Get to see the The Hall of Mirrors on your Versailles Museum tour, the Palace's most famous room, was built to replace a massive terrace designed by architect Louis Le Vau that extended into the garden. In French, it is also known as the Grande Galerie or Galerie des Glaces.

What Makes The Hall of Mirrors Versailles Special?

Many argue that the centre gallery, the Hall of Mirrors, depicts the genuine opulence of the Palace of Versailles. The Hall of Mirrors, the Palace's most prominent room, houses 357 mirrors that gaze out onto the gardens through arcaded windows. Visitors are typically drawn in by the tranquil beauty of it all, but what most visitors find most fascinating is the opportunity to walk along the same corridor as the French royal family.

The mirror-clad arches are the focal point of this hall (all 17 of them). Each arch has twenty-one mirrors (for a total of 357) that are set within marble pillars. These arcs represent the country's political importance by depicting French emblems. Without a doubt, this work of art succeeded in portraying the power of the French royal at the time.

Want to know a fun fact? 

The Hall of Mirrors was not only the majestic venue for numerous royal celebrations in the 17th and 18th centuries, but it was also the site of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. If you're wondering what that is, it's the Treaty of Versailles, which concluded World War I.

Why You Shouldn't Miss It?

The Hall of Mirrors was built in 1678 by a committed group of 30,000 employees who worked day and night to build the magnificent palace that stands today. The gold-framed windows were specifically built to let in "heavenly" light while affording a stunning view of the lush gardens.

On your Versailles Palace tour, you’ll marvel at a 75-meter-long ballroom with 17 massive mirrors on one side and arcaded windows on the other, both facing the formal gardens, which calls out for ‘opulence’. The Palace was not only a beautiful delight, but it also housed a number of historically significant components. The fleur-de-lys, for example, may be found in the gilded bronze capitals on the arcs. Unfortunately, the majority of these pieces are no longer extant in the Hall of Mirrors, having been lost during the war for a variety of reasons (financial reasons being at the top of the list). Other notable items included silver table pieces and guéridons. Surprisingly, Louis XIV ordered that these be melted.

Visiting Hours

Daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Note: Closed on Mondays

Address

Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France