I have written posts in general on transportation in and around Versailles but this one needs a separate entry me think. It was not my train station when living in the city but the most popular as most choices from Paris on the RER C trains, and closest to the palace/museum, I will update this older post with new text and links for you and me, Therefore, this is my new take on the Gare Château Rive Gauche of Versailles !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Gare Château-Rive-Gauche (formerly called Rive-Gauche), but still commonly called simply Rive Gauche , is one of the terminus of the line RER C . The word “Château” comes from its proximity to the Château de Versailles; The terms “rive gauche” are explained by the fact that it is located on an established line, departing from Paris, on the left bank of the Seine river. This station has three platforms (two central wharves and one outside wharf) for five dead-ends (plus a service lane).
This Transilien train station, has a passenger building with open counters every day. It is equipped with automation machines and Grandes lignes (big lines and even to Europe). facilities, equipment and services are available for people with reduced mobility. A press magazine snacks Relay is present, as well as distributors of fresh and hot beverages and snacks, an automatic photograph booth, and a photocopier are also available.
The Château-Rive Gauche train station is served by many bus lines from different companies and cities, however, in Versailles the bus lines passing by it are again with new numbers adding the 62 to the old numbers, so no, 1 is now 6201,and so on 2 ,3 ,10, 13 ,22, and 103 of the Grand Versailles bus network, The RER C train station is on Avenue du Général de Gaulle ,closer with corner with Avenue de Sceaux, so coming out turn left and get on Sceaux you will get to the palace quicker on foot, It is about 10 minutes our walk station to palace,It can be reach from many stations in Paris such as Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Invalides, Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel, Bibliothèque François Mitterrand ,Gare d’Austerlitz, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, Pont de l’Alma, etc. On the way back, all trains serve Paris. Right across there is the bus depot with many lines as above, This is place Lyautey with on site or very close Brasserie le Lyautey, McDo, La Madeleine,Le Moliére,Starbucks, Pizzeria César, Le duc de Bretagne, and good shopping at Monop (mini grocery monoprix), and Versailles/Univers souvenirs (my oldest did worked here!) This station gets very busy, so I suggest that you buy a return ticket so you won’t have to waste time queuing to buy your ticket back to Paris. And buy all in advance ok,
Nice to take the RER C train to Champs de Mars Tour Eiffel and back to the Château rive gauche station And more, for example the new routes allows you to take bus lines no 11 and 40 to go the Orangerie side, The bus line we used the most as my boys to school locally was line A , then they change the numbering after we left to line no 3, and now from 2024 they are line 6203. The line RER C into Versailles many times is decorated with sumptous wagons and I caught one for the memories of always here.
A bit of history I like tell us that the opening of the station of Versailles-Rive-Gauche, in the district of Saint-Louis, takes place on September 10, 1840 at the inauguration of the line of Paris – Versailles by the left bank of the Seine river. It is the closest station to the Château de Versailles (about 500 meters to the entrance gate of the castle, by the Avenue de Sceaux, which folks usually go a longer way by the Avenue de Paris). In order to facilitate the access of the site to its many visitors, the old name of the station nevertheless included the mention Château de Versailles. Its new name now includes the historical mention Rive-gauche as well.
The official Transilien on the Château Rive Gauche station:https://www.transilien.com/fr/gare/versailles-chateau-rive-gauche-8739315
The official Transilien trains map RER C: https://www.transilien.com/en/page-lignes/ligne-c
The official Château de Versailles on transports château-rive gauche : https://bienvenue.chateauversailles.fr/en/overview/train-stations#!panel-80
The Île de France region Mobilité on journey planner : https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en
There you go folks, in a nutshell if still need more, ask me. Do walk ,and see more than the palace/museum. We did took once or twice for the thrill of it with the family as our closest station was rive droite , However, the boys took it from/to school and they use the same buses as all. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Gare Château-Rive Gauche of Versailles as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 