleix (line 6).
