Petit Trianon castle, Versailles

It was not without emotion that I pushed my head in the entry (one does not go further) of the theatre of Marie-Antoinette. This simple building located at a hundred meters of the palace of the Petit Trianon contains an oval room which was the private theatre of the Queen. It was built in 1780 by the architect Richard Mique.
It is a charming little theatre with decorative pasteboard sculptures, with blue hangings, a gold-embroidered curtain. The stage is larger than the auditorium.
It is an interesting theatre from the technical point of view because the machinery is from the period and the decoration is original though restored.
Close to the entry one can see a video explaining the lighting of this theatre by the means of candles.

It is also a moving place which reveals the personality of Marie-Antoinette always in search of entertainments and who liked to perform on scene.
She was very elegant but it is known as that she sang better than she played roles.

This place is also an example of the thoughtlessness, even more, the political unconsciousness of Marie-Antoinette. By holding the representations with a public of close friends she induced jealousy among the nobility which was not invited. Moreover she played, against the will of the King Louis XVI, the role of Rosine in “the Barber of Seville” of Beaumarchais, an obvious satire of the nobility whereas the spirit of the revolution was already moving in France
The empress of Austria Maria -Theresa told her daughter Marie-Antoinette, who had in no way inherited the political cleverness of her mother, to stop performing.

=================

J'avoue que c'est avec pas mal d'émotion que j'ai poussé ma tête dans l'entrée (on ne va pas plus loin) du théâtre de Marie-Antoinette. Ce bâtiment très simple situé à une centaine de mètres du palais du Petit Trianon cache une salle ovale qui était le théâtre privé de la Reine. Il fut construit en 1780 par l'architecte Richard Mique.
C'est un lieu charmant avec un décor en bois et carton-pâte dans des tons pastel très féminins. La scène est plus large que la salle.
C'est un théâtre intéressant du point de vue de la technique car la machinerie est d'époque et les décors sont originaux quoique restaurés. Près de l'entrée on peut voir une vidéo expliquant l'éclairage de ce théâtre au moyens de bougies, les fameux feux de la rampe.
C'est aussi un lieu émouvant qui révèle la personnalité de Marie-Antoinette toujours à la recherche de divertissements et qui aimait se produire sur scène.
Elle était très élégante mais il est dit qu'elle chantait mieux qu'elle ne jouait la comédie.
Ce lieu est aussi un exemple de l'étourderie, même plus, l'inconscience politique de Marie-Antoinette. En réservant les représentations à un public d'amis intimes elle suscita la jalousie parmi la noblesse qui n'était pas invitée. De plus elle joua, contre la volonté du Roi Louis XVI, le rôle de Rosine dans "Le Barbier de Séville" de Beaumarchais, une satire évidente de la noblesse alors que l'esprit de la révolution était déjà en marche en France.
Cela déplut fortement à sa mère l'impératrice d'Autriche Marie-Thérèse qui lui interdit d'encore monter sur scène. La reine continua néanmoins à entretenir sa troupe.

The comparison between the relatively modest room of the queen at the Petit Trianon and the royal apartments of the Palace of Versailles is striking. The small dimensions of the bed of the queen in her room at the Petit Trianon show well that here she lived as a single woman away off her royal husband.
It is known that Marie-Antoinette in her married life had known a humiliating experience. Louis XVI had been unable during 7 years to consummate the marriage. This was known in France as well from the royal courts of Europe.

The room is entirely authentic, the furniture of origin was found, repurchased and restored. It is refined furniture signed Georges Jacob. The clock of the Queen decorated with the two eagles of the house of Austria is back on its site.
Contiguous to this room is the cabinet “of the moving mirrors” who by means of a system of sliding slopes allowed the queen to shut her windows when she wanted to isolate herself.

=============================

La chambre de la reine.
La comparaison entre la chambre relativement modeste de la reine Marie-Antoinette au Petit Trianon et les appartements royaux du Palais de Versailles est frappante. Les petites dimensions du lit de la reine dans se chambre au Petit Trianon montrent bien qu'ici elle vivait en célibataire à l'écart de son royal époux.
Il faut savoir que Marie-Antoinette avait dans sa vie conjugale connu une expérience humiliante car connue de toutes les cours d'Europe. Louis XVI avait été incapable pendant 7 ans de consommer le mariage.

La chambre est entièrement authentique, le mobilier d'origine a été retrouvé, racheté et remis à neuf. C'est un mobilier raffiné signé Georges Jacob. La pendule de la Reine décoré des deux aigles de la maison d'Autriche a retrouvé son emplacement.
Attenant à cette chambre se trouve le cabinet “des glaces mouvantes” qui au moyen d'un système de rampes coulissantes permettait à la souveraine d’obturer ses fenêtres quand elle voulait s’isoler.

