Versailles in November
Versailles in November means fewer crowds, free garden access, and about nine hours of daylight to explore the Palace of Versailles and its 800-hectare estate. The Palace opens Tuesday through Sunday from 09:00 to 17:30. Temperatures average 4 to 11 degrees Celsius, and the Musical Fountains Show season ends around November 1.
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Top attraction in Paris
Explore the Versailles Palace to see the royal architecture and the historical evolution of the French monarchy.
Why is November one of the best times to visit Versailles?
The Palace of Versailles (Chateau de Versailles) receives about 15 million visitors each year, but November brings a fraction of peak-season crowds. On the quietest weekdays, the estate's popular-times index drops to 58, compared to 100 on the busiest days. Fewer visitors mean shorter queues at security and more space in the grand salons. The Gardens and Park are free of charge from November through March. Autumn foliage lines the formal allees, and the Musical Fountains Show season ends around November 1.
Fewer visitors change the character of the visit. Without dense tour groups, the Palace interiors feel closer to their original purpose: a sequence of rooms designed to impress and overwhelm. The autumn light entering through 2,143 windows casts a warmer, lower angle across gilded surfaces.
Fountain shows end around November 1. Daylight is limited to about nine hours. Temperatures hover between 4 and 11 degrees Celsius. Visitors who prioritize the Palace interior over the gardens will find these conditions work in their favor.
The estate is quieter in November than in any summer or spring month. The best time to visit the Palace of Versailles page covers every month of the year with crowd data and weather patterns.
What are the Versailles opening hours in November?
The Palace of Versailles stays open throughout November except on Mondays. November falls within the low season (1 November to 31 March), so the entire estate runs on reduced hours compared to summer. Each area has its own timetable.
| Area | Days Open | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palace | Tuesday to Sunday | 09:00 | 17:30 |
| Estate of Trianon (the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon, Queen's Hamlet) | Tuesday to Sunday | 12:00 | 17:30 |
| Gardens | Daily | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Park | Daily | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Royal Tennis Court | Tuesday to Sunday | 12:30 | 17:30 |
The Palace, Trianon estate, and Royal Tennis Court close on Mondays, but the Gardens and Park stay open. The estate also closes on 25 December, 1 January, and 1 May. Some dates see the Palace and Trianon shut while the Gardens and Park remain accessible.
From November through March, the Gardens and Park are free of charge.
The table above shows the low-season November timetable. The official calendar may adjust on certain dates, so check the latest Versailles Palace opening hours before traveling. That page lists real-time updates and any exceptional closures.
What is the weather like at Versailles in November?
November temperatures at Versailles average between 4 and 11 degrees Celsius (39 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit), with a clear split between the start and end of the month. Early November retains some autumn mildness. The final week edges toward winter.
| Metric | Early November (1-15) | Late November (16-30) |
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 11-12°C (52-54°F) | 7-9°C (45-48°F) |
| Average low | 5-7°C (41-45°F) | 2-4°C (36-39°F) |
| Rainy days | 5-6 | 5-6 |
| Daylight hours | ~9.5 hours | ~8.5 hours |
| Sunrise | ~07:15 | ~08:00 |
| Sunset | ~17:15 | ~16:50 |
Ten to twelve days of the month bring rain, most of it as drizzle that stops and starts. Monthly totals run 50 to 60 millimetres. The estate sits on an exposed plain west of Paris, and along the Grand Canal, wind chill drops what visitors feel by 3 to 5 degrees.
Clouds hang over Versailles for most of November. Clear breaks thin out after mid-month. Visitors with plans for both the Palace and grounds need to arrive early, while the light lasts.
What to wear and pack for Versailles in November
What to wear and pack for Versailles in November
A wool overcoat or insulated jacket is the right outer layer. Underneath, a fleece or light down vest works as a mid-layer that comes off inside the heated Palace rooms and goes back on for the garden walks. The constant indoor-outdoor shift is the biggest clothing challenge at Versailles in November.
Gravel and cobblestone paths cover most of the estate, and they turn slippery in the rain. Low-profile hiking shoes or waterproof leather boots grip best. Drizzle is more common than heavy rain, so a packable umbrella beats a full raincoat for the short open-air stretches between buildings.
Late November visitors need a scarf and gloves for the Grand Canal and park sections. The Palace bars bags over 55 x 35 x 25 cm, so keep belongings in a small backpack or crossbody bag. Left luggage is at the entrances.
How do November public holidays affect a Versailles visit?
France observes two public holidays in November that affect crowd patterns at Versailles.
