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Marie-Antoinette or the influence of a queen in love with parties and entertainment
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by Jade Caillot
- October 31, 2022
- Events
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On the occasion of the release of "Marie-Antoinette" the new series-event of Canal +, Loc'Hall takes you to the most beautiful venues evoking the romantic life punctuated by dramas and dizzying parties of this icon of French history, whose fate, nearly 230 years after her death, still fascinates.
Marie Antoinette superstar? There are countless books, films, and exhibition series devoted to what was probably the most abused queen in French history. Considered the founder and ambassador of the French art of living and luxury, this romantic, controversial and misunderstood figure has become a true pop icon.
The first season of this new Franco-British series traces the tumultuous arrival of Archduchess Marie Antoinette of Austria at the French court at the age of 14, her marriage to Louis XVI and the first 10 years of her life at Versailles, first as dauphin and then as Queen of France, but always considered as "the Austrian".
A figure both admired and disliked, Marie-Antoinette left her mark on her era with, among other things, a pronounced taste for fashion, shows, parties and balls that she organized in her many palaces, follies, pavilions and gardens. An undeniable talent for events before its time, which we suggest you relive in a selection of sites that she frequented or simply inspired.
Contents
The Château of Versailles, the queen in her house
At the age of 14, Marie-Antoinette arrived at Château in Versailles, residence of the French court, to marry the future Louis XVI. Suffering from the indifference of her husband, she prefers to reign over the pleasures of the court by indulging in shows, parties and balls that she likes to organize. Leaving her apartment at château, she spent her happiest moments at the Petit Trianon, given to her by her royal husband, or at the Hameau, which she had fitted out. Marie-Antoinette left an indelible mark on the Sun King's estate, which she shaped to her taste and image: salons, galleries, gardens, pavilion, hamlet, opera house, theater...still resound with the sumptuous parties given by the queen and are today breathtaking playgrounds for any event organizer!
The Domaine de Madame Elisabeth, the peaceful refuge
The place, which owes its name to its former owner, Marie-Antoinette's sister-in-law, was Starting at 1783 the Versailles refuge of this young sister of the king who spent her days there between prayer, reading, embroidery, gardening and horseback riding. The 7 hectares of the Domaine de Madame Elisabeth, which housed one of the most beautiful English gardens of the time, are ideally suited to country events taking place in the Orangery, the avenue of lime trees overlooking the Avenue de Paris or the grotto.
The Domaine de Saint-Cloud, gardens for royal festivities
Acquired by Louis XVI for Marie-Antoinette in 1784, this royal residence, which became a national estate, no longer has its château , which has now disappeared, but it still offers a fabulous 460-hectare park that has been designated a "remarkable garden". As the king wanted in Versailles, everything in this "remarkable garden" is a stage in which even the walkers are part of the majestic decor. An atmosphere worthy of court festivities, which lends itself perfectly to fabulous receptions imbued with the royal stamp, around the statues of Apollo, Bacchus, Venus or around the fountains, pools and waterfalls that come to life in a theatrical manner. To relive the rich hours of Marie-Antoinette organizing immense and excessive parties...
The Château of Bagatelle, the queen's challenge
It is said that in search of a place to give the most beautiful parties, the Count of Artois, brother of Louis XVI, is challenged by Marie-Antoinette to erect a new château on this Parisian plot of land with an old building ... in less than 100 days! Thearchitect Bellanger took up the challenge and, in 1777, gave the Count of Artois the opportunity to organize shows and hunts far from the etiquette of the Versailles court. Today, the château , which is one of the 7 in Paris, has just been renovated and can host both indoor and outdoor events with 1,100 m2 suitable for country parties or garden parties...
The Château of Rambouillet, the king's gift to the queen
Louis XVI liked to come to Rambouillet, château which he bought and transformed and where he liked to indulge in his favorite pastime, hunting. Marie-Antoinette, however, was less fond of the place. To win her over, he had a real dairy built, in the style of the follies in vogue at the time, a little jewel in the park of this château where today the splendors of the Ancien Régime rub shoulders with the golds of the Republic more closely than anywhere else. Far from the court and official palaces, Château de Rambouillet has always been a meeting place for hunting and informal receptions, and became a high place of diplomacy where all the great and the good of the world were invited in the XXth century. A singular architecture, a great variety of interior decorations and 150 hectares of historical gardens, offer an exceptional setting for all types of events and receptions.