In the beginning the castle of the Petit Trianon was built (1768) for the marquise de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV. But she died before the end of the works and was replaced by, Madame Du Barry, who succeeded as favourite until the death of the king Louis XV in 1774. The castle was built in a Neo-Greek style by the architect Angel-Jacques Gabriel; it is a masterpiece which breaks with the rococo style.

However today the Petit Trianon is closely associated with the person of queen Marie-Antoinette. She received the property from her husband king Louis XVI.
She made it her intimate refuge far from the protocol and the pageantry of the court of Versailles. She had the Petit Trianon refurnished, redecorated and she refitted the gardens. The whole at a high cost.
Only her friends were invited. The excluded and jealous French nobility took umbrage at the Petit Trianon and called it “Small Vienna”. Marie-Antoinette did not realize that her retirement and the committed expenses were going to crystallize all criticisms against her palace. While isolating herself from the French nobility the Queen would find herself without her natural supports when the revolution burst out.

On the first floor the Living room called "Salon de Compagnie", decorated with splendid woodworks carved by Guibert, is one of the most beautiful rooms of the castle. The pieces of furniture are contemporary of Marie-Antoinette.

==========================

A l'origine le Petit Trianon a été construit (1768) pour la marquise de Pompadour, maîtresse de Louis XV. Mais celle-ci décède avant la fin des travaux et c'est sa remplaçante, Madame Du Barry, qui lui succède, jusqu'à la mort du roi Louis XV en 1774.
Le château est construit dans un nouveau style "à la grecque" par l'architecte Anges-Jacques Gabriel; c'est un chef d'œuvre qui rompt avec le style rocaille.

Pourtant aujourd'hui le château du Petit Trianon est intimement associé à la personne de la reine Marie-Antoinette. Le domaine lui fut offert par son époux le roi Louis XVI.
Elle en fit son refuge intime loin du protocole et de l'apparat et de l'étiquette de la cour de Versailles. Elle fait remeubler, décorer, réaménager les jardins. Le tout à grands frais.
Seul ses amis sont invités. La noblesse française exclue et jalouse prend ombrage du Petit Trianon qu'elle surnomme la "Petite Vienne". Marie-Antoinette ne se rendit pas compte que sa retraite au Petit Trianon, les frais engagés allaient cristalliser toutes les critiques contre elle. En s'isolant de la noblesse française la Reine se retrouverait sans ses appuis naturels lorsque éclata la révolution.
Au premier étage le Salon de Compagnie ornée de magnifiques boiseries sculptées par Guibert est l'une des plus belles pièces du château. Les meubles sont contemporains de Marie-Antoinette.

Le Petit Trianon, after restoration works, is again open for interior visits since 22/07/2008. (I was lucky to arrive just on the first day of opening).
The restoration was made with the aim to restore the palace as it was on the day of the departure of Marie-Antoinette on October 5th, 1789.
The curators wanted to give the impression that the queen has just left, that the house is still impregnated of her presence. They fully succeeded by emphasizing the intimate side.

Please note that like the other parts of the "Domaine de Marie-Antoinette" Grand Trianon, etc. the Petit Trianon is closed in the morning and opens only at 12 h till 18 h.

================================

Le Petit Trianon, longtemps fermé en raison d'importants travaux de restauration est enfin ouvert. Le 17/07/2008 un ami français me signalait que le Petit Trianon était encore fermé; par chance le mardi 22/07 lors de ma visite il venait d'ouvrir. Les ouvriers retiraient leurs machines et matériaux et il y avait déjà foule de visiteurs.
La restauration a été faite dans l'idée de restituer l'endroit tel qu'il était le jour du départ de Marie-Antoinette le 5 octobre 1789. Les conservateurs ont voulu donner l'impression que la reine vient de partir, que la maison est encore imprégnée de sa présence. Ils y ont pleinement réussi en mettant en valeur le côté intimiste.

Comme les autres parties du Domaine de Marie-Antoinette ce palais n'ouvre qu'à partir de 12 h.

1 more image

By itself this small artificial cave located between the "Belvedere" and the "Orangerie" (N° 9 on the tourist map of the “Field of Marie-Antoinette”) has nowadays anything charming but the Queen liked to take refuge there near the small pond which is overlooked by the "Belvedere".

