The Petit Trianon
Presentation
The Petit Trianon was built between 1763 and 1768 by the architect Gabriel, requested by Madame de Pompadour, mistress then friend of king Louis XV.
Mme de Pompadour was the former mistress of the king but still his friend. She was the instigator of this little palace, built by Gabriel from 1763 to 1768 near the botanical gardens and the new menagerie to entertain him with one of his passions : sciences. To please the Marchioness, always aware of the last trend, the architect changed his rocky aesthetics to adopt pure lines and cubic shape. It was the latest architectural style, called “the Greek style”.
It is not as simple as it looks like : each frontage is different, built to reply to its surrounding : the Courtyard, the French Garden and its lovely pavilion, the Botanical Garden and the Flower Garden.
Even inside we find a modern style. The decoration of the Small Trianon is more simple than the rest of the estate. It is not about materials, you will notice the absence of gold for example, but more about the fineness and elegance of the sculptures dedicate, like the palace, to nature.
Sadly, Mme de Pompadour died before the completion of the Palace in 1764. Nowadays it keeps the souvenir of an other inhabitant : Louis XVI made a gift of the Trianon Estate to his queen Marie-Antoinette in 1774. She lived there a distant life from the court, maybe too distant for some of the courtier.
It is not as simple as it looks like : each frontage is different, built to reply to its surrounding : the Courtyard, the French Garden and its lovely pavilion, the Botanical Garden and the Flower Garden.
Even inside we find a modern style. The decoration of the Small Trianon is more simple than the rest of the estate. It is not about materials, you will notice the absence of gold for example, but more about the fineness and elegance of the sculptures dedicate, like the palace, to nature.
Sadly, Mme de Pompadour died before the completion of the Palace in 1764. Nowadays it keeps the souvenir of an other inhabitant : Louis XVI made a gift of the Trianon Estate to his queen Marie-Antoinette in 1774. She lived there a distant life from the court, maybe too distant for some of the courtier.
Opening day(s)
Exceptionally closed : Wednesday 25 December 2024
All year long 2025
Every day except Monday
During high season: Marie-Antoinette's Estate is open from 10:00a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (access to interior areas until 5:45 p.m.) from Tuesday to Sunday except for certain holidays or official ceremonies. During low season: Marie-Antoinette's Estate is open from 12:00 noon to 5:30 p.m. (no admission after 5:00 p.m.) from Tuesday to Sunday except for certain holidays or official ceremonies.
LIBELLE_LABEL_CHAINE
- Tourist guides :
- Michelin guide
- Tourist guides
- Le Routard guide
General information
- Visites :
- Average group visit length (minutes) 90
- Average individual visit length (minutes) 180
- Type of culturel patrimony :
- Historic site and monument
- Historical patrimony :
- Historic patrimony
- Château
- Farm
- Visit :
- Guided tours
- Restaurants :
- Restaurant
- Fast food
- Services :
- Pets welcome
LIBELLE_EQUIPEMENT_SERVICES
- Leisure facilities :
- Picnic area
- Parking :
- Parking
- Individual tour services :
- Guided individual tours available permanently
- Unguided individual tours available permanently
- Group tour services :
- Guided group tours on request
- Unguided group tours available permanently
- Interior facilities :
- Toilets
- Restaurant
- Entertainment :
- Temporary exhibition
- Shows
- Cultural leisure facilities :
- Exhibition space
Accessibility
- Accessibility criteria for people with reduced mobility :
- Accessible for wheelchairs with assistance
Prices
- Payment methods :
Contact
The Petit Trianon
Château de Versailles
78000
Versailles
Phone : +33 1 30 83 78 00
- Spoken language(s) :
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