petit trianon

The Petit Trianon was built by Louis XV on the site of a former village near to his palace at Versailles. There is actually a Grand Trianon as well but that is a separate complex. The Petit Trianon was originally used by the King for his liaisons with Mmes de Pompadour and du Barry but after his death (he was actually taken ill there) it was given by his successor Louis XVI to his wife, Marie Antoinette and it is with her that it is most associated.

The Petit Trianon has recently been refurbished to appear much as it did during Marie Antoinette’s residency and it is absolutely exquisite and a perfect example of Louis XVI art and architecture at its finest from the beautiful staircase to the salon to the lovely little bedroom upstairs. The famous painting by Vigée-Lebrun of Marie Antoinette dressed in blue and holding a rose is located here and presides over the home that she once loved so much.

The gardens are justly famous as well, although you probably won’t see any ghosts here unlike previous visitors! The roses are beautiful as are the lovely little follies erected for Marie Antoinette. There is also a beautiful chapel and her own personal theatre, which is decorated in exquisite blue and silver.

Also unmissable is her famous 'hameau’ or toy farm where she dressed as a shepherdess and tended sheep. It is a group of artistically aged 'farm houses’ picturesquely arrayed around a lake. Very pretty.