Spending my birthday in the Palace of Versailles

Growing up in a world with movies like Princess Diaries and Anastasia, I liked to imagine that one day I would find out I was actually a princess and ride off into the sunset to my castle. While that obviously didn’t happen…I did get to live out my fantasy on my 27th birthday with my husband, Trent.

I still can’t believe I got to spend my birthday walking around the Palace of Versailles pretending to be a 21st century Marie Antoinette. Unlike a typical general admission ticket to the once residence of the French royals and nobility, I got to run around the grounds, dance through the halls, and sleep where historical figures once promenaded.

I have always had an obsession with French history. I find it absolutely fascinating. Maybe it was the magic of the outfits and parties from the movie Marie Antoinette. I love the history so much, my parents got me a Marie Antoinette themed cake for my 20th birthday.

Fast forward seven years, I am eating birthday cake in the palace she once roamed.

Awhile back, I read that the luxury, European hotel group, Airelles, would be converting one of the Versailles buildings creating an indulgent and extravagant sneak peek into the 18th century (minus the beheadings). I immediately knew I had to reserve a room. I emailed a member of their team and stayed in contact with her over the years. In February 2021, she reached out to formally invite me to be one of the first guests to stay in the palace.

SO, if we are speaking loosely, I GOT INVITED TO A PALACE. I am going to frame that email. Print it out. Hand it over when I get pulled over for speeding. It is my golden ticket.

While I did pay for my stay, the fact that I got to reserve my spot before the public is crazy to think about.

With my room reserved and the day of arrival growing closer, I worked closely with their experience coordinator to map out my stay to live my Marie Antoinette dreams to the fullest.

This was my first time ever going to France, Paris, Versailles, everything was new. My eye’s huge, heart racing, I was on the edge of my seat as we pulled in. Immediately, our butler, Arthur, dressed in a traditional 18th century outfit, grabs our bags and welcomes us inside.

You wouldn’t know it because of my mask, but my jaw was dropped. Hanging wide open when we walked through the doors. Gold. Fresh flowers. Chandeliers. Velvet furniture. It was as if I did indeed step back in history and somehow ended up in the most elegant room I have ever been in in my life.

The check in process was different than any other place I have stayed at before. They just needed a copy of my passport (I wasn’t able to send it ahead of time). I feel like normally it is a long process of signing, giving credit cards, etc. It just didn’t feel like a normal “hotel” right away.

After our tour of the building where we got to see the lounge area, spa, restaurant, etc., we were taken to our room, the Madame De Fouquet suite. I had originally booked a “normal” room but their team graciously upgraded us to the most insane room I have ever stayed in before!

You walk through a beautifully lit hallway and turn the corner, and there is the most BEAUTIFUL bedroom I have ever seen. Giant gold mirrors (original from the primal days of Versailles). A four post bed with a canopy and a chandelier accenting the middle of the ceiling. AND THERE WAS A PRIVATE TERREACE. There were THREE bathrooms in this suite. One with the toilet (which was heated and had a bidet may I add), one with a deep-soaking bathtub, and one with a walk in shower. I could honestly go on and on about this room, but I will spare you.

We decided to start out with a golf cart ride around the grounds. Your stay includes free usage of luxury golf carts and free boat rides around the Grand Canal. We spent a couple hours roaming and watching the fountain shows.

After our tour through the gardens, we got changed and went down for an afternoon tea inspired by Marie Antoinette. This tea was included in our stay. We had two tiers of sweet and savory treats and some black tea. We ate every bite and drank every sip. Did I mention that all food is prepared by famous French chef Alain Ducasse?

Around 6:30pm, the other guests (about eight additional people) gathered in the lounge and we entered the palace after all the tourists had gone. The palace was empty, quiet, and ready to explore at a leisurely pace without all the shoving and pushing that happens during the day. We specified we wanted to see the Queen’s apartments for our special tour. We even saw all of the private rooms and halls that are not accessible during the daytime. The highlight had to be dancing around the hall of mirrors as if time itself had stood still.

We walked around the empty palace grounds for what felt like hours and took fun videos and photos together. We sat and watched the sun go down from the palace steps as the fountains played on. I imagined which historical figures sat exactly where I was admiring the grounds before them. How proud King Louis XIV must have been of his work on the palace.

The rest of the evening was spent eating cake, playing games, and soaking in the bathtub while listening to my Marie Antoinette movie soundtrack.

When I opened my eyes the next morning, I was officially 27 and danced around the room. Breakfast was brought to our room with a beautiful setup of fine china, pastries, and coffees- the best birthday breakfast ever.

We headed downstairs for our private tour of the Petit Trianon. We took a private car to the estate because it is a little further away. This tour was very interesting because we got to hear a ton of facts and stories about Marie Antoinette and the palace that I had not heard before. (Fun fact: Marie was actually hideous from years of inbreeding).

After the tour, we had some champagne and truffle cashews. I decided I wanted to see the Hamlet that was built by Marie Antoinette so we took the golf cart back and actually got lost and very sweaty. Luckily we made it back just in time for one last drink and macaron before our car arrived to take us back to Paris. I had champagne mixed with peach juice and it was so refreshing.

The staff was so helpful with our departure. They already removed our bags from our room and had them loaded into the car for us. They even gave us a box of Ladurée macarons to take as a departing gift.

As we pulled out of the palace, I couldn’t help but to cry. It was such an unbelievable stay that really caused a strong emotional response from me.

I have spent years of my life wondering what Versailles was like and I got to experience it as if I was in fact royalty in the 18th century.

My tears were of happiness that I got to experience it but also of sadness that the experience was over and it was back to the real world.

I hope that one day I can return, but until then, my birthday at Versailles will forever hold a special place in my heart.