Category / Versailles Picnic

Versailles – A perfect idea for a proposal.

A short drive from Paris, stands the estates of Versailles. Versailles estates, particularly the Palace of Versailles and its surrounding grounds, are renowned for their opulence and grandeur. The palace, once a hunting lodge, was transformed by Louis XIV into a symbol of absolute monarchy in France. A visit to Versailles should certainly be on top of one’s list if you are planning to travel to France. I have to say that Versailles is also on top of our list for our clients proposal recommandation.

We assist our clients with their surprise proposal in and around Paris. We have mentioned it in various article in the past. I will say it again, it is a real pleasure to head to Versailles for one of our clients surprise proposal.

October 29, 2024November 11, 2024 by LovePicnicParis

Versailles Picnic

Versailles Family photos

Versailles stylish gourmet Picnic.

Overall, the Gardens of Versailles represent a masterpiece of landscape architecture and continue to be celebrated as one of the finest examples of French garden design in the world. “Love Picnic Paris” takes real pleasure to orchestrate our Versailles stylish gourmet picnic during our clients visit to the castle. It is certainly one of our favorite destination. We love heading to Versailles ourselves on a day trip & enjoy a traditional picnic in the park during lunch hour. Today’s family had our traditional “Amelie Poulain” gourmet picnic coupled with some “fun times” family photos during their visit. Below you will find a selection of the family photos taken by our photographer during their lunch hour.

But let’s talk about Versailles for a minute. You know, that jaw-dropping palace in France? Yes, the one that looks like it was plucked straight out of a fairy tale. First, Versailles is easily accessible by car or train from Saint Lazare station in the heart of Paris. Versailles estate was the playground for our kings and queens, with all its grandeur and opulence. Today, Versailles offers a unique experience to visitors.

Just imagine strolling through those perfectly manicured lawns, surrounded by fountains, statues, and flowers that seem to dance in the breeze. It is like stepping into a renaissance painting!
One of our most cherished French historical heritage, the estate is certainly not a relic of the past. It’s a living splendor, a breathing testament to human creativity and ingenuity. It’s also a reminder that beauty and artistry have the power to transcend time and inspire awe in all who behold it.
So, the next time you find yourself daydreaming about far-off places, why not add Versailles to your list? The Palace of Versailles is a timeless marvel that continues to captivate hearts and minds the world over. The gardens are the most amazing backgrounds to enjoy a gourmet picnic with ” Love Picnic Paris.” YES, we certainly enjoy ourselves heading to the estates for the afternoon.

So lets plan a Versailles stylish gourmet picnic with us on your next visit.

A unique experience at Versailles.

The Gardens of Versailles are an iconic exemple of French formal garden design and are part of the larger Palace of Versailles complex. A visit to Versailles castle is a unique experience. Its historical grandeur makes it the perfect grounds to enjoy a stylish gourmet picnic at Versailles. Here’s a brief overview of its history in a few words:

Origins: The history of the gardens dates back to the early 17th century when King Louis XIII acquired the land for hunting. His son, King Louis XIV, later transformed the hunting lodge into the grand Palace of Versailles and began developing the gardens in 1661.
Design and Expansion: André Le Nôtre, a renowned landscape architect, was commissioned to design the gardens in the French formal style. Le Nôtre’s design incorporated symmetrical layouts, geometric shapes, water features, and meticulously manicured lawns. Over the years, the gardens underwent several expansions and enhancements under the direction of Le Nôtre and subsequent landscape architects.
Symbolism and Grandeur: The gardens were intended to showcase the power, wealth, and grandeur of the French monarchy. They were meticulously designed to impress visitors with their beauty and opulence, featuring elaborate fountains, statues, sculptures, and ornamental flower beds.
Social and Cultural Importance: The gardens served as a backdrop for elaborate court ceremonies, festivals, and entertainments hosted by the royal court. They were also used for leisure activities such as promenades, picnics, and outdoor concerts.
Revolutionary and Modern Erance: During the French Revolution in the late 18th century, the Palace of Versailles and its gardens were seized by the revolutionary government and eventually opened to the public. In the modern era, the gardens have been meticulously restored and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting millions of visitors each year who come to admire their beauty, history, and cultural significance.

