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A walk in Marie-Antoinette's estate in Versailles

A walk inside the estate of Marie-Antoinette in the gardens of the Chateau of Versailles.

The Domaine de Marie-Antoinette, also known as the Domaine de Trianon, in the grounds of the Château de Versailles, is an iconic site steeped in history and beauty. This enclave within the vast Versailles estate was Queen Marie-Antoinette's favourite refuge, where she could escape the constraints of the court and enjoy a more intimate, rural setting. The estate includes several remarkable features, including the Petit Trianon, an elegant neoclassical pavilion, the Grand Trianon and the Hameau de la Reine, a charming rustic village designed as a reconstruction of an 18th-century pastoral village.

Although part of the vast grounds of the Château de Versailles, Marie-Antoinette's estate is entirely enclosed and access is subject to a fee (€12). It is not advisable to attempt to visit the château, the park and Marie-Antoinette's estate in a single day unless you are a good walker.

The official website of Marie-Antoinette's estate (domaine de Trianon)

Interest: ratinggood (1 user)
Difficulty: difficulty
Duration: 4 h.
Departure point (Google Maps)

The plan of the park

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The plan of the park
Marie-Antoinette's estate is located inside the Château de Versailles. The queen and king had small castles built here for their weekend entertainment! Access to the grounds of the château is free, but there is a charge for access to Marie-Antoinette's estate and grounds. The estate is more than a kilometre from the Château de Versailles.

The entrance to Marie-Antoinette's estate

The whole area is fenced and there are not many entry points. You can also buy your ticket and access the park from the Grand and Petit Trianon. The ticket gives access to the interior of the castles of Marie-Antoinette's estate.

The Queen's Hamlet

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The Queen's Hamlet
The Hameau de la Reine is made up of a group of houses that resemble a small Norman farming village with thatched roofs. The Queen would drop in from time to time to play farmer, and the animals were washed for the occasion.

Marlborough Tower

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Marlborough Tower
The Malborough tower is a kind of lighthouse that served little purpose but added a nice touch to the somewhat artificial setting. You can't visit the inside of the houses. Vegetables are still grown in the gardens.

The Little Trianon

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The Little Trianon
The Petit Trianon was a gift from Louis XVI to his wife Marie-Antoinette. It was built under Louis XV. Marie Antoinette liked to retire here to get away from the court. The queen gave many parties in the castle.

The Petit Trianon seen from the gardens

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The Petit Trianon seen from the gardens
Next to this French garden is a charming little theatre where the queen herself used to perform. The French Pavilion, a sort of large octagonal salon, is also located in this garden.

The English Garden

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The English Garden
You have to take the time to walk around and visit. The park is so large that you can quickly find yourself out of the crowd.

Le Grand Trianon

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Le Grand Trianon
The Grand Trianon is older than the Petit Trianon, it was built under Louis XIV. It was meant to be a place of relaxation to get away from the pomp of Versailles. It was more or less abandoned thereafter. Napoleon had it restored.

Louis-Philippe's family room

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Louis-Philippe's family room
This was Louis XIV's bedroom before being transformed by Napoleon during the First Empire.

The Grand Trianon - main entrance

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The Grand Trianon - main entrance
The other name for the Grand Trianon is the Marble Trianon, because marble is everywhere.

Small dining room

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Small dining room
The interior of the Petit Trianon can be visited quite quickly (a quarter of an hour), it is not very large. You can visit the queen's room. The Grand and Petit Trianon were in fact only secondary residences intended for relaxation, they are a little less luxurious than the main castle. It is still very majestic for a country house!

Le Grand Canal

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Le Grand Canal
For those who want to walk a bit more, they can go to the Grand Canal. There you can find some food and a bit of boating. In the background you can see the Palace of Versailles, which is still at a respectable distance.

🚶‍ Practical information 🌳

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