Interior of Marie Antoinette’s secret hideout 

The idea to build a Small Trianon (French Petit Trianon) Louis XV was served by his favorite Madame Pompadour. But in the minds of descendants, this palace turned out to be associated with the name of another woman — Queen Marie Antoinette. The building, designed by the court architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel, entered textbooks as a “transitional link” between Rococo and neoclassicism.

The southern facade of the Small Trianon.

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Patrick tourneboeuf /TENDANCE FLOUE

Its architecture paradoxically combined rocaille lightness and classical rigor. All four facades were decorated differently: each of them corresponded in style to the landscape of the part of the park to which it was facing.

Reception room on the ground floor of the Small Trianon.

Photo

Patrick tourneboeuf /TENDANCE FLOUE

In 1774, Louis XVI ascended the throne and immediately granted the palace and the adjacent part of the park to his wife Marie Antoinette. Access to the Queen’s possessions became possible only at the personal invitation of Her Majesty. (No exceptions were made even for the king himself!)

Marie Antoinette’s boudoir was equipped with mirrored panels that completely covered the windows – it was only necessary to turn the secret lever. The tables in the state dining room, located on the second floor, were lowered down by a special mechanism, where the servants served them without disturbing the guests’ peace. The interiors of the building were distinguished by exquisite simplicity, in sharp contrast to the splendor of the main palace of Versailles.

Portrait of Marie Antoinette by Elisabeth-Louise Viger-Lebrun*, 1783.

Photo

Patrick tourneboeuf /TENDANCE FLOUE

Access to the palace was possible only at the personal invitation of Marie Antoinette. No exceptions were made even for the king himself

When the hidden lever is turned, the windows are completely closed with mirror panels. The study is furnished with Georges Jacob furniture.

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Patrick tourneboeuf /TENDANCE FLOUE

Elegant furniture by Georges Jacob, hand-painted wallpaper, minimum gilding… Away from prying eyes, the queen entertained with home performances and personally milked cows on a farm built in the middle of the park.

View of Marie Antoinette’s small living room before the 2008 restoration.

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Patrick tourneboeuf /TENDANCE FLOUE

The secrecy of the monarch gave rise to many rumors: anonymous pamphlets painted unheard—of orgies in the palace and accused the queen of having an affair with her friends – the Princess de Lamballe and the Duchess de Polignac. Marie Antoinette did not pay attention to the lampoon — and in vain! In 1792, the same accusations migrated to the pages of the verdict condemning the queen to the death penalty.

Small salon. The chairs by Nicolas-Kinibert Folio and Pierre-Edme Babel belonged to the favorite of Louis XV, Madame du Barry.

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Patrick tourneboeuf /TENDANCE FLOUE

After the death of the hostess, the Little Trianon was abandoned. But already under Napoleon III, it began to be turned into the Marie Antoinette Museum. The process was finally completed in 2008. Exhibition halls are located in the basement. The front rooms were restored to their former splendor. The atmosphere of the intimate rooms of the second floor is almost the same as in the time of the Queen. The fabrics were made according to archival drawings by the masters of the Pierre Frey factory.

One of the rooms in the mezzanine of the palace. The desk with inlay is the work of Jean-Henri Riesener. The walls are upholstered with rui fabric.

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Patrick tourneboeuf /TENDANCE FLOUE

Marie Antoinette personally milked cows on a farm built for her in the middle of the park

Marie Antoinette’s bedroom after restoration. The work was funded by the Breguet Watch House.

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Patrick tourneboeuf /TENDANCE FLOUE

The non—preserved pieces of furniture were created anew – strict critics have already condemned the restorers for this liberty. The Marie Antoinette library has been returned from oblivion. Everything is like in the old days, only the thrill of belonging to the circle of the elect is missing. However, if we recall the fate that befell this circle during the revolution, perhaps it is for the best.

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