We’ve come to the final day of our Gate 1 Travel 14 Day Tulip Time River Cruise with Paris.
As you have probably noticed, it’s been a pretty amazing trip filled with good food and incredible sights. Keukenhof Garden was absolutely the highlight.
True Confession:
For us, the additional trip to Paris was a little lacking.Â
We really enjoyed the Pullman Hotel Montparnasse. The hotel was comfortable, the breakfast buffet was delicious, and it was conveniently located near many dining and sightseeing options.
However, there was nothing else really included in the nearly three days there beyond the stops at the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, and a quick driving tour of the city.
We even opted for the Palace of Versailles tour, which is where we spent our last day in Paris.
Our Optional Palace of Versailles Tour
The optional Palace of Versailles tour was nearly $100 each; it was a four-and-a-half-hour tour, which included the 45-minute bus ride to Versailles and back, tickets, and VIP access.
We felt like we waited a long time while people took bathroom breaks upon arrival, but now you really need to use the facilities before entering the palace.
We also waited a good bit at the end of the day for people to finish in the bathrooms and shopping, to gather and board the buses.
And it also seemed like every large group had VIP Access.
We know this is all part of group tour travel, but we just want people to know what to expect before booking this option.
And don’t get us wrong: the Palace of Versailles is STUNNING and worth seeing. But there may be better options.
A Better Option
The Pullman Hotel Montparnasse is right around the corner from Gare Montparnasse, the local Versailles-Chantiers station. From there, you can take a train directly to Versailles train station, which takes about 26 minutes. From there, you have a 20-ish-minute taxi ride to the palace.Â
The cost is about €3-5, and the train runs about every fifteen minutes.
Additionally, if you are coming from other parts of Paris, you can take other trains that would get you to the Versailles Rive-Gauche station, which is even closer.
We’ve seen ‘Skip-the-line “tours of the palace and gardens on various sites for about $80 US. This would allow you to spend as much or as little time in the gardens and palace as you like after the guided portion of the tour, without feeling rushed.
Just a thought.
Versailles
Who knew that Versailles was more than just a palace?
I guess we didn’t. Versailles is known for its wealth and for being the seat of French political power because of the palace.
However, the town is known for its 18th-century architecture, local markets, and elegant streets that once housed the royal courts, military personnel, and service staff.
So be sure to take in the views before you get to the palace or spend a little time strolling on your own if your schedule allows.
The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles served as the principal residence for King Louis XIV, King Louis XV, and King Louis XVI. It is an incredible example of French Baroque architecture.
It is probably best known for the Hall of Mirrors, its incredible geometric formal gardens, and the monarchy’s lavish lifestyle before the French Revolution.
The entire estate has over 2,300 rooms spread across nearly 63,000 square meters, or about 15.5 acres.
You could spend all day there and not see everything!
The Sun King
Originally built as a hunting lodge by King Louis XIII, the palace was expanded by his son, King Louis XIV, the Sun King, in 1662, who moved the entire French court and government there. Making Versailles the model for royal residences across Europe.
The Gardens of VersaillesÂ
The gardens feature exquisite formal gardens, fountains, groves, a Grand Canal, and over 400 statues.
Most of our views were from the palace terraces, wandering down to the fountain, and looking out over the expansive property. Even at this distance, it was magical!
Inside the Palace of Versailles
Everything, from the golden front gates to each apartment, was exquisite. Opulence was the word of the day. It’s no wonder it caused a revolution.
The Hercules Room
The Hercules Room was built under Louis XV and is the start of the series of ceremonial rooms. It is decorated with marble and Corinthian columns. The painted ceiling depicts the Apotheosis of Hercules, and the room is also famous for the painting “Meal at the House of Simon by Veronese.Â
Fun Fact
The Hercules Room can be rented on Mondays and accommodates 150 people for a seated dinner or 250 for cocktails
The Royal Chapel
Built between 1689 and 1710. Every morning the court would assemble here for the King’s mass.Â
Unfortunately, we never made it to the lower main level, but the view from the balcony was amazing.
The Hall of Mirrors
Yes, the Hall of Mirrors needs its own section. This room was the ultimate symbol of King Louis XIV’s absolute power.
The Baroque-style hall stretches 73 meters and is lined with mirrors and chandeliers. The hall contains 357 mirrors positioned opposite 17 massive windows to reflect the gardens outside.
Originally, the space occupied by the Hall of Mirrors was a terrace overlooking the gardens.
It was the main gallery for hosting foreign ambassadors and was the center of court life. It is probably best known as the site of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I.
Fun Fact
The Hall of Mirrors has 43 of these enormous chandeliers!
Our Last Dinner in Paris
Returning from an afternoon in Versailles, we decided we really needed to chill. We grabbed a couple of takeout sandwiches. The Pullman Hotel Montparnasse has a wonderful Grab and Go in the lobby, and a few sandwiches hit the spot.
However, the previous night we made sure to grab something sweet at a neighborhood patisserie. Mark went with Mango and Chuck, with Chocolate. A sweet way to end our time in Paris.
The End Of Our Tulip Time Adventure!
As we mentioned previously, this was our second Gate 1 Travel River Cruise. From our days on our own in Amsterdam pre-tour, to the MS Monarch Queen, all of the cities in the Netherlands and Belgium, to the post-cruise time in Paris, we had a BLAST.
Keukenhof Garden was the reason this trip was on our bucket list and did not disappoint.
Neither of us is really ‘museum people,’ but our time in Paris solidified that we’ll probably make a return trip to explore more. The three days at the end of this trip gave us just enough of a taste to make us want to return.
But now we’re venturing out on our own! Next up, a few days at Disneyland Paris!
