CULTURAL TOUR - L'art de vivre à la cour : Versailles

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Immerse yourself in French history and lifestyle just a few kilometres from Paris: come and discover the Palace of Versailles!

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this palace was the preferred residence of the French monarchy from Louis XIV to Louis XVI. For over a century in Europe, the estate of Versailles embodied the ambition of a kingdom, absolute refinement and a display of power that still fascinates today.

As you stroll through its sumptuous apartments, you will discover how the French monarchy shaped Europe. In the legendary Hall of Mirrors, light is reflected infinitely in 357 mirrors, creating a spectacular atmosphere that still impresses visitors from around the world. The French gardens, designed with remarkable precision, offer an open-air spectacle: majestic fountains, mythological sculptures, perfect perspectives…

 

Programme of the tour

  • 1 p.m.: Visit to the Jean Sablé School of Decorative Painting and Trompe l’oeil

We will begin this royal afternoon by discovering the art of painted decorations and trompe l’oeil at the home of a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France).

  • 3 p.m.: Guided tour in English of the Palace of Versailles

Then we will head to the Palace of Versailles and visit its wonders: the historic Hall of Mirrors, the Grand Apartments, the King’s bedroom, the Royal Chapel…

  • 5 p.m.: End of the visit

 

Participation fees: 39€ (Visit of the art school + access to the palace + guided tour in English)

Payment upon registration (read the terms and conditions)

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The added bonus of the visit: discovering the art of ``trompe l'oeil``

During this visit, you will have the exceptional opportunity to meet Jean Sablé, Meilleur Ouvrier de France and master in the art of decorative painting and trompe l’oeil. He will introduce you to his art school, established in Versailles since 2003, which is both a conservatory for the craft of decorative painting and a modern workshop.

What is trompe l’oeil in painting?

Trompe l’oeil is a painting technique that aims to create the illusion of reality. The goal is to make the viewer believe that the painted objects actually exist in space — that they could be touched. The term literally means ‘deceive the eye’.

To create this illusion, the artist uses extremely precise perspective, light and shadow effects, detailed textures and depth effects that give the impression that the objects are popping out of the frame.

The art of trompe l’oeil became particularly popular during the Renaissance, thanks to advances in perspective, and then during the Baroque artistic movement, particularly for painting ceilings that gave the illusion of an open sky. The Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, for example, is decorated in the Baroque style.