Versailles Gardens & Musical Fountains Tours
André Le Nôtre spent forty years turning marshland into 800 hectares of geometry: the Latona and Apollo fountains on the central axis, the 1.67 km Grand Canal, the Orangerie terraces and a ring of hedged groves hiding statues and colonnades. On Musical Fountains days the waterworks run to Baroque music — the only time the gardens look as Louis XIV intended.
55 tours · prices per person, book with partner
Gardens & Fountains in Versailles — FAQ
When are the Musical Fountains at Versailles?
The Grandes Eaux Musicales run on weekends and public holidays from early April to late October, with the Jardins Musicaux on most Tuesdays and some Fridays. Evening shows with fireworks over the Grand Canal run on Saturdays in summer. Check the estate calendar for the exact dates of your visit.
Are the gardens of Versailles free?
On ordinary days yes — the gardens are free to enter. On Musical Fountains and Musical Gardens days a garden ticket of roughly €10–€12 applies, which is also when the waterworks actually play.
How long does it take to walk the Versailles gardens?
Allow 1.5–2 hours for the main axis down to the Apollo Fountain and back. Walking the full length of the Grand Canal and on to the Trianon estate adds another hour each way — most visitors take a bike, a golf cart or the little train instead.
