Leave Paris from your hotel or private accomodation and head southwest by luxury minibus to the historic town of Versailles, roughly 25 miles (40km) away.

Famous as the home of King Louis XIV, the town’s palace, gardens and memorials all attest to the sheer grandeur of his ruling era. Upon arriving, skip the line and take in the opulence of the monumental chateau as you venture into the State Apartments. See where kings and queens slept and went about their regal duties, and then visit the Royal Chapel to behold the intricately carved columns and luminous paintings. Walk under the crystal chandeliers of the Hall of Mirrors and gaze into the 357 mirrors reflecting the image of the gardens through bay windows—a truly wondrous sight.

After being dazzled by the splendors of the interior, go outside to the gardens that cover nearly 1,976 acres (800 ha). Landscaped in the classic French Garden style by André Le Nôtre, this extensive area offers you the opportunity to take a pleasant stroll around an impeccably manicured park. Visit the Grand Canal and stop at the La Flotille restaurant for a decadent 3-course meal in beautiful surroundings.

Following lunch, your guide takes you to the Petit Trianon, a small chateau used by Marie Antoinette for festivities. Discover the Queen’s Hamlet, a stylized Norman village and farm built for Marie Antoinette so that she could experience an intimately rustic life.

Before heading back to Paris, hear fascinating stories of Marie Antoinette and the legendary kings that lived in this vast architectural marvel.