Places of interest outside the centre
Following the publication of the new guide (2008), these pages are being progressively updated.
We include a pdf file which provides information from the 2008 edition: Outside Peripherique (2008)
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The text below is from the previous edition of the guide.
Versailles
Versailles (Michelin Ile-de-France Guide), Tel: 01.30.84.74.00 or 30.84.76.76. Versailles is the largest and possibly the most magnificent royal palace, built on a truly monumental scale. It has spectacular gardens which are beautifully kept. The town grew up as a result of the presence of the palace, to house the people who served the court, together with civil servants, gardeners and domestic servants. The palace provided the government headquarters for about a century, prior to the Revolution in 1789. The Michelin Ile-de-France Guide has some excellent plans and maps. Versailles provides the basis for one of the recommended itineraries in Access in Paris.
On various Saturdays and Sundays through the summer, there are musical and aquatic entertainments, sometimes with fireworks. These can be spectacular, in the setting of the gardens and artificial lakes. Information on these can be obtained from the Tourist Office, 7 rue de Réservoir, 78000 Versailles, Tel: 01.39.50.36.22.
The palace and gardens are unbelievably huge and it is important not to try to see too much. For this reason, we would advise some planning. You must first decide whether you want to go inside the palace. This is possible as there's a lift inside to the first floor. However, as you will read in the survey, long distances are involved. The staff we spoke to recommended late afternoon as the least crowded time for visiting the palace, as most people have gone home to Paris for dinner. During peak times people with disabilities will have problems manoeuvring amidst the crowds inside. If you have particular interests the staff also suggested ringing to check what parts of the building are open, as renovation regularly results in the closure of certain sections.
If you decide to concentrate principally on the grounds, the gardens and on outside views of the facade, there is a suggested route in the chapter on Recommended itineraries.
If you go by road, take the N185 from porte St Cloud on the boulevard Périphérique.
To get there by train, go by SNCF from Gare St Lazare to Versailles' Gare Rive Droite, rue du Maréchal Foch. You need to buy a ticket from the `Banlieue' ticket booths (24-29), which are opposite the international service desk, roughly in the middle of the station concourse. A regular service leaves from the Banlieue platforms (1-6) and it is a small step with a 20cm gap. Although ramps are meant to be available, there was a distinct absence of station staff to provide you with one. The journey takes about 30 minutes. At Versailles, after a similar -1 from the train, there is a lift (D95 W95 L105) from the end of platforms 3 and 4 down to the ticket hall and street level. From here it is about 1km to the palace itself. Although RER line C also takes you to Versailles, in this case Gare Rive Gauche, it presents serious access problems.
We found two wheelchair loos in the town, both in MacDonalds. One is in the branch in rue du Maréchal Foch, on the right-hand side of the counter. It is signed and unisex (D88 ST110). The other is in the branch opposite Versailles-Rive-Gauche RER line C station, rue Royale (D70+, ST70+).
Parking for the château is outside the main gates, immediately in front of the palace. From the parking area there is some 400m to go, much of it over a rough cobbled surface. The car park is shown on the diagram; car parking is on the left side and coach parking on the right. With a little gentle persuasion we were allowed to park our minibus in the Cour des Princes (Princes' Court), which would be our recommended spot for disabled drivers to use too. There is a real problem with the public parking areas since the car park on the left has a strict 2.1m height restriction with bars over the gates. This means that if you're in a minibus or a car with an elevated roof, you can't get into this space at all. The coach park on the right is strictly (and bureaucratically) for coaches only. As you can see, we managed to get permission to park our minibus inside the grounds, but the `formal' arrangements are not good.
If there are disabled passengers or if the driver is disabled, you are allowed to drive right into the palace courtyard, and get quite close to where you go into the building or through the arches into the gardens. In view of the distances involved, this is a valuable facility. To get there, go up the road between the car and coach parking areas which is initially marked `no entry'. Just before the main gate there are two information points. A gendarme at the gate will undoubtedly want to know what you are doing. However, we found them to be most helpful, and when we explained that we were going to drop off two disabled passengers, they radioed for someone to meet us further up.
To get into the palace, go to entrance H which is off the archway to the right just before the raised part of the courtyard on the right, see diagram. Note that the entire 150m long area in front of the palace is cobbled. There's a wheelchair loo just off Princes' court (D80 ST76), see diagram.
The Palace. At entrance H we found that the staff were helpful and some of them spoke good English. There are wheelchairs available for use. If you require tickets, go next door and join the queue. The only lift (D137 W185 L77) is at entrance H and from here it goes to the first floor.
Because there is only one lift and certain areas are inaccessible for wheelchair users, the choice of exhibits is slightly limited. However, there is an enormous amount to see, especially the more impressive and beautiful exhibits such as the Hall of Mirrors and State Appartments. Certain areas are visited only on a guided tour. Chair users are not normally allowed on these, but we got the impression that with some arm twisting this rule could be bent. Other areas are simply not on public display from time to time. The guided tours and closed areas change from year to year.
Most of the ground and first floors can be reached without steps, but the second is reached only by those with plenty of energy for stair-walking. Fortunately the second floor doesn't offer a great deal to see. Beware the slippery marble staircases, 80% of which have handrails on at least one side.
For food there is a café/restaurant outside the main entrance, which is +1-18-4 with handrails for part of the way. The nearest café in town is a good 500m away. The bookshop with 68cm door is in the Princes' Court near the wheelchair loo.
Versailles Gardens. These are magnificent, especially at certain times of the year, and are free to get into. You can get an idea of their size from the Michelin Ile-de-France Guide which allows three hours for a 'quick' tour. The paths throughout are gravelled and only occasionally uneven. If steps exist, ramps tend to have been provided, although your initiative may be stretched finding some of them. One notable area which isn't ramped is the Orangerie, boasting `great' staircases of one hundred steps. There is a very steep slope from the Water Gardens by the palace to the Apollo Basin by the Grand Canal which may be inaccessible for many chair users, but the atmosphere and view from the upper section surrounding the palace's rear will leave a lasting impression.
A motorised train leaves from the gardens area just through the arch from entrance H and circumnavigates the entire gardens, canal and trianons. There is not enough space to put a wheelchair on to the train but sideways transfer is possible and staff will safeguard your wheelchair until you return. The 'train' is highly recommended.
Grand Trianon. This pavilion is located some 1½km away from the palace whilst still remaining within the confines of the gardens. It has its own small car park and an entrance of +3 steps without handrails. The ground floor is flat, but tiled and rather slippery. Seating and wheelchairs are available. It is -7 to the gardens. There is a wheelchair loo (D70+ ST90) in the men's 150m from the main gates.
Petit Trianon. 300m from the Grand Trianon, this pavilion has an entrance with one step and all the exhibits are on the first floor which is +4+28 with handrails most of the way.
Boats can be hired from the landing stage in the Petite Venise (Little Venice), on the nearest end of the Grand Canal to the palace. You have a choice of rowing boats which are boarded via -2-1 steps without handrails or a trip by motor boat which has -2+1+2+1 with handrails onto the boat and then -3 once on the boat. The Petite Venise area has a snackbar, open grass areas and wheelchair loos (D72 ST76).