Versailles trip?

Ok, last question%26#39;s for today...lol.

I will be doing a trip to the Chateau de Versailles.

From what i have read, i can get on the RER at the Musee d%26#39;Orsay station where i will be close to on the day.

I can then buy a return ticket to Versailles once inside the station.

I can then return later in the day when i am done at Versailles.

Assuming all the above are true, my other questions are...

Is it as i assume best to get there as soon as it opens to avoid the crowds?

How far is it to the Chateau once you depart the train station?

Is it worth paying the extra to visit the gardens?

Can you take photograph%26#39;s inside the Chateau?

Cheers.

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I can help you with some of your questions:

Q. Is it as i assume best to get there as soon as it opens to avoid the crowds?

A. Yes

Q. How far is it to the Chateau once you depart the train station?

A. It%26#39;s about a 10 or 15-minute walk from the train station to the chateau entrance.

Q. Can you take photograph%26#39;s inside the Chateau?

A. Yes

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Thankyou pixfield.

Thats a great help.

I know most of my questions are obvious.

But when you have never done them before, and your in a foreign country, its best to get as much help and info as you can to make things easier once your there.

Cheers.

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The best part of your visit would be the gardens but a word of warning you better like walking as it can take up to 3 hours walking about all the gardens and the musical waterfalls the Chateau visit can be very crowded and you can take photos anywhere if you do go early bring a lunch with you and plenty to drink as it can be hot.

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The gardens are the best part of Versailles in my opinion and your trip won%26#39;t be complete without taking a nice walk through them. As the previous poster said, there is a LOT of waking involved, but well worth it I think.

I wasn%26#39;t aware that you had to pay for the gardens as no one checked my museum pass for entrance into the gardens. There are actually gates that you can walk in and out of like any public park to the side of the palace by the dragon fountain.

I am aware that you do have to pay to enter the gardens for the fountain shows and also to get into the Trianons.

Maybe someone can help me out and confirm or disprove if the gardens are free or not?

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Gardens are free, building costs, water show costs.

Excellent idea to bring a lunch. If you are going into the chateau, you must and can check it at baggage check.

Photos are allowed, with no flash. Better off to get postcards or book so no one is in your photos.

There is still work on the RER C line between Invalides and St. Michael. Check ratp.fr for full details and dates.

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The RER is working on some of the rails and some stretches are closed. I found this out the hard way when I went to Versailles last week. From the D%26#39;Orsay station you have to take a free special yellow replacement bus to Invalides, where you get the train. There are signs, but they are not well placed. I asked a number of people and unfortunately was steered wrong, transversed the river a number of times, and ended up at the Saint Michel station wich was also closed. There was a replacement bus from there however (to Invalides), as well as a RER staffer. Coming back to Paris there were railway personnel who directed travelers and it went smoothly. I believe that the work will go on until August 22, but check first.

In addition, you can buy a round trip ticket in Paris. However, don%26#39;t forget to put the ticket through the machine in the Versaille station on the way back. Many of the passengers (including myself)didn%26#39;t realize that they should do this. The ticket collectors seemed used to this, and merely informed us that potentially this could incur a fine.

Enjoy.

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Thankyou everyone for all the great info.

Makes it so much easier knowing all these things before i get there.

Cheers.

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Be sure to buy your ticket ahead of time - either Museum Pass or on-line. The lines at Versailles to buy tickets are very long.

If this isn%26#39;t convenient, you might search for a TA thread about a lesser known spot in the town of Versailles for buying tickets.

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Thankyou IluvOregon.

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is there a village near the station where we can buy stuff for lunch such as baguesttes, cheeses, wine, etc?