Versailles: The Gardens Outperform the Palace

40 minutes by RER C. Hall of Mirrors and state apartments are magnificent in the gilded Sun King way. But the gardens — 800 hectares by Le Notre — transcend tourism. The Grand Canal stretches 1.6km from the terrace. Walking its length with fountains running and perspectives opening makes the palace behind you shrink to a decoration.

Tickets online (timed entry for palace, gardens free except fountain show days). The fountain shows (Tues, Fri, weekends April-Oct) set 1,400 fountains to Baroque music — the spectacle Louis intended. Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette's Hamlet: 30-minute walk from the palace, smaller, more intimate, less crowded.