Versailles estate, its Garden, Park, the Trianons and the Queen's Hamlet

Versailles estate comprises the Château de Versailles, the Garden, the Park, the Château du Grand Trianon,…

château de Versailles France
The Versailles estate (Domaine de Versailles) extends far beyond the famous château. It includes several architectural gems, such as the Grand and Petit Trianon, as well as remarkable landscaped areas such as the park, the Grand Canal and the pièce d'eau des Suisses. Located some 25 km from Paris, it was the center of Louis XIV's court, which gradually settled there along with the nobility. The Château de Versailles extends over 63,000 m² with 2,300 rooms. At the foot of the château is an 83-hectare garden. The surrounding 720-hectare park features parterres, bosquets and vast water features. The Grand Canal, built between 1667 and 1679, was once home to a royal fleet of several boats and gondoles, and is still used today as a venue for nautical events. The Trianons, located in the park, are more intimate palaces. The pink marble Grand Trianon was the residence of Louis XIV, and later of numerous dignitaries and state guests. The Petit Trianon, given to Marie-Antoinette by Louis XVI, reflects a personal and intimate universe, marked by its famous English garden and rustic hamlet. The estate, once reserved for royal festivities and leisure activities, is now open to the public. Events such as the Grandes Eaux and the Versailles Triathlon bring these historic sites to life, while highlighting the site's extraordinary cultural and heritage wealth. The Petit Trianon was severely damaged during the French Revolution. Its furniture was sold and the gardens turned into a public ballroom. The estate was almost abandoned after the departure of the royal family in 1789. Much of the furniture was dispersed at auction in 1793, and the site itself was divided into ten lots. However, in 1796, it was rented to an innkeeper and suffered from continued deterioration. Under Napoleon I, the Petit Trianon was restored for his sister Pauline, then for Empress Marie-Louise. Festivities such as the Empress's fête in 1811 marked its heyday under the Empire. During the Restoration, the Duchesse d'Angoulême inherited the estate, but rarely stayed there, as she was too influenced by the memories of her family. She was the daughter of Louis XVIth. Under Louis-Philippe, the estate became part of the Musée de Versailles, and the gardens were restored to their original state. Empress Eugenie reinstalled furniture and objects that had belonged to Marie-Antoinette in 1867. After the storm of 1999, major restoration work was carried out to return the gardens to their original state. A conservation project was launched in the 2000s to preserve the atmosphere of the Petit Trianon as it was in Marie-Antoinette's time, with restorations inspired by Sofia Coppola's film.

Hôtel de Mayenne, built in 1613 for Henri de Mayenne

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