Rural France Journals Episode 195: Queen Marie-Antoinette's little private palace & hamlet

[@charlieb2903]

Thank you Leon, these videos bring back very happy memories of my visit to Versailles in 2014.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@charlieb2903 wow, did anything change since then? Have a wonderful weekend 🙂

[@charlieb2903]

@RuralFranceJournals It seems to be much as I remember it, though I am sure there have been minor changes. All the best.

[@lawrencebaker2318]

This has been a lovely series, Leon. Thank you. Breaking it into episodes really helped me appreciate both the shear scale and the beautiful details of Versailles... which really is just too much to take in otherwise!

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@lawrencebaker2318 thank you. So many things to see and still I could not cover everything. A week there would have been better. Wishing you a lovely weekend Larry 🤗

[@fredleescott2874]

I have really loved this series you have brought to everyone! What a lovely little home and gardens Marie had! Thanks for everything and Merry Christmas from Nashville, Tennessee!

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@fredleescott2874 thank you very much and a Merry Christmas to you too 🤗 Marie-Antoinette's hamlet and the Petit Trianon were my favourite places - much more 'down-to-earth' 🙂

[@kristinedunkleman8767]

Hard to believe that royalty even went there. Seemed too plain for them. I know I would have liked this little hamlet the best. Thank you Leon. Looking forward to next Friday and Paris.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@kristinedunkleman8767 I suspect after a lot of research that Marie-Antoinette hated the palace and had this haven created to experience some 'normal' life. So odd that the hamlet's buildings were painted to get an old, rural look, almost like decor sets for a play! Next Friday is a retrospective look at an amazing birthday weekend in Paris 🥳

[@meyou3566]

Actually, the style of the time was moving towards a more simplistic design that was "Neoclassical", with far less details and interiors were more sober. This style was especially loved by the queen as the entire Petit Trianon is in this style and her private apartments that she had constructed on the first floor of Versailles are all in this style, with very little extravagance and more soberness (notice in these spaces how the wall paneling and furniture have no gold leaf). The discovery of Pompeii in this era led to a fascination with this style which is what led desgin style of the over the top Louis XV style to the more transitional Louis XVI style.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@meyou3566 the Petit Trianon was originally built at the request of Madame de Pompadour, Louis XVth then mistress. After she passed away Jeanne Du Barry became his favourite mistress and he gave her the Petit Trianon. With the arrival of Marie-Antoinette marrying Louis XVI and Louis XVth passing Jeanne was chased from Versailles and it was given to Marie-Antoinette who redecorated it according to her style: simpler with lots of floral designs.

[@chrissmith5310]

Fr reincarnated as following 👑 James of Scott's I think u so much for sharing this times s home.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@chrissmith5310 🙂 Thank you Chris.

[@StellMoorhouse]

Love this and looking forward to more.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@StellMoorhouse thank you so much - this was the last in a series of 6 Versailles videos 🙂

[@tresfeles2784]

All those riches, yet such a tragic end. I can't help but think of this quote from Macbeth: Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@tresfeles2784 wnat an awesome quote!!! Thank you. After research I do feel sorry for Marie-Antoinette - some accusations, like the diamond necklace, were totally false. She took all the blame because of a weak husband, Louis XVI.

[@patriciafay-magiera1304]

Greetings Leon! At long last I can truly enjoy your Journals once again! Over a month ago. my sound system was not in service, and, at that time you did not have "CC". Your wonderful narration and beautiful music was denied me! All is well now. I see you have "CC", too. Happy Belated Birthda, Leon. I will go back to review everything and I hope I find your birthday celebration. I visited theThe Petit Trianon with my daughter Marlis, when she was two years old! Your presentation was most moving and enjoyable. I delighted in seeing The Queen's Village for the first time with you. This series seemed to feature your old, true story-telling, photagraphy and music. once again. You were inspired! Thank You so much! Sending God's blessings! Patricia

[@patriciafay-magiera1304]

P.S.However, I could not escape the tragedy which overtook Maire Antoinette. She sought bucolic peace in which to raise her children. Sadly, she seemed unaware of the violent reality that surrounded her efforts. I could not get these thoughts out of my mind as I enjoyed every scene.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@patriciafay-magiera1304 thank you so much dear Patricia, glad you're back 🤗 Really missed you. Thank you for the birthday wishes - next Friday I will show you my exciting bday weekend in Paris, filled with surprises! Versailles was most inspiring and launched a whole lot of research - fascinating stuff!!! At the same time the new film on Jeanne du Barry came on Netflix in France, with Johnny Depp as Louis XV. Also on French tv they had the story of the diamond necklace and Marie-Antoinette in 'Secrets d'Histoire'. The hamlet was awesome because it was painted to look rustic, almost like a stage set!! Lots of love 💛💖💛

[@peterwhite9261]

Hello Leon, Thank you for this series. I enjoyed it very much.❤

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@peterwhite9261 many thanks. Wishing you a super weekend Peter 🤗

[@nadia-i1l5h]

Thank you fir this lovely little treat , I enjoyed it very much

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@nadia-i1l5h thank you so much 🙂

[@mocnabanda3120]

Wau, kako su zgrade dobro ocuvane i basta lepo negovana i sve je prelepo

[@RuralFranceJournals]

Tamo je veoma lepo. Hvala na komentaru 🙂

[@LINDRAJOOSTEN]

Leon dis pragtig. Kan nie glo dis op dieselfde perseel as die Paleis nie! Jammer ek het dit gemis. Bly warm!

