From love-nest to a Queen’s get away, the Petit Trianon was an oasis of privacy and intimacy for royals who needed to escape the rigid formality of court life at the Palace of Versailles and on this misty day, I was happy to be able to explore some of the rooms in this cozy get-away palace.
Originally built by Louis XV at the instigation of his mistress Madam de Pompadour, the tiny palace was to be an escape for Louis and his mistress in order to “relieve the king’s boredom”. Unfortunately, she died before its completion in 1768, so Louis next mistress, Madame du Berry enjoyed the results of this endeavor.
Originally built by Louis XV at the instigation of his mistress Madam de Pompadour, the tiny palace was to be an escape for Louis and his mistress in order to “relieve the king’s boredom”. Unfortunately, she died before its completion in 1768, so Louis next mistress, Madame du Berry enjoyed the results of this endeavor.
The petit palace was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel and is an example of the transition from the Rococo style of the early part of the 18th century, to the more sober and refined Neoclassical style of the 1760s and onward. The structure is built in a cube shape and each of the four facades is designed according to that part of the estate it would face. The pillars and pilasters are topped with Corinthian orders. The side facing what would have been the King’s botanical garden was left bare of ornamentation.
In 1774, 20-year-old Louis XVI gave the Petit Trianon and its surrounding park to his 19-year-old Queen Marie Antoinette for her exclusive use and enjoyment. She is the only queen to have imposed her personal taste on Versailles.
The tiny palace was her place of leisure and easy living, where she could get away from the strict ceremony, rigid rules and complex etiquette of the French court and royal family. In her personal domain, she was able to reject the old court and its traditions. She insisted on living as she wished in her chateau and no one was allowed to enter the Petit Trianon without her express permission.
The tiny palace was her place of leisure and easy living, where she could get away from the strict ceremony, rigid rules and complex etiquette of the French court and royal family. In her personal domain, she was able to reject the old court and its traditions. She insisted on living as she wished in her chateau and no one was allowed to enter the Petit Trianon without her express permission.
Guarding the queen’s domain was the "Porter" who resided in the Maison du Suisse, who not only held the keys of the Petit Trianon, but also had the power to allow visits to it in the Queen’s absence. It is through this Maison du Suisse, that visitors enter today.
Upon entering the Guards' Room, where the soldiers who guarded the queen would have been posted, you are greeted by “Le Voiture à chèvre du Dauphin”, the Prince’s Horse Carriage which immediately makes you realize that this was the private domain of a mother and her beloved children.
The first really impressive part of the petit palace you encounter is the entrance hall and Grand Staircase which is located in the largest overall space in the mansion. The room was designed by Honoré Guibert in the neoclassical style. The walls and floor are covered in polished white and green marble with classical details and are unadorned and bare of the luxurious tapestries of Versailles.
In contrast to this, the ornate golden banister by Francois Brochois is decorated with vine-like organic motifs and Marie Antoinette’s initials.
In contrast to this, the ornate golden banister by Francois Brochois is decorated with vine-like organic motifs and Marie Antoinette’s initials.
Before heading up to the formal rooms on the first floor, you can peek into the ground floor Warming Kitchen. Like most other royal residences the food for the royal tables was not cooked in the residence itself; instead, the food would be warmed in the Warming Kitchen and then brought in to the royals and nobles staying at the Petit Trianon.
Just beside these rooms is a display of precious china in the style that would have been used at the chateau.
Just beside these rooms is a display of precious china in the style that would have been used at the chateau.
The Antechamber on the first floor is the first reception room that visitors would have encountered. The panels are done in the same pale green and highlighted with white as is typical for most of the rooms of the Petit Trianon. The paneling carving was designed by Honoré Guibert and he chose to continue using an organic motif in his decoration.
True to the more intimate setting of the Petit Trianon, a lantern hangs from the ceiling instead of the chandeliers that hung in the main Palace of Versailles.
True to the more intimate setting of the Petit Trianon, a lantern hangs from the ceiling instead of the chandeliers that hung in the main Palace of Versailles.
While the palace setting was purposefully meant to be more intimate, the uniforms of some of the servants were extravagant and elaborate in their design!
The Dining Room decoration, designed again by Honore Guibert, consists of flowers and fruits carved into the paneling and adorning the blue fireplace designed by Jacques-Francois Dropsy.
The diners would have dined by candle light from the chandelier which would have been reflected by the two large gilt wall mirrors. A bust of Marie Antoinette sits on the fireplace mantelpiece
The diners would have dined by candle light from the chandelier which would have been reflected by the two large gilt wall mirrors. A bust of Marie Antoinette sits on the fireplace mantelpiece
Only those who were closest to the King or Queen would have been invited into the Small Salon. Louis XV used it either for informal dinners or as a gaming room. It is located right just off the Dining Room which would make it easy for those specially intimate guests to withdraw to a more intimate setting.
The Grand Salon is the largest room of the Petit Trianon. This room was also used to entertain those who were granted an invitation to the intimate presence of the royal family.
The walls are painted in the pale green and white favored in the Petit Trianon. Several medallions containing the fleurs-de-lis of the French monarchy has been carved into the paneling along with Louis XV’s initials.
Musical instruments representing Marie Antoinette’s love of music are placed around the room. She also replaced Louis XV’s grand chandelier with a more intimate lantern. The lantern is gilded in bronze and decorated with blue lapis. Amazingly, the lantern was sold after the palace was ransacked during the French Revolution, but found and restored to the palace in 2008.
The walls are painted in the pale green and white favored in the Petit Trianon. Several medallions containing the fleurs-de-lis of the French monarchy has been carved into the paneling along with Louis XV’s initials.
Musical instruments representing Marie Antoinette’s love of music are placed around the room. She also replaced Louis XV’s grand chandelier with a more intimate lantern. The lantern is gilded in bronze and decorated with blue lapis. Amazingly, the lantern was sold after the palace was ransacked during the French Revolution, but found and restored to the palace in 2008.
Originally the Queen’s Boudoir was part of Louis XV's private chambers and he would retreat to this room when he wanted to be alone or with his mistress.
When Marie Antoinette moved into the Petit Trianon she used the room as her boudoir. She she ordered two movable mirrors that could be pulled up from the floor and cover the windows for privacy.
When Marie Antoinette moved into the Petit Trianon she used the room as her boudoir. She she ordered two movable mirrors that could be pulled up from the floor and cover the windows for privacy.
The Queen's Bathroom.
Madam du Berry, Louis XV's last mistress used the Queen's Bedchamber whenever she was visiting the king at Petit Trianon. When Marie Antoinette lived at chateau, it was one of the last rooms she redecorated (in 1787) before she and her husband were taken into custody two years later and executed during the French Revolution.
From the window in the bedchamber Marie Antoinette could look directly down at the gardens and the Temple of Love.
From the window in the bedchamber Marie Antoinette could look directly down at the gardens and the Temple of Love.
I was glad that I finally made the pilgrimage to the Petit Trianon. This small, intimate palace is such a contrast to the fabulous Chateau de Versailles and its grand, formal, royal atmosphere and helps you understand that these historic figures were also people and sometimes just needed to get away from it all!
Some specific details regarding interior rooms thanks to thisisversaillesmadame.blogspot.dk
RSS Feed