Must know about your visit to Versailles.

While France is no longer a monarchy, there are still plenty of French beautiful castles to be found in the countryside. These former Royal Palaces are some of the finest buildings in Europe, each with their unique histories. Versailles palace is renowned for its opulent architecture, lavish interior decoration, and extensive gardens. Remember, the gardens of Versailles is really a day trip to fully appreciate its beauty. Not only you can visit the castle itself in the morning, you will definitely love the experience of the grand Trianon, petit trianon, and hameau de la reine in the afternoon. You will certainly need a pause over lunch time to simply rest under a tree & enjoy our stylish gourmet picnic.

Grand Trianon: Located within the grounds of Versailles, the Grand Trianon is a palace built by Louis XIV as a retreat from the formalities of court life. Designed in the Italian Renaissance style, the Grand Trianon features pink marble walls and a distinctive architecture. It served as a private residence for the French monarchs and is renowned for its elegant simplicity and beautiful gardens.

Petit Trianon: Adjacent to the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon is a smaller palace commissioned by Louis XV for his mistress Madame de Pompadour and later given to Marie Antoinette. The Petit Trianon is known for its neoclassical architecture and intimate scale. Marie Antoinette used it as a private retreat where she could escape the formality of court life and indulge in her interests in gardening and the arts.

Hameau de la Reine (Queen’s Hamlet): Situated near the Petit Trianon, the Hameau de la Reine is a rustic hamlet built for Marie Antoinette. Designed to resemble a pastoral village, it features picturesque cottages, a dairy, a mill, and a farm. Marie Antoinette used the hamlet as a place to play at being a shepherdess and escape the pressures of court life.

Versailles stylish lunch picnic.

Having a stylish picnic lunch break at Versailles sounds like a dream! Here’s how you could plan such an experience:

Location: We will choose the most picturesque spot in the Gardens of Versailles for your picnic. Either at the Grand Canal, under one of the park beautiful oak tree or one of the secluded groves for a more intimate setting. Our Versailles stylish gourmet picnics are to be enjoyed with lovers, family and friends alike.

Picnic Setup: We will bring our stylish wicker baskets filled with gourmet goodies. Opt for artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, fresh baguettes, colorful salads, and decadent desserts. Should you opt for our deco picnic, we will pack your favorite beverages, whether it’s champagne, wine, or refreshing lemonade, in elegant flutes served in iced bucket. Refer to “Love Picnic Paris” service page to view our four different menus and place your picnic order.

Décor: We propose a traditional picnic set up with our wicker baskets and a red/White table cloth. You will find many exemples on our website. If you choose our deco picnic set, we will enhance the ambiance with stylish décor elements. We will spread our luxurious picnic blanket or tablecloth in a chic vintage pattern and color scheme. We could also decorate the picnic area with fresh flowers in elegant vases or jars. Of course, our deco picnics at Versailles gardens include decorative cushions and throw pillows for added comfort and style.

Tableware: We will elevate your picnic experience with elegant tableware and utensils. We will pack designer plates, glasses, and cutlery in coordinating colors or patterns with our wicker baskets. All of our gourmet picnics also include cloth napkins or stylish paper napkins adorned with decorative motifs.

Attire: Dress the part for your stylish picnic at Versailles. Opt for sophisticated yet comfortable attire that reflects the occasion. Think chic sundresses, linen shirts, tailored trousers, and stylish accessories like hats, sunglasses, and scarves.

Capture the Moment: Our professional photographer will capture the special moments of your stylish picnic at Versailles for you. No need to bring along a camera or smartphone to take photos of the beautiful surroundings, delicious food, and cherished memories shared with loved ones.

“Love Picnic Paris” will create a memorable and sophisticated lunch break at the park. It combines culinary delights & a stylish picnic set up with the beauty of the surroundings. This way you will be well rested to enjoy the afternoon strolling through the park. Remember to visit Versailles estates official site to purchase your entrance tickets. You will find the latest news of the Versailles estates. Also remember to check the musical season for 2024.

March 15, 2024November 12, 2024 by LovePicnicParis

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Versailles surprise proposal.

