Congress Chamber Exceptional opening of the Congress Chamber

To mark the 150th anniversary of the Third Republic, the Palace of Versailles is opening the Congress Chamber and apartment of the President of the Congress and offering a special opportunity to take a self-guided or guided tour.

Free admission with a Palace ticket or Passport ticket.

Palace ticket

This ticket gives you access to the Palace.

21 €

Buy

Palace ticket

This ticket gives you access to the Palace.

21 €

Read more

Palace ticket

This ticket guarantees access to the palace of Versailles. Book online and enter to the Palace in the half hour following the chosen time.

• the Palace with timed entry;
• the temporary exhibitions in the Palace;
• the Gallery of Coaches (every weekend); 
• the Royal Tennis Court;
• the Gardens (from 1 November to 30 March only) - to access the Gardens before 1 November, you need a Passport ticket or a Gardens ticket;
• the Park.

The Passport guarantees access to the Estate of Versailles (Palace, Estate of Trianon and their Gardens).

Tickets can also be purchased on site subject to availability.

Rates

21 € Buy

• Motor deficiencies
• Hearing impaired
• Mental disabilities
• Visual impairment

Passport

This ticket gives access to the whole estate of Versailles.

24 €

Buy

32 €

Buy

Passport

This ticket gives access to the whole estate of Versailles.

24 €

Read more

Passport

This ticket gives access to the whole estate of Versailles (Palace, Estate of Trianon and the Gardens). Book online and enter to the Palace in the half hour following the chosen time.

It includes :

• the Palace with timed entry;
• the estate of Trianon;
• the temporary exhibitions;
• the Gallery of Coaches (every weekend); 
• the Royal Tennis Court;
• the Gardens (until 31 October, single admission during the Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains Show, ticket valid for one entry);
• the Park.

To make the most of the Estate of Versailles, the Gardens are open from 8am, the Estate of Trianon from 12pm, the Gallery of Coaches from 12.30pm.

The gardens close exceptionally at 5.30pm on Saturdays during The Night Fountains Show from June 7th to September 20th, as well as on Saturday May 24th, Monday July 14th, Friday August 15th and October 26th, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st.

Low season rate

24 € Buy

High season rate

32 € Buy

• Motor deficiencies
• Hearing impaired
• Mental disabilities
• Visual impairment

The Congress Chamber

The Congress Chamber, which was built in the space of just six months in 1875, in the heart of the South Wing, seats nearly 1,500 people. It is larger than the semi-circular debating chambers of the National Assembly and Senate.

This fine example of early Third Republic official architecture, with its eclectic style and very palatial feel, has a remarkable decor inspired by the State Apartment of Louis XIV, and features many references to the Sun King.

Between 1875 and 1953, sixteen Presidents of the Republic were elected there and deputies and senators still take their places on the benches when they convene in Congress to debate changes to the Constitution or to listen to an address by the President of the Republic. The Congress met in this capacity on 4 March 2024 to ratify the inclusion of voluntary termination of pregnancy in the Constitution.

The apartment of the President of the Congress

The apartment of the President of the Congress, which is often overlooked by the general public, was built at the same time as the Congress Chamber on the site of former apartments belonging to members of the royal family. It is decorated in the Louis-XV revival style, which is commonly seen at Versailles. This stunning huge state apartment was reassigned by the National Assembly to the Palace of Versailles in 2006. 

A new exhibit

To mark the 150th anniversary of the Third Republic, there will be a new permanent exhibit. Works from the 19th and 20th centuries, mainly from the Palace collections (paintings and sculptures), will offer visitors a unique insight into parliamentary life under the Third Republic. 

Partners

https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/

https://www.senat.fr/

http://www.leparisien.fr/

http://www.historia.fr/

https://lcp.fr/

https://www.garesetconnexions.sncf/fr

Practical Information

The Congress Chamber and apartment of the President of the Congress are open from 15 February until the end of September:

• Weekends and public holidays: self-guided and guided tours from 10 am to 5.30 pm (until 31 March) and from 10 am to 6.30 pm (from 1 April)
• Weekdays: guided tours only

Opening times

Self-guided tours are accessible with a Palace ticket or a Passport ticket.

Book a ticket 

For a guided tour, please book the guided tour of your choice in addition to your admission ticket.

mobile App 

The palace app is available free of charge to guide you through your tour. Audioguide tours are also available in several language including French and English.