Domaine de Marie-Antoinette

On the banks of the Grand Canal, the Grand Trianon was the country house of the Sun King, tired of the golden splendour of Versailles. In this marvellous pink marble structure designed by Mansart, the King was joined by guests for whom he organised light meals, games and boat trips.
After the French Revolution, Napoleon and then Louis-Philippe stayed there, before Charles De Gaulle turned it into a reception venue for foreign heads of state.

Marie-Antoinette in private

However, the heart of the estate is, of course, the Petit Trianon, built by Gabriel for King Louis XV, and which is remembered above all for Marie-Antoinette. Nostalgic for the freedom of her childhood, here the young queen created a simple and familiar setting, where she invited friends, acted, and above all lived far away from the constraints of the Royal Court…
It was Marie-Antoinette who arranged for the planting of the English Garden, a fashionable landscaped park, dotted with small buildings offering delightful strolls and charming shelters, which has been magnificently restored in recent years.

The Royal Court in the countryside

As a continuation, we find the famous Queen’s Hamlet, which was also designed for Marie-Antoinette who came to savour the charm of rural living. Authentic peasants lived there in attractive rustic houses, which brought the countryside to her door. Relics of a brilliant and eventful period, these recently restored thatched cottages can be explored during a guided tour.

Your visit continues at château de Rambouillet and at Queen Marie-Antoinette's dairy.