The Trianon Estate, also known as the Estate of Marie-Antoinette, reveals Versailles from a more intimate perspective. From Louis XIV to Charles de Gaulle, and of course Queen Marie-Antoinette, this historic site showcases another side of the château.
The Grand Trianon, on the edge of the Grand Canal, was the Sun King’s country retreat, a refuge from the gold and splendor of Versailles. In this marvelous pink marble architecture designed by Mansart, the king would come accompanied by ladies for whom he organized picnics, games, and boating excursions. After the Revolution, Napoleon and later Louis-Philippe stayed there, before Charles de Gaulle made it a reception venue for foreign heads of state.
But the true heart of the estate remains the Petit Trianon, built by Gabriel for King Louis XV, and above all remembered for Marie-Antoinette. Longing for the freedom of her childhood, the young queen created here a simple, familiar living environment where she invited her friends, performed plays, and above all enjoyed life away from the strict constraints of the Court.
She had an English Garden laid out — a fashionable landscaped park dotted with small pavilions for strolling and charming shelters — which has been beautifully restored in recent years. Extending from it is the famous Queen’s Hamlet, also designed for her: genuine peasants settled in pretty rustic houses, bringing the countryside right to her doorstep…
But the true heart of the estate remains the Petit Trianon, built by Gabriel for King Louis XV, and above all remembered for Marie-Antoinette. Longing for the freedom of her childhood, the young queen created here a simple, familiar living environment where she invited her friends, performed plays, and above all enjoyed life away from the strict constraints of the Court.
She had an English Garden laid out — a fashionable landscaped park dotted with small pavilions for strolling and charming shelters — which has been beautifully restored in recent years. Extending from it is the famous Queen’s Hamlet, also designed for her: genuine peasants settled in pretty rustic houses, bringing the countryside right to her doorstep…
