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Hello there! I'm a young francophile who loves to wander around tiny towns as well as giant cities. I try to be a visitor instead of a tourist. On trips to unknown places, I let towns unravel themselves before my eyes. Oftentimes, they have more to say than what's in my guide book. Specialties: Searching French train schedules. Taking the wrong train, leaving me five hours away from my intended destination. Convincing train conductors to let me board trains even though I don't have reservations. Loving Aix-en-Provence. Saving money in Paris. Appreciating London's contributions to Western culture in 20 hours. If you have any questions about France or trains, feel free to post a thread or send a message to politicslovr on the SU Forums.

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Beyond Paris - Part I

March 1st, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

Everyone knows about Paris. Are you aware of everything else France has to offer? Show the rest of the country a little love on your next trip to Europe. Visit countless cathedrals. Climb castle towers even though a sign tells you not to in six languages. Roam through an aristocrat’s centuries-old palace.

This is an ongoing series. Look for the tag “Beyond Paris.” The cities/towns will be roughly organized by distance from Paris, starting with the closest. The Région names are in parentheses.

Versailles (Ile-de-France)

Louis XIV’s humble dwelling.
Getting there: In Paris, connect the the RER line C. Take the RER train line C5 to Versailles - Rive Gauche.
Enjoying it: Consider renting a bike for an hour (about 6E). Ask someone in a uniform for details. *vocab - je voudrais louer un vélo = je voodray loo-way uhn vay-low
Upside: Picturesque and beautiful.
Downside: Giant crowds and long lines.
How long should you stay?: Allow a full day for the gardens and chateau. The gardens themselves can be seen in an afternoon.
What it looks like:

The gardens and palace of Versailles

Here is some practical information on the Chateau de Versailles from its official website. Print out your own personal map (PDF) of the grounds.

Consider the Versailles Recreation Pass (19.20E), which includes full admission to the palace + round trip RER tickets + shorter line. It is sold at rail stations in Paris (métro stations named Gare ___).

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