![Petit Trianon (Small Trianon), Versailles](/img/gd_attr/37267.jpg)
Petit Trianon (Small Trianon), Versailles
The Small Trianon is one more beautiful building in Versailles that will give you another insight about how kings and queens lived in France before the Revolution.
It was built between 1762 and 1768 by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, commissioned by Madame de Pompadour as a retreat for herself and King Louis 15th, so that they could escape the rigueur of the royal court and relax among friends.
Sadly the King’s favorite mistress died before the “small” chateau was finished and it was used by her successor Madame du Barry.
The building is a mixture of late Rococo and Neo-classical style and each of its façades was designed to embellish the part of the estate that it faced: therefore the side that faces the French Gardens has ornate columns, while the north façade is rather simple as it faced the greenhouses of the botanical garden.
When Marie-Antoinette arrived at Versailles she was ill-prepared for the snobbery of the French court and her husband, Louis 16th, gave her the Small Trianon and its lands so that she could amuse herself with her close friends far away from the courtiers’ prying eyes.
There is no doubt that Marie-Antoinette made this place her personal retreat, as the rooms are delicately decorated in feminine colors of pale rose, white and gold; her bedroom with its small, narrow bed, is on the 1st floor, while the rooms set aside for the king are in the mezzanine in the attic.
It was built between 1762 and 1768 by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, commissioned by Madame de Pompadour as a retreat for herself and King Louis 15th, so that they could escape the rigueur of the royal court and relax among friends.
Sadly the King’s favorite mistress died before the “small” chateau was finished and it was used by her successor Madame du Barry.
The building is a mixture of late Rococo and Neo-classical style and each of its façades was designed to embellish the part of the estate that it faced: therefore the side that faces the French Gardens has ornate columns, while the north façade is rather simple as it faced the greenhouses of the botanical garden.
When Marie-Antoinette arrived at Versailles she was ill-prepared for the snobbery of the French court and her husband, Louis 16th, gave her the Small Trianon and its lands so that she could amuse herself with her close friends far away from the courtiers’ prying eyes.
There is no doubt that Marie-Antoinette made this place her personal retreat, as the rooms are delicately decorated in feminine colors of pale rose, white and gold; her bedroom with its small, narrow bed, is on the 1st floor, while the rooms set aside for the king are in the mezzanine in the attic.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Versailles. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Petit Trianon (Small Trianon) on Map
Sight Name: Petit Trianon (Small Trianon)
Sight Location: Versailles, France (See walking tours in Versailles)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Versailles, France (See walking tours in Versailles)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Versailles, France
Create Your Own Walk in Versailles
Creating your own self-guided walk in Versailles is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Versailles Gardens Walking Tour
Spread across a vast (800-hectare) area, the Versailles Gardens are the quintessential example of regal grandeur and meticulous French landscape design. Most of its feature areas – known as 'groves' – were created by King Louis XIV’s chief landscape architect André Le Nôtre. Key among the garden's numerous attractions is the Orangerie Fountain, which sets the tone for its... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Versailles Introduction Walking Tour
Versailles, a wealthy suburb of Paris some 20 kilometers southwest of the capital, is steeped in grandeur and regal history. Known worldwide for its opulent palace – the residence of French royalty, this small town offers much more than just its royal gates. Versailles is a living museum of French architecture and aristocratic life and is historically known for numerous treaties signed there,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles