Royal Opera of Versailles (L'Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles)
The Basics
While larger opera houses have since been built, the Royal Opera House at the Palace of Versailles remains one of the most visually impressive. Today, the space hosts a full calendar of concerts, operas, ballets, and recitals. Visitors hoping to see the Opera House without attending a performance can do so as part of a guided VIP tour of the palace grounds, which includes access to otherwise off-limits areas like the Royal Chapel and Royal Quarters.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Royal Opera is a must-see for music lovers and architecture buffs.
- Book your tickets ahead of time if you plan to see a performance; they often sell out.
- The Royal Opera is accessible to wheelchairs with assistance.
How to Get There
The Royal Opera is inside the Palace of Versailles outside of Paris. The nearest train station to the palace entrance is Versailles Château Rive Gauche.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The best time to visit the Royal Opera is during a live performance, which are scheduled several times throughout the month. Check the calendar at the Chateau Versailles website before your visit to see what’s on.
A Multipurpose Space
Upon completion of the Royal Opera, the king entrusted his First Theatre Technician, Blaise-Henri Arnoult, to make sure the space could be used as a theater, ballroom, and feasting hall. Arnoult designed a complex system of movable floors that would allow the hall to be transformed in two days, depending on the need.
- Scent Courtyard (Cour des Senteurs)
- Marie-Antoinette's Estate
- Academy of Equestrian Arts
- Versailles Royal Chapel (La Chapelle Royale)
- Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces)
- King’s State Apartment (Grand Appartement du Roi)
- Grand Trianon
- Neptune Fountain (Bassin de Neptune)
- Orangerie of Versailles (l’Orangerie de Versailles)
- Versailles Fountains (Les Fontaines)
- Versailles Gardens (Jardins de Versailles)
- Grand Canal