Tour of the Grand Canal

On foot, by bike or in rollerblading, take a deep breathe into the park of the Palace.

The tour of the Grand Canal of Versailles will allow you to discover wonderful views of the Palace of Versailles. The distance to be covered is 5.5 km. It takes approximately :
  • 1h to 1h15 walk
  • 25 to 30 minutes by bike
  • 35 to 40 minutes in roller skating
The paved path is relatively flat, accessible for people in wheelchairs.
The Grand Canal is the main element of the east-west perspective of the Garden of Versailles. The gardener Le Nôtre transformed this wet part of the park into a gigantic reservoir of water. The Grand Canal of Versailles became an essential decorative element of the gardens, a source of changing light, to be discovered in summer as well as in autumn or winter.

Practical information :

Entrance into the park is possible through different gates. Either by the Boulevard de la Reine, or from the entrance of the palace.
Entrance to the park's Palace is free, except if you go through the gardens (the part near the palace where the groves are) on the days of musical fountains shows in high season.
You will fin restaurants and tea rooms on site. It is possible to rent boats, bicycles, or segways on site. After effort comes comfort : at the end of the grand canal, do not miss the breathtaking view of the palace.

Calendar / Opening hours of the palaces'park :

Open every day.
High season : 7:00 am. - 8:30 p.m for pedestrians
Low season : 8h00 - 18h00
Please note that the hours may be different depending on the several entrances to the park.