She was indeed in the cave on this afternoon of October 5th, 1789 when a page brought a message announcing that the Parisian rioters, mainly women and some revolutionary leaders disguised as women, were marching on Versailles and that she was requested at the castle. King Louis XVI had been meanwhile found in the woods where he was hunting as usual.
Some members of the royal council advised them to flee Versailles but the King, as always, hesitated.

It was the last day in Versailles of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. The beginning of their tragic end.

=========================

En soi cette petite grotte artificielle située entre le Belvédère et l'Orangerie (N° 9 sur la carte touristique du "Domaine de Marie-Antoinette") n'a aujourd'hui rien de charmant mais la Reine aimait s'y réfugier à proximité de l'étang que surplombe le Belvédère.

C'est-ce qu'elle faisait en cet après-midi du 5 octobre 1789 lorsqu'un page lui apporta un message lui annonçant que la populace parisienne, composée surtout de femmes et quelques hommes révolutionnaires déguisés en femmes, marchait sur Versailles et qu'on la demandait au château. Le Roi Louis XVI avait entre temps été retrouvé en forêt où il chassait comme d'habitude.
On leur conseilla de fuir Versailles mais le Roi, comme toujours, hésitait.

C'était la dernière journée à Versailles de Louis XVI et Marie-Antoinette. Le début de leur fin tragique.

The Grand Trianon was built under the reign of Louis XIV, the three story neo-Classical Petit Trianon was completed in 1768 during the time of his son Louis XV so that he could spend more time near the French Gardens and house his favorite mistress, Madame du Barry. It's more closely associated with Marie Antoinette who received it as a gift from her husband Louis XVI, like the kings that preceded her she came to this part of Versailles to escape court life and enjoy more simple pleasures. Louis XVI dined here often but never slept there even though there was a bedroom for him.

1 more image

Yes, well ... what to say about this ... Sacraficing a part of the botanical garden of Louis XV, Marie-Antoinette asked her architect Richard Mique and the painter Hubert Robert to create a more picturesque garden, in the English-style.

2 more images

Being indside the building I read a lot of its history. I quote a sign:"As a child, Louis XV used to say, 'I do so like the Trianon'. He was referring, of course, to the Grand Trianon. In the 1750s, Madame de Pompadour brought him back to the spot. The king liked to stroll with her to the new menagerie, through the botanical gardens, and the greenhouses that the famous scientist Bernard de Jussieu had just installed. On returning from these promenades, the king would stop in the new pavilion built in the middle of the formal garden, where he would file his herbals or have a light refreshment of milk and strawberries, or sup in the cool salon. Starting in 1763, he succumbed to the arguments of Madame de Pompadour and her brother, Marigny, and ordered that a new chateau be built, the Petit Trianon. It was completed in 1768."

I found my way through the beautiful building, which was made into a museum dedicated to Marie-Antoinette in 1867. I ended up at the Queen's Theatre, one of the most beautiful and historical buildings in Europe. It reveals a little known side to the life of Marie-Antoinette. To perfect her French, Marie-Antoinette took comedy classes, and she acted while still in Vienna with her family, from this came her taste for the theatre.

2 more images

This creation of Marie-Antoinette's Estate is part of the Grand Versailles project that aims most notably to show Versailles'contrasts: Classical and Baroque, destitution and extravagance, male inspiration from Louis XIV and female inspiration from Marie-Antoinette to Madame Pompadour, to name just a few. The Petit Trianon and its gardens are inseparably linked from Marie-Antoinette: she was the only queen who imposed her personal tastes on Versailles, scoffing at Court traditions. In the Trianon estate, which Louis XVI gave to her in 1774, she found a haven of privacy that allowed her to escape from the rigours of Court Etiquette. No one could enter without her personal invitation.

I vistited the Petit Trianon just after I had an intensive look at the Grand Trianon. Did I feel myself lonely at the Grand Trianon ... right at the Petit Trianon it became even worse. No one in sight, no where to be seen! Where were all those bus loads of tourists? At least not right here. The Petit Trianon marks the start of the Neo-Classical style. The ground floor is organised around a central vestibule and a staircase of honour. The first floor comprises: an antechamber, a large dining room, a small ding room, a living room, a boudoir of Cabinet and the Queen's Room.

1 more image

This "small" Royal building was built in the 1760's for Madam de Pompadour, the mistress of Louis XV but was later used by Marie Antionette as an escape from the formality of court. You can look round for around 5Euros with a combined ticket for both Trianons or with a "passport" ticket.
My friend had a look round but I didn't as I was more interested in the guy outside selling freshly squeezed iced orange juice to ease my dehydtration! Yum, well worth stopping there as that seems to be the only refreshments available in that part of the park.