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Chartres and Versailles
Excursion
DRIVING TIMES:
Paris to Chartres 1hr15/30
Chartres to Versailles 1hr
Versailles to Paris 1hour
LUNCH:
It is quicker and usually more convenient to have lunch in Chartres where there are lots of places all over town. In Versailles there are some good options around the Place du Marché (excellent market Tue and Sat mornings) in the centre of town but allow at least an extra 1hr30 to get there, eat and regroup. Take rue Colbert which runs away from the Place d’Armes (10 o’clock with your back to the chateau). The third left turn should take you down Rue du Maréchal Foch, past McDonalds and directly into the Place du Marché.
CHARTRES VISIT
Begin your commentary of the Cathedral well in advance as it is visible from a distance.
Designated coach drop-off is in rue Charles Brune. There are public toilets here.
Chartres Bus Drop Off:
Walk the group up to the Cathedral – try to show them the Jean Moulin Monument on the way or return. Point out the war memorial plaques to the memory of the war victims and resistance movement, and particularly to the victims of the holocaust. These are on the left of the wide paved area as you walk towards the Statue dedicated to Jean Moulin, the Resistance and Deportation.
When you get to the cathedral, give some explanation of the main doorway, then lead them inside to see the windows and the Veil. It is no longer possible to give commentary inside the Cathedral unless the group has headphones and you have the speaker microphone. You may prefer to give all commentary outside the cathedral.
The Cathedral has undergone a huge cleaning project inside.
The VEIL is on display in the LIT ambulatory at the back of the church to the left of the alter, in an upright glass and gold display case. Not the veil on the small statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by candles just behind the altar to the left.
The North Tower of the Cathedral can now only be visited with a guide and reservation. It is a very steep climb – just under 400 steps – but the views are spectacular. See General Info – reservation through Centre des Monuments Nationaux.
The Cathedral boutique is open Mon to Sat from 10-5.30pm and 12-5pm Sun.
Opposite the Cathedral, there are toilets for a small fee inside a souvenir shop. Encourage them to explore the town. The most interesting streets are to the right of the square when facing the Cathedral.
The “Au Plaisir d´Offrir” on the left on the way up to the Cathedral (with ACIS sign) is now closed. The bakery on the corner next-door is still open, and good!
VERSAILLES VISIT
Palace opened from 9 to 5.30pm before 1st April, 9 to 6.30 pm after.
Gardens opened 8am-6pm/ 8am -8.30pm.
Last admission for both is half hour before the closing time.
ACIS provides tickets for over 18s (in your Paris envelope – please check you have the right number).
Palace free for under 18s. They should carry ORIGINALS of their passports.
Set down in the Place d’Armes bus park (leave all bags on the bus), give your driver money for the bus park/s and agree a meeting place and time. Take their mobile phone number just in case.
Versailles Bus Parking – Place d´Armes:
Your driver can only stay for 20mins in the Place d’Armes bus park without paying so if they are meeting your group at the Trianon bus park they should go directly there. (If the group has bikes booked this is a must). Have cash for the bus drivers Trianon parking. Otherwise, the driver will need to wait for you here. Not good in rain as it´s a long walk up from gardens.
Versailles Bus Pick-Up near Trianon:
As you enter the courtyard, depending on time, you may allow/facilitate a group photo/photos. Ensure they stay close together as you will then need to join the line appropriate for your timed entry (see tickets!). Once in line, distribute tickets – be careful: adults/18+ receive different ticket types. The group proceeds through the new, modern entrance at the top and left of the courtyard – ticket check and bag scan. Students may need to prove their age so have IDs (passports) ready. If they have bags (e.g. for a picnic in the gardens), these will need to be deposited together in a cart in the bag-check area after security and picked up again before entering the gardens.
You then proceed into the entrance courtyard – you should regroup here. Students will likely want to take photos – allow time for this, if possible. Point out toilets across the inner courtyard just inside the entrance before the chapel on the right. Here, there is also an audio-guide counter for those unable to download and access the app (cost = 5 EUR).
