The Château de Versailles offers a glimpse of the private chambers of Marie Antoinette
Guests can now step back in time with a voyage through the palace of the controversial queen Marie Antoninette, featuring her private chambers.
After five years of renovations, the Château de Versailles offered tours of the two floors of its recently restored interior areas: its dining room, library, and boudoirs of Marie Antoinette. As the queen of France in 1774, Marie Antoinette was legendarily known for living one of the most lavish lifestyles ever in the extremely fancy Palace of Versailles. The young queen had a taste for the finest luxuries and would spare no expense to adorn her space.
According to Architectural Digest, after becoming the wife of the future Louis XVI at age 14, she claimed the first-floor apartment at the palace as her own. Marie favored feminine colors, ornate furniture and details that would allow her wealth to be displayed to all.
The Gold Room was one of the areas she would entertain guests and spend time with her children. The outlet describes the chamber’s walls as being covered in “rich silk hangings embellished with flowers, arabesques, and gold medallions.” Antoinette would later add custom-sculpted wood paneling to the room, a nod to her fascination with ancient Egypt.
The Méridienne Room is outfitted in lilac-hued drapery and linens. The gold and hunter-green embellishments were perfect for the queen’s first son, who the room once belonged to. Visitors are welcomed into the room by its large, oversized golden-glazed doors.
Adjoining the room is one of the many libraries scattered throughout her quarters. Antoinette held one of the largest book collections in France. Many of her books are currently conserved in the municipal library of Versailles.
According to Architectural Digest, renovations replicated rooms decorated with “toile de Jouy” wall coverings and embellishments featuring pineapples. Due to the fruit’s rarity at the time, they were a sign of wealth. The tour of the opulent living space also included a voyage through Antoinette’s dining room billiards room, as well as smaller areas for her servants and chambermaids.
Tours of the private chambers have ended for the summer season. However, the Chateau de Versailles continuously offers tours of the palace grounds and will provide chamber tours once further renovations are complete.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.