“Love Picnic Paris” will assist you with the planning of your Versailles surprise proposal.

Hey, you are planning a trip to Paris this coming spring. You may be considering taking advantage of being in France to propose to your girlfriend. Only you have no ideas how to begin. One thing for certain, you have decided on asking her to marry you during your romantic journey across France. You have never been to Paris before & you want it to be just right.

A lot of our clients get in touch so that we can assist with the planning of their surprise proposal with the Eiffel tower in the background. Planning a romantic Parisian engagement is one of our favorite thing to do. We will help you to find the perfect place to pop the question while visiting the city. Paris is indeed the most romantic city in the world.

A few years back, we decided to start proposing our gourmet picnics at the gardens of Versailles. WHY, we simply LOVE going there ourselves for a day trip. We thought that some of you may be looking for something a little different, classy, a little quieter, not cliché and utterly romantic to pop up the question.

A Versailles gourmet picnic for your proposal.

Taking the oportunity of a day trip to Versailles for your surprise proposal seems like the perfect thing to do. Once home to kings and queens of France, Versailles estates is certainly the most extravagant and magnificent domaine in the world. Versailles is beautiful all year long. The gardens were designed by André Le Notre, Louis XIV landscape architect in 1661. The gardens cover over 900 hectares of lands, most of which is landscaped in a classic French formal style. No need to say that it is the most romantic setting for one of our proposal gourmet picnic. We will make your Versailles surprise proposal a unique, festive, sstylish, romantic affair!

Lets start planning your surprise proposal.

We make the planning process for a surprise proposal at the gardens of Versailles very easy. Just remember that we only plan one proposal at a time. Reserve your date early if at all possible. Best is to head to “Love Picnic Paris” proposal page, you will find our various packages including professional photography. Once you have decided on your package, send us an email and we will guide you each steps of the way.

In this photo story from our most recent Versailles proposal event, our client opted for our high end deco gourmet picnic set. Our proposal picnic comes with our traditional picnic baskets, cashmere plaids, embroided umbrellas, cushions, a traditional French table cloth, candles, hand written menu, a bottle of champagne.

Note that we now include a mini video of your proposal which you can send out to family the next day.

March 7, 2023 by LovePicnicParis

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Destination Versailles for your surprise proposal.

We simply LOVE heading to Versailles for the day. Regardless of the season, Versailles estate is the most amazing historical site located only half an hour west of Paris. A lot of our clients decide on Versailles to propose to their girlfriend. Versailles gardens are definitely our favorite escape for a gourmet picnic and the perfect setting for a secret proposal.

Visits to the palace start at 9am while the Trianon estate opens at noon.You can purchase your tickets in advance through the official Versailles estate website. The palace as well as the Trianon estate are open every day apart from monday. The park and the gardens are open every days. There are three train stations running from Paris. Located on Boulevard de la Reine, the Queens gates give you access to the park with a car. There is a charge of €12 to access the park by car.

Map of Versailles gardens with the entrance by car via the Queens gates.

Planning your engagement in Versailles

Planning a gourmet picnic at the gardens of Versailles is easy. Simply head to our service page and start processing your order. Choose your picnic type & add a note saying that you would like to have a picnic at Versailles gardens.

If you are planning on a secret proposal in the gardens, you will find all of the details information in our proposal page. We will guide you every steps of the way once we receive your email with your date and package choice.

Link to our Secret proposal page.

I invite you to go through our website. You will find other stories either in Paris or Versailles with our wonderful clients. Please note that we do cater for group picnic as well for up to 30 guests. If you are having a family reunion in Paris, a bachelorette party or even a corporate event, write us a note. we would be delighted to organize one of our picnic for your group.

February 9, 2023 by LovePicnicParis

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Versailles gardens picnics.

“Love Picnic Paris” now proposes gourmet picnics to our clients at the gardens of Versailles. The Palace of Versailles was originally built in 1624 as a simple, countryside royal retreat for hunting purposes. King Louis XIV, the Sun King, developped a genuine liking for the surrounding countryside. Louis XIV had a vision & dedicated 50 years of his reign to fulfill his life long dream. In 1682, he moved both the royal residence and French seat of government to Versailles. Versailles is today one of the most extraordinary achievements of 17th century European architecture.