Before the group enters the Palace, make a rendezvous for one hour later at the top of the stairs after the exit/toilets/gift shop. You should be there after 30 mins, to catch anyone who zooms through! Remember, this is a definitive exit – you will not be able to reenter to find late students. It´s a good idea to ask a chaperone to wait until all are accounted for. In the event of extreme bad weather, everyone should wait inside the gift shop area at the bottom of the stone staircase they descend at the end of the visit.
Students can get lost finding the exit as it is around 3-5 mins walk from the end of the State Apartments – longer if busy. They simply need to continue following the signs for Sortie/Exit.
Once group is reassembled, either return to the bus or enter the gardens – depending on your itinerary.
Under 18s need to take ORIGINAL passports to gain free entry; ACIS provides tickets for 18s and over (in your Paris envelope – please check you have the right number of adult and Under 18 tickets).
The Versailles excursion does NOT usually include the ‘Domaine Marie-Antoinette’ (Versailles has now designated the Trianons and Hameau as a further entrance, with varying opening times and ticket prices applicable throughout the year).
Grandes Eaux Musicales: (See Paris Info sheet for dates/check website) you will need extra cash for increased entrances to the gardens – there is a booth to pay by card. Ticket allows re-entry only one time and this must be from a different exit to where they first enter.
Bike Rental
If you have an adventurous group it is possible to rent bikes from Little Venice and cycle in the gardens. You need to call/email in advance to reserve (reservations can be difficult at weekends). The group needs to be prompt in returning bikes, otherwise you may be charged extra. This would offer the opportunity to have a picnic lunch in near the bike and boat rental or the cafes also in the gardens
If Bikes are included you will need to leave a piece of ID with the bike hire company. They do accept cards but it might be wise to have cash on you to be on the safe side. If only half the group want to take bikes just make your meeting point the bike hire place for the non bikers – it is indicated on the maps.
Some groups may be keen for a row-boat ride on the Grand Canal. This can be nice weather- and time-permitting, the rowboats are rented at the beginning of the canal, on the right-hand side. 4 people to a boat max, €16 approx for 30 mins, €20 approx for 1 hour. Check times online as they vary.
One 18 yr old per boat necessary.
There are toilets, snacks and ice-cream near the bike and row boat rental
This excursion can take place in the morning or afternoon. Check your bus voucher. The bus is booked for 5 hours. If bikes are included, then it will be 6 hours. With the Domaine, it will be a full day (10 hours).
On Sundays traffic back to Paris can be awful. Try to leave Versailles as early as possible.
Access and procedures at Versailles change often – the Paris Office will let you know of any updates. There will often be a long queue to enter the Palace – especially around Easter and June/July. If so, put them in the queue immediately upon arrival and save photos for inside the courtyard.
Versailles is open on Tuesday when most museums in Paris are not – it will, therefore, be extra busy over Easter and June/July on this day.
The ACIS visit to Versailles is supported by the Chateau´s audioguide accessible via the QR code on each ticket. Ideally, this should be downloaded in advance of the visit as WIFI is poor in Chateau i.e. at hotel. Make sure PAX have it on their phones before leaving the hotel – breakfast is a good opportunity. Our visit corresponds to the State Appartments Tour and starts at the Upper Vestibule of the Chapel. You may need to explain this.
TOILETS – There are toilets inside the courtyard entrance/exit prior to bag checks/ticket scans. There are more on the right once you enter the Chateau. The best snack stand is by the Little Venice – this can get busy around midday.
Consigne for large bag collection and audioguide drop off is also at this point. New shop on right before the desk in this new lobby area and a La Duree Macarons stall. Toilets are also to be found before you exit for gardens. Walk past the gift shop with final exit to your right, they are on your right at end of hall.
VISIT THE GARDENS
1. Using Trianon bus park (most usual):
Walk the group through the formal gardens – you can stop for some explanation – to little Venice. Here, depending on timing, give 30 mins – 1hr15mins free time to explore gardens (or bike/barque rental). Meet the group after their free time and walk them up the tree lined avenue to the Trianon bus park.
2. Using Place d’Armes bus park: for bad rain or extreme non-walkers. Lead the group to the steps before the Latona fountain, give some explanation of the gardens. Make a final rendezvous with everyone to go back to the bus. Give free time to explore the gardens as far as the Grand Canal.