All Saints' Day (Toussaint) on November 1 falls during the autumn school break (Vacances de la Toussaint), which runs from late October through early November. French families with school-age children visit cultural sites during this period, and November 1 crowd levels run above the monthly average.
Armistice Day on November 11 commemorates the end of World War I. Workers get a day off, and if it falls near a weekend, many French visitors take a long weekend. The Palace remains open on both dates.
Neither holiday triggers a Palace closure. Versailles closes on Mondays and on 25 December, 1 January, and 1 May. Visitors planning trips around these two dates should expect heavier foot traffic than a standard November weekday.
RER and SNCF trains may run on modified holiday schedules on November 1 and November 11. Check the transport operator's website on the morning of travel to confirm departure times.
What do the Gardens of Versailles look like in November?
Andre Le Notre designed the Gardens of Versailles from 1661 for Louis XIV. By November, deciduous trees along the main allees show late amber and copper tones before shedding their leaves by the month's end. The formal parterres lose their seasonal flowers and show only geometric box hedging and gravel outlines.
Without foliage, the structural bones of Le Notre's design show through. Long axial perspectives and radiating allees cut clean lines against the sky. The Grand Canal stretches 1.6 kilometres from the terrace. Grey November skies settle on its surface with a stillness absent in summer.
Conservators cover some marble and bronze statues with protective material for the winter season. The majority of the sculptural program remains visible.
Overcast light eliminates harsh shadows, and photographers get clear compositions on pathways that are empty by summer standards.
From November through March, the Gardens and Park are free of charge. Visitors can enter from 08:00, so an early-morning walk through the grounds before the Palace opens at 09:00 is a practical way to start the day.
When do the Versailles fountain shows end?
The Musical Fountains Show and Musical Gardens season ends on or around November 1 each year. Visitors arriving in the first days of November may catch the final performance if the calendar aligns. Anyone traveling after that date will find the fountains silent for the winter.
Without the shows, the garden basins and fountain groups remain visible as sculptural installations. The Latona Fountain and the Apollo Fountain retain their visual impact even without flowing water.
The Musical Fountains Show season runs from late March or early April through the end of October. The Versailles fountains and garden water features page covers the full show calendar, show schedules, locations, and the history behind each fountain ensemble.
What to see at Versailles in November?
November is the month for focused exploration of the Palace's interior rooms. Reduced crowds mean more time in spaces that visitors rush through in peak season. The estate's outdoor attractions remain accessible but take a secondary role given the weather and shorter daylight.
Indoor highlights
The Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) is the Palace's most celebrated room. It stretches 73 metres and contains 357 mirrors reflecting light from 17 arched windows. Charles Le Brun designed the gallery to glorify Louis XIV, the Sun King, and it connected the King's and Queen's Apartments. In November, visitors can photograph the full length of the hall without navigating around tour groups.
The Grand Apartments, a suite of state rooms, include the Salon of Hercules with its ceiling painting, The Apotheosis of Hercules, completed by Francois Lemoyne in 1736, and two canvases by Paolo Veronese. In the Salon of Diana, Bernini's bust of Louis XIV dates from the sculptor's 1665 visit to France.
At the other end of the Palace, the Royal Chapel stands 40 metres high, 42 metres long, and 24 metres wide. The architecture mixes Gothic and Baroque. Antoine Coypel, Charles de La Fosse, and Jean Jouvenet painted the three ceiling frescoes that cover the vault.
Early November vs late November at Versailles
Early November and late November feel like two different places at Versailles, with the split affecting foliage, crowds, and daylight.
| Factor | Early November (1-15) | Late November (16-30) |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature range | 5-12°C (41-54°F) | 2-9°C (36-48°F) |
| Garden foliage | Amber and copper tones, partial leaf cover | Bare branches, winter silhouette |
| Fountain shows | Final show on or around November 1 | No shows until spring |
| Crowd levels | Higher around All Saints' Day (Nov 1) and Armistice Day (Nov 11) | Quietest period of the month |
| Daylight | ~9.5 hours (sunset ~17:15) | ~8.5 hours (sunset ~16:50) |
| Atmosphere | Autumn character, transitional | Full winter mode, stark and quiet |
Early November is the last window for autumn color in the Gardens and a possible final fountain show. All Saints' Day school holidays (late October through the first week of November) and Armistice Day on November 11 bring in domestic visitors, pushing weekday crowds above average during both periods.
Late November is the quietest stretch. Bare trees and low-angled light give the Gardens an austere beauty. The Palace interior takes over as the primary draw, and temperatures dip closer to freezing.