"Discover the Lavish Private Quarters of Former Queen of France Marie-Antoinette at Versailles"

Key Highlights :

1. Marie-Antoinette moved into the former Queen Marie Leszczynska's apartment on the first floor of Versailles in 1770.

2. She quickly started decorating her own chambers, which she continued to embellish until 1788.

3. Marie-Antoinette was known for her eye for detail in fashion and interior design, and her love of the arts.

4. Her taste for decorating and collections are clear in the private quarters, which were reopened to the public this week after extensive restoration work.

5. On the first floor is the room – named after the place in an alcove lined with mirrors – which was fitted out in 1781.

6. The library, dating back to 1781, was also recently restored thanks to sponsorship from the group.

7. The Golden Cabinet was named after the sculpted woodwork inspired by Egyptian motifs, which were all the rage in 1784.

8. Prior to that, in 1779, Marie-Antoinette had it decorated with silk flowers, arabesques and gilded medallions.

9. The two floors of the apartment are connected by small staircases, located behind the alcove of the main room.

10. The second floor has a dining room, a boudoir and a billiard room (a game played at Versailles since Louis XIV), which was also used for hosting friends and guests.

     Marie-Antoinette, the Archduchess of Austria and the former Queen of France, arrived at the Palace of Versailles in 1770 after her marriage to the future King Louis XVI. Despite the grandeur of the palace, Marie-Antoinette longed for a more private life and moved into the former Queen Marie Leszczynska's apartment on the first floor. She quickly began decorating her own chambers, and for the next eight years, Marie-Antoinette's eye for detail in fashion and interior design was evident in the lavish quarters.

     This week, after years of renovations, the two-floor private apartment belonging to Marie-Antoinette has been reopened to the public. On the first floor, visitors can explore the room named after the placed in an alcove lined with mirrors, which was fitted out in 1781. The library, dating back to 1781, was also recently restored thanks to sponsorship from a group, and the Golden Cabinet is named after the sculpted woodwork inspired by Egyptian motifs, which were all the rage in 1784.

     The two floors of the apartment are connected by small staircases, located behind the alcove of the main room. On the second floor, there is a dining room, a boudoir, a billiard room, and three rooms for the chambermaids and other staff. The restoration of the Jouy tapestries, a central element of the second floor, was carried out for the most part using the traditional flat frame technique.

     Throughout the apartment, visitors can discover the pineapple motif, produced by the Manufacture de Jouy in the 18th century. Marie-Antoinette was known for her love of the arts and her exquisite taste for decorating and collections, which can be seen in the private quarters.

     The reopening of the private two-floor apartment belonging to Marie-Antoinette is a great opportunity to explore the lavish chambers and discover the eye for detail in fashion and interior design of the former Queen of France. Visitors can experience the grandeur of the palace and the private life of Marie-Antoinette, all in one visit.

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