The Palace of Versailles is a must-see when staying in hostels in Paris

Friday, 23, Jul 2010 09:02

When planning a break in Paris, you should ensure you make time to visit the Palace of Versailles.

While many of the French capital's tourist attractions are likely to be much closer to your hostel, it is well worth taking a trip to the suburbs to visit this historic site.

The palace, one of the largest in the world, has been a key venue in French - and on occasions, world - history over the past 350 years.

But a visit there is not only about learning more about French history, as you will see one of the most magnificent buildings in Europe, some spectacularly ornate rooms and stunning gardens.

The site of the Palace of Versailles is vast, so you may not be able to see everything you want in one visit.

Some of the highlights which you will want to make certain you see include the Hall of Mirrors, the Grand Apartments and the Museum of the History of France.

The Hall of Mirrors is a stunning room which contains 17 windows looking over the palace's garden on one side and 17 arches containing 21 mirrors each on the other.

One of the most ostentatious rooms in any European royal palace, it has hosted royal wedding celebrations and is still used by the French government to greet overseas dignitaries.

Hardly any less ostentatious are the Grand Apartments which were once the living quarters of the kings and queens of France.

You'll also find plenty of ornate objects in the Museum of the History of France, which was commissioned by King Louis-Philippe in 1830 to celebrate the glories of the French.

The collection has more than 6,000 paintings and 3,000 sculptures, including works by many of France's leading artists.

Once you've finished wondering at the splendour of the rooms inside the Palace of Versailles, make sure you spend some time wandering round the beautiful gardens.

Booking into hostels in Paris will also give you the opportunity to experience some of the French capital's other cultural and historic sights.

The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Louvre are among the city's other must-see attractions, although you'll probably also want to make sure you have time to sample the world-famous French cuisine and Paris's lively nightlife.