FAQ
Questions we get asked.
Short answers about the association, membership, volunteering and your data. Can't find yours? Ask us.
Photo: Unsplash
About us
Is Versailles Vivant a real organisation?
No. It is a fictional association created for a university course project (Business Practice, FCSE/FINKI, Skopje, 2025/2026). The people, events, figures, memberships and donations are invented, and it is not affiliated with the Château de Versailles or the Société des Amis de Versailles.
Are you part of the Château de Versailles?
No. In the story of this site we are an independent nonprofit, not an official arm of the Château. We do not sell tickets or run tours; the estate's own website does that.
Where can I buy tickets or check opening hours?
On the official Château de Versailles website (chateauversailles.fr). We deliberately do not duplicate it.
Membership and giving
How much does membership cost?
Individual is €9 a month, Family €16 and Patron €40. All three are month-to-month.
Can I cancel?
Yes, at any time — memberships are month-to-month, with no minimum term.
Where does the money go?
Just over half goes on garden maintenance, about a fifth on apprenticeships, and the rest on public programmes, the archive and running costs. The Impact page has the figures.
Can I donate once, without joining?
Yes. A one-off gift goes into the same fund as membership dues: the gardens, the apprentices and the free talks. The form on this site records your offer but takes no payment.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
In a real French association of general interest, yes: a gift reduces income tax by 66% of its amount, up to 20% of taxable income, and the association sends a tax receipt (reçu fiscal). This site collects no gifts and issues no receipts.
Volunteering and events
Do I need experience to volunteer?
No. Garden Saturdays need no experience and gloves are provided; archive work suits anyone who likes footnotes. See volunteering.
What happens on a members' morning?
The gates open early, a committee member gives a short informal talk, and then everyone simply walks. Read more in our journal post.
How do I add an event to my calendar?
On the Events page, press “Add to calendar” on any event to download a calendar file (.ics) that works with Google Calendar, Outlook and Apple Calendar.
Website and data
Which languages is the site available in?
English, French and Macedonian. Use EN / FR / MK at the top of any page. Your choice is remembered, and you can share links such as
?lang=fr.What do you do with the details I send you?
We use them only to reply to you or to run the event you asked about, and we never sell them. The privacy policy explains how long we keep them.
How accessible is the website?
We aim to meet WCAG 2.2 level AA. Read our accessibility statement, and tell us if something doesn't work for you.
I found a mistake. Who do I tell?
Please use the contact form. We check historical claims against published sources, and we are glad to correct errors.