Ten ways to see Versailles differently
By the Cocobiches team · 8 min read · 12 September 2025
Versailles is not only the Hall of Mirrors. It is a living, cultured city full of corners that millions of annual visitors never see. We work here; we live here. Here are ten ways to discover it differently.
1. The Park groves
The Grandes Eaux draw crowds. But on weekdays, off-season, the Colonnade grove, the Three Fountains or Encelade are almost empty. Enter through a side gate and get ready to lose yourself.
2. The King's Kitchen Garden
Created by La Quintinie for Louis XIV, this 9-hectare garden trains horticulture students and sells produce to the public. A little-known treasure, five minutes' walk from the Palace.
3. Rowing on the Grand Canal
Rent a boat for an hour, bring a snack, and paddle along the royal axis. View of the Palace, silence, herons. Unforgettable, especially late in the day.
4. Notre-Dame market
Three covered halls, fresh produce, cheese, flowers, pastries. Saturday morning is the beating heart of the city. Have coffee at Moreau and watch the scene.
5. The Queen's Hamlet
Still on the estate, yet most visitors skip it. Marie-Antoinette escaped court life here. Farm, mill, stream—a bubble out of time.
6. Saint-Louis Cathedral
Smaller than Notre-Dame, more intimate. The listed organ is worth the trip. Free concerts are held regularly.
7. Montreuil district
South of the Palace, this is Versailles for locals. Quiet streets, art galleries, neighbourhood bakeries. Allow an hour to wander.
8. Lambinet Museum
A small 18th-century townhouse telling the city's story around the Palace. A few rooms only, but remarkable.
9. The Jeu de Paume room
Yes—the oath room. Restored, open to the public, metres from our namesake hotel. Free, moving, not to be missed.
10. Versailles Park by bike
Rent at the Swiss Water feature. Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, Hamlet, Canal in one afternoon. Guaranteed change of scenery.
Our tip
Alternate the grand (Palace, Hall of Mirrors) with the small (groves, markets). Versailles is best savoured over time. Two nights with us let you do all this without rushing.
