Paris: Let them eat cake

I have been three days stuck at home with a very bad cold :S But since today I have worked from home I thought I could also enjoy myself going virtually outside in the good weather sharing with you the last chapter of our Paris trip. I believe this post can be a good healing remedy, right?

After the refreshing boat ride in the Grand Canal, we were ready to visit Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon and farm lodgings.

The house was so very nice, I was able to see how she considered it a cozy retreat after seeing the size and magnificence of the palace. One fun fact (yeah! I am such a lady version of Ted Mosby) is that as soon as she moved in she ordered to destroy the king’s stairway; she decided that he won’t need it anymore and she could use that extra space in the rooms (quite a character!)

The Trianon is surrounded by the most delightful English gardens that lead you to Marie Antoinette’s farm lodgings called le hameau de la reine. I think it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited and we were both smiling so hard and almost dancing instead of walking.

The cottages which resemble a rustic french-flemish village, were constructed as a refuge for her when she decided to live a more natural idyllic life. In Sofia Coppola’s film this village appears towards the end of the movie when she is with her daughter taking care of a veggies garden and farm animals.

Each building in the village had a purpose: a mill, a dairy, a barn, a lighthouse, a dovecote and a boudoir. In fact this last one was the biggest building because it also included the playroom. We learnt that Marie Antoinette was quite fed up with not being able to sleep in Le Trianon because her room was attached to the playroom (she loved to play) and her guests playing billiard until late with the balls smashing were too loud for her. In the village she decided to also have the playroom in the same building as her bedroom but constructed a bridge to have enough distance and thus avoid the noises. The result is a very charming building with two separate wooden spiral stairways on both sides.

The village is even more enchanting because there are farm animals such as rabbits or cows hanging around just like it was back in the late XVIII. Luckily there were some fences to protect the cute animals from a crazy lady trying to pet them, which I have not the remote idea who might be…;P

I think we couldn’t be happier than being in le hameau, but you know what? we will be when you follow us along the pictures. Grab a cupcake first!

** This post is part of our Paris series **

Versailles gardens - The cat, you and us

Can you tell that I was as happy as a clam after our boat ride. Excited to see the Trianon? I am!

Le petit trianon gardens - The cat, you and us Le petit trianon gardens - The cat, you and us

The Trianon rising behind Le Belvédère and the gardens.

Le Petit Trianon - The cat, you and us

Look we are in Marie Antoinette’s chamber.

Le Petit Trianon - The cat, you and us

Marie Antoniette was very matchy matchy :) but can we blame her? Beautiful pattern! Do you think I will be able to engage Dani in this wagon?

Le Petit Trianon - The cat, you and us

At first we thought this was the kitchen, but we learnt that in fact it was a room to keep the plates warm after taking them from the kitchen and before they were requested in the dining room.

Le petit trianon gardens - The cat, you and us

We were alone almost all the time, which increased our curiosity of what we will find at the end of the path.

Le petit trianon gardens - The cat, you and us

A huge rock in a pond in the middle of the gardens.

Le petit trianon gardens - The cat, you and us

Dani insisted me very firmly to take him this picture. I guess I was not the only one too excited with the colors :)

Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us

A little otter, adding more bucolic charm.

Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us

Dani can we move here? Yes, please!

Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us

The spiral stairway (what it remains of that) to the playroom in the bridged building.

Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us

The dairy building attached to the lighthouse to guide the boats in the pond :) the lighthouse doesn’t look as an essential piece but a fun one!

Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us

The crazy lady moving quickly towards the animals to pet :) Vineyards are very French, right? :)

Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us

Dani making fun of me stealing my hat, oh my! :)

Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us Le hameau de la reine - The cat, you and us

You will find me wherever there are red flowers.

Versailles gardens - The cat, you and  us

Going back to the