The Odéon Theatre, between pomp and revolution
Built in 1782 to accommodate the troupe of the Comédie Française, this Italian-style theater was inaugurated by Queen Marie-Antoinette under the name of Théâtre-Français. It became the Théâtre de l'Odéon in 1796, and had an eventful destiny between the triumph of La Folle Journée or the Marriage of Figaro, which was contested by the king, and the hosting of agitated political gatherings, fires, and the insurrection of revolutionary youth, etc. Now that it has moved on to more clement climes, the theater offers prestige evenings to allow your guests to discover the world of an artist and to take advantage of the exceptional setting of the Odeon. It is also possible to organize conferences, seminars, breakfasts or receptions
The Conciergerie, palace and prison
Included in the architectural ensemble of the Palais de Justice de Paris, within the Ile de la Cité, the Conciergerie was the medieval residence of the kings of France before being the famous place of detention of Queen Marie-Antoinette during the Revolution. During the Restoration, according to the will of Louis XVIII, her cell was transformed into a precious oratory dedicated to her memory. Closely linked to the history of France, the site with its gothic architecture is today very popular for the organization of prestigious receptions, especially from foreign clients who are fond of the royal past of our country. Now listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, the Conciergerie will take your guests on a memorable journey... royal!
The Expiatory Chapel, place of memory of the royal family
This neoclassical and romantic building was built on the very spot where Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were buried before being transferred to the Saint-Denis basilica. Now a place of worship dedicated to the royal family, its great historical wealth makes it an exceptional site that remains too little known. A commemorative monument charged with symbolism, it nevertheless hosts small events in an intimate setting and its gardens invite visitors to calm and meditation among its famous white roses. Classified as a historical monument, the Chapelle Expiatoire offers a historical, confidential and atypical setting for an exceptional reception.
The Nissim de Camondo Museum, 18th century fascination
Near the Parc Monceau, it is one of the luxurious grand bourgeois mansions still preserved from the twentieth century in Paris, which houses an exceptional collection acquired by Moïse de Camondo. Among these pieces of French decorative art from the second half of the eighteenth century: Aubusson tapestries, paintings by Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, Sèvres porcelain and objects that belonged to Marie-Antoinette including a pair of petrified wood vases. Moreover, the Count de Camondo's passion for the late queen was expressed in the architecture of this Private Mansion inspired by the Petit Trianon of Versailles offered by Louis XVI to Marie-Antoinette. Today, the site offers a poetic and intimate setting for your guests, who can also enjoy the gardens designed by the landscape architect Achille Duchêne.
The Château of Champs-sur-Marne, when the queen makes her cinema
Characteristic of 18th century country houses, the Château of Champs sur Marne was built from 1703 to 1708 by the architects Pierre Bullet and Jean-Baptiste Bullet de Chamblain, at the request of Louis XIV's financier, Paul Poisson de Bourvallais. It has known prestigious tenants such as the Princess of Conti, the Dukes of La Vallière, the Marchioness of Pompadour, Diderot, Voltaire, Chateaubriand, Proust ... enjoying its setting with some 900 pieces of collection and its 85 hectares of gardens inspired by Le Nôtre. Marie-Antoinette never stayed there. However, château has become a favorite location for films/series dedicated to Marie-Antoinette, such as Sofia Coppola's opus or the Canal + series. In this last biopic, the actress Emilia Schüle lends her features to the queen of France presented as a young woman aspiring to freedom and glamour that she found more in the organization of incredible parties than in the court...
Marie-Antoinette still reigns in these 10 majestic venues . Her festive and eminently modern spirit can still influence today's receptions. She remains an example in her ability to be fully in her time, to escape constraints and to launch fashions. Inspiring, Marie-Antoinette Superstar!
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