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@LINDRAJOOSTEN dis baie ver om te stap, maar hulle het ook treintjies elke 10 min soontoe. Beslis die moeite werd en ook baie minder toeriste 🙂 My pellet burner brand al vroegdag teen die koue 🥶 Mooi bly, lekker om van jou te hoor 🤗

[@rvaprep]

A lovely video Leon. Joyeux Noel !

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@rvaprep merci 🤗 Joyeux Noël à vous aussi 🎄🌟🎄

[@pamelamason6372]

I think I prefer this gorgeous place to the larger, more formal main palace. The water flowing in the little streams looked rather an odd colour. I have never heard of a warming room to heat dishes. I know that in years gone by in large English houses, the kitchens were so far from the dining rooms that the food was sometimes cold when it was served. Fascinating that mirrors were moved to block the windows. Was this to keep out the sun, for novelty, to ring the changes? Why not just have curtains, have I missed something? I loved this vlog and your exquisite choice of music was a delight (as usual). Off now to my volunteering duties at the local hospice, so until next LEONSDAY. . . . . . . .

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@pamelamason6372 me too - much cosier! In the warming room Louis XVI was going to have a dumb waiter installed to take the warm food upstairs but it never happened, so the poor servants had to run upstairs with the dishes! The mirrors are sliding mirrors and were moved to block the windows from prying eyes. Or maybe it was to hide the Swedish count? 🙄 Bonne journée Pamela ! 🤗💛 PS Next week I will show my stunning birthday weekend in Paris, filled with surprises 🙂

[@meyou3566]

The queen hated the smells of the kitchens at the palace, and they were also a fire hazard, so the kitchens were located in outbuildings, and then the food was brought to the Petit Trianon and kept in the warming kitchen until it was served. The Petit Trianon was originally supposed to have "flying tables" which were a table on a platform in the basement onto which the food was placed, and it was cranked up through a hole in the floor of the dining room so the staff wouldn't have to be around to manually bring all the food up the main staircase and be around to serve the guests at the Petit Trianon, but the table system was never installed due to cost (because believe it or not, the Queen did NOT live that lavishly as people seem to think). The mirrored room was her boudoir, and essentially the mirrors were raised so she would have a place that was completely private and dark where no one could look in through a window and watch her. Her small bedroom at Fontainebleau has a sliding mirror that covers the window as well to seal off all the light.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@meyou3566 thank you for this info. Even the hamlet had a kitchen situated in a house close to the queen's house. The "flying table" I referred to as the dumb waiter, a concept still in use today. Yes, it's quite funny that there was no money for that, bearing in mind the huge expenses elsewhere on the property 🙄 I think I did explain the sliding mirrors as means of privacy, cut off from inquisitive eyes on the outside.

[@fv1291]

Merry Christmas from California!

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@fv1291 thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you too 🤗

[@SandraLily2]

Beautiful, just beautiful. As an aside, I highly recommend the movie "Jeanne du Barry" (Depp and Maiwenn). It is gorgeous and a great movie!

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@SandraLily2 thank you so much 🤗 I have watched Jeanne du Barry 3 times already - loved it 💖

[@shabbymoniquebrocante4923]

Hi Leon. Another beautiful video. How many days did you spent in Versailles?. It's so big. Have a lovely weekend xxx

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@shabbymoniquebrocante4923 only 2 full days. Monique, the 2nd day I walked 30 kms in total 😩 But it was great to get away from the crowds at the palace! A wonderful weekend to you too 💛

[@shabbymoniquebrocante4923]

@RuralFranceJournals my goodnes. 30 km. You are in a good condition. 😉 . Respect.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@shabbymoniquebrocante4923 I did sleep very well that night 🤣

[@shabbymoniquebrocante4923]

@@RuralFranceJournals 🤣🤣🤣

[@eugeneviollet-le-duc5971]

À mort la gueuse ! Vive le Roi !

[@solangelauthier2381]

Rural France ?!!!

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@@solangelauthier2381 sometimes rural goes urban!!! Solange, it is part of my personal journals and every now and again I do visit a city but if you look at the rest of my vlogs you will discover mostly rural vlogs 🙂

[@solangelauthier2381]

@ Well, Marie Antoinette’s place has absolutely nothing rural : neither its geographical situation (Versailles is certainly not in the countryside) nor its atmosphere.

[@RuralFranceJournals]

@solangelauthier2381 did you actually read my reply? I SOMETIMES visit other venues outside what one would call 'rural France'. I live in rural France and these are my experiences, with the emphasis on JOURNALS or diaries: my trips from rural France to other places of interest.

[@solangelauthier2381]

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