Press Release - Versailles - Château de Versailles

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Versailles for all
2011, better knowledge
of the visitors to Versailles
Knowing visitors and their habits better
to be able to meet their wishes more efficiently
In 2011 the Palace of Versailles achieved record
attendance figures with 5,279,354 visitors (for the
Palace and the two Trianon palaces), an increase
of 8% compared to 2010.
If one adds on the attendance figures for shows, the
number rises to 6,550,036 people (+9% compared
to 2010). To these must be added the visitors to the
gardens and the park, more difficult to count owing
to the free admission most of the year (except on
the days of the Musical Fountains Show), which
points to a global estimate of around 10 million
visits during the year.
Record attendance figures
and a permanent visitor
observatory to know
visitors better
A Visitor Observatory
In 2010, the Public Establishment of the Palace,
Museum and National Estate of Versailles set up
a Permanent Visitor Observatory to get a clearer
picture of the visitors and their habits, and hence
to be able to meet their wishes more efficiently.
The remits of this Observatory are to:
- draw up the socio-demographic profiles of
visitors;
- understand their behaviour on the site in terms
of places visited and services used;
- identify their motivations and the information
channels used;
- assess the existing cultural mediation materials;
- assess the satisfaction of visitors.
The first survey was carried out between May
2010 and April 2011 among 3,227 people aged
from 11 upward.
It provided figures on the type of visits made.
39 % of the visitors came for the palaces of
Versailles and Trianon as well as the garden
and the park.
35% visited only the garden and the park,
26% only the rooms of the museum.
In the peak season, 54% of visitors went around
the rooms of the museum, compared to
75% in the off season.
Average time spent on the Estate:
3h06.
The most popular visit circuit:
à 95%, the Grand Apartments and the Hall of
Mirrors.