The key feature of the Hamlet, the Queen’s House, has been completely restored and refurnished. It consisted of two distinct buildings linked by a gallery, the billiard house to the left and the queen’s house to the right. Discover this unique place where two women have left their mark, Queen Marie-Antoinette and Empress Marie-Louise.
The Queen’s Hamlet is somewhat like a stage set and when it was designed and built it was never expected to last more than a decade or two. The fragile constructions did not stand up well to the ravages of time and a succession of restoration projects have been carried out to maintain them.
Between 2015 and 2018, the Queen’s House and the Warming Room underwent a major restoration project. The work entailed stabilisation of the structural parts and complete restoration of the masonry, framework and roofing. Some of the most impressive aspects of this operation are the restoration of the interior decor and refurnishing of the Queen’s House.
The refurnishing involved returning items originally commissioned for the Queen’s House. As the furniture selected by Marie-Antoinette was scattered during the Revolution, it is the furnishings commissioned for Empress Marie-Louise in 1810 that are today being returned to the Queen’s House.
The style of Marie-Louise’s furniture and decoration is fairly similar to Marie-Antoinette’s. Both are characterised by great elegance, although there was a stronger emphasis on Antiquity in Marie-Louise’s decoration. The large yellow salon, the centrepiece of the Queen’s House, perfectly illustrates the imperial elegance of the time of Marie-Louise.
Marie-Antoinette style
© RMN Grand Palais (Château de Versailles) Gérard Blot
Chair, circa 1785, V 5808
This chair was delivered by craftsman Georges Jacob (father) around 1785 for the dining room in the Queen's House. Its overall appearance is one of lightness and delicacy, which was characteristic of the style at the time of Queen Marie-Antoinette. Solid mahogany complements the green Morocco leather and gold nails on the seat. The legs are in the form of columns and the back is shaped like a lyre. Georges Jacob was the inventor of lyre-shaped seat backs, a form that remained fashionable throughout the French First Empire.
Marie-Louise style
© RMN Grand Palais (Château de Versailles) Christophe Fouin
Chair, circa 1810, T 4699
This chair was commissioned from Jacob-Desmalter for Empress Marie-Louise. The craftsmen working for Marie-Louise came from the same line as those who worked for Marie-Antoinette. Although almost similar in essence, a difference in style can be seen in the details between the two chairs. Here, the front legs are composed of double balusters with a ring in the middle. The rear legs are sabres, which was a typical form during the French First Empire. The overall appearance of this chair is more rigid and less intricate, a clear example of the Empire style.
As at the time of Marie Antoinette, a poplar has been planted in the centre of the spiral staircase. © EPV / Didier Saulnier
Large scaffolding and a decorative tarpaulin covered the Queen's House during restoration work on the exterior. © EPV / Didier Saulnier
The battens were fully restored. © EPV / Didier Saulnier
The flat tile roof was restored to the main buildings. © EPV / Didier Saulnier
The flat tile roof was restored to the main buildings. © EPV / Didier Saulnier
The flat tile roof was restored to the main buildings. © EPV / Didier Saulnier
The thatched roof was restored to the other buildings and the gallery. New clay ridging with traditional fixations was installed at the top of the thatched roofs.© EPV / Didier Saulnier
The thatched roof was restored to the other buildings and the gallery. New clay ridging with traditional fixations was installed at the top of the thatched roofs. © EPV / Didier Saulnier
On the facade of the Queen’s house, as throughout the Hamlet, the trompe-l’œil painting imitates deteriorated joints, chipped coatings and moss-covered walls. These wall paintings and the decorative paintings have all been restored. © EPV / Didier Saulnier
The ceilings in the dining room and the large yellow room have been completely restored, as well as the stucco cornices. © EPV / Didier Saulnier
The seats in the large yellow room were restored in the upholstery workshops of the Palace of Versailles. © EPV / Thomas Garnier
The seats in the large yellow room were restored in the upholstery workshops of the Palace of Versailles. © EPV / Thomas Garnier
The seats in the large yellow room were restored in the upholstery workshops of the Palace of Versailles. © EPV / Thomas Garnier
Various restoration work was taken on by numerous external workmen, including several Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, in addition to the work carried out in the workshops of the Palace of Versailles. © ZED
The end pieces in the form of thyrsus pine cones (wooden staff) were carved according to a template provided by the museum. © ZED
The task of gilding some pieces furniture and cleaning all the candleholders, torches, lamps and fireplaces was entrusted to external workshops. © ZED
The task of gilding some pieces furniture and cleaning all the candleholders, torches, lamps and fireplaces was entrusted to external workshops. © ZED
Du 12 juin au 16 septembre 2018 au Grand Trianon
Exhibition
To mark the completion of the work on the Queen's House and its reopening, the Palace is hosting an exhibition of photos by Claire Adelfang, a young photographer who captured the location in 2015 before its restoration, in the Petit Trianon from 4 May to 2 September.
Exhibition
From June to September 2018, an exhibition dedicated to Jean Cotelle the Younger will be on display at the Grand Trianon. The exhibition will feature some 120 works,paintings, drawings, engravings, miniatures and sculptures from public and private collections.
Show
From 29 March to 31 October 2024, enjoy the Musical Gardens and the Great Musical Waters in the gardens and groves opened for the occasion. Every Saturday evening from 8 June to 21 September, Sunday 14 July, friday 28 June and Thursday 15 August, discover the Gardens in the evening with the The Night Fountains Show.
Life on the estate
The European Royal Residences unveils the programme A Place at the Royal Table and invites you to join the many events devoted to the gastronomic heritage of European Courts, and enjoy a journey through time exploring culinary traditions!