Versailles 350 year old pedunculate oak tree.

Versailles castle is located 1/2 hour west of Paris on the way to the Normandy region and the garden of Monet in Giverny. We simply adore going there for the afternoon. It is the perfect escape from city life. The park of Versailles is the most enchanted and peaceful destination rich in French history.

A gourmet picnic at Versailles.

We host our Versailles picnics either at the grand canal or at a park on the way to the Trianon palace. Strolling through the park is like walking through part of the history of France. From the French-style gardens in front of the Palace to the English garden at the Trianon, the Estate of Versailles is home to the most extraordinary species of trees. Today, specific Versailles gardens tours are organized in the park counting the history of some of the most amazing trees in France.

* We are sharing a brochure from the Versailles estate with some historal background on those Versailles admirable trees .

Park of the grand Trianon for a picnic.

We often host our gourmet picnics under the doyen of the historical trees planted in the park over 300 years ago. This pedunculate oak tree which dates from the time of Louis XIV will shed you from the afternoon sun. Planted in 1668, it is 36 metres high and the circumference of its trunk is more than 5 metres! It was grown from seed planted in 1670 when Louis XIV and architect André Le Nôtre initiated the construction of the Park.

Famous landscape designer André Le Nôtre was commissioned to design the park from 1661 onwards. A number of full-size adult trees were dug up from the forests of
Normandy and replanted at Versailles. Nurseries were set up in the park, helping boost homegrown tree production over time. The woodland of the Park is still today mainly composed of beautiful oaks and chestnut trees. At the time of Louis XIV’s death, they were known to cover 5,000 acres of the Estate’s entire area.

Versailles’ park heritage has expanded over the years to include rare trees from far-off lands such as the American tulip tree and the Japanese Pagoda tree. Along side our Picnic ancestral Oak tree trone some magnificient cedar trees from Lebanon planted around 1770. You will also find a bald Cypress, an English oak trees, a Ginkgo Bilobas trees, as well as a purple cooper beech trees planted in the surroundings.

From the brochure of Admirable trees of Versailles.

Versailles guided tours, gourmet picnics & photography.

“Love Picnic Paris” collaborates with a few experienced professional guides who customize private guided tour of the estate. Here is the link to the official Versailles estate site where you can also purchase your day pass. We recommend that you visit the castle in the morning. You will venture through the State apartments that includes the King’s & Queen’s Chamber, the famous Hall of Mirrors.

You can then head down to the canal for a well deserved lunch. We will have one of our gourmet picnic all set up & waiting for you. Our goumet picnics can be catered for up to 30 guests. A typical menu would include French traditional baguette, a selection of cheeses, a selection of cold meats, a vegetable market salad, a French vegetable quiche, seasonal fruits and a chocolate cake.

*A few options are available such as flowers, professional photography, champagne.

*We could aslo arrange for a car service as well as a professional tour guide.

Versailles logistic map & day planning.

The palace and the gardens are open to public every day of the year. While the main palace opens at 9:00 AM, the Palace of Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s Estate open at 12:00 PM.

The park is open to the public every day of the year from 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM.

1/ Your driver can enter the park via the “Cours de la reine entrance” and drive you all the way down to the grand canal. The entrance fee is €12 for a day pass for the car. Alternatively, your driver can drop you off at the main entrance in the morning if you have purchased your tickets online. The Estate morning visits starts at 9am.
2/ Following your morning visit, you can walk all the way down to the grand canal across the main gardens. Your gourmet picnic will be waiting for you either at the canal or at the petit Tricanon park. We will geo localize the exact picnic location 1/2 hour prior to your arrival time. The picnic set up time is usually around 12h30. (spots are marked 2/3 on the map) All that you have to do is enjoy your picnic hour with family and friends. We will be on call if needs be. We will also dismantle your picnic once you have finished.
3/ You can then carry on with your afternoon visit being well rested. The grand trianon and the gardens of the queen will be steps away for you to enjoy.

Versailles Engagement photo serie shot by our photographer in the gardens of Versailles. The picnic was set up under this beautiful oak tree we talked about.