See the Fountains in the Gardens of Versailles Palace – Ticket Prices and Opening Hours

On summer weekends, visitors to the Chateau de Versailles may enjoy the historic fountains at play in the formal gardens of the palace near Paris.

During summer, visitors to the Palace of Versailles may often enjoy the historic fountains at play in the formal baroque gardens while listening to music. The more spectacular event is the musical fountain show (Grandes Eaux Musicales) when the historical fountains play on most weekends between April and October. Classical music is played in the gardens on most summer weekdays, during a less spectacular musical gardens show (Jardins Musicaux) when most of the fountains are not in use. During both events, separate admission is charged to visit the formal gardens of the Palace of Versailles which are usually free to all visitors.

The admission fee to the gardens of the Palace of Versailles is well worth the price to see the spectacle on weekends, especially during the afternoon session, when more than thirty 17th-century fountains spout water while baroque music plays in the background. The Versailles Passeport (all-inclusive ticket) covers all admissions to the Chateau and the gardens on musical fountain show days. Otherwise, buy a gardens-only ticket online or at the palace.

Musical Fountains Show at the Château de Versailles

The extensive baroque formal gardens at the Palace of Versailles, designed by André Le Nôtre for Sun King Louis XIV, are worth visiting throughout the year. Even in winter, when many of the 55 fountains and 155 statues are covered up, the splendor and opulence of Louis XIV’s royal court are still as obvious from the extensive, high-maintenance gardens as from the extravagant palace itself.

The gardens are most spectacular during spring and especially on weekends when the historic fountains are in action. The gardens at Versailles have 55 historic fountains, of which up to 32 currently play during the musical fountains show. Recorded baroque music is played throughout the garden — live music is only played during the occasional special concerts (mostly Saturday nights).

Visiting the Musical Fountains Show Days at Versailles

Admission to the formal baroque gardens of the Palace of Versailles is free in winter but during summer buying tickets is compulsory on most days when music is played in the gardens. Two different music event days are held:

• The musical fountains show (Grandes Eaux Musicales) is the more spectacular and usually on weekends and some Tuesdays and Fridays.
• The musical gardens (Jardins Musicaux) add music and more groves are open but no historic fountains on most weekdays in summer.

The musical fountains show (Grandes Eaux Musicales) is by far the better of these two events. The fountains show is usually on Saturdays and Sundays from April to October (vacation days close to these dates may influence the exact participating weekends). The fountains are also in use some Tuesdays and Fridays in May and June, as well as on a few public holidays during the summer season.

On most weekdays from April to October, admission is charged for the Musical Gardens (Jardins musicaux). On these days, music is played throughout the Baroque gardens and some groves not usually accessible are opened for visitors. The fountains, other than the Mirror Fountain, are not in action.

On show days, admission is charged for the gardens from 9 am to 6:30 pm, even though the fountains play only for a limited time. Smaller fountains are in action from around 10 am to noon and from 2:30 to 5 pm. Larger fountains, including the mirror fountain, play throughout the day – usually at 10 to 15-minute intervals. Far more fountains operate in the afternoon session.

Tickets for the Gardens of the Chateau de Versailles

Admission to the gardens of Versailles Palace on musical fountain show days is included in the all-inclusive Passport sold online in advance, or at the palace if timeslots are still available. Holders of the Paris Museum Pass and other chateau tickets must buy a garden ticket at the entrance to the garden. These garden-only tickets are available online too but queuing for tickets to the garden is not really a problem.

Buy tickets to Versailles online from Tiqets and GetYourGuide with options ranging from time-slot palace admission only to full guided tours with transportation from Paris. At busy times, a guided tour is a good idea to get into the palace without queuing — simply abandon the tour afterward and return to Paris by train. Some tours, including a bike tour of the gardens, even encourage seeing the palace at leisure and return by train when ready.

Admission tickets to the Musical Fountain Show in the gardens of Versailles are €11, €10 for children 6 to 18 and students, and free for under 6 years old. On musical gardens days (Tuesdays and Fridays), admission is €1 cheaper but offers far less value.

Dogs and bicycles are not allowed inside the baroque garden at any time.

Visitors may exit the formal gardens, e.g. to go to the Trianon palaces, and re-enter with the same ticket but may use any entrance only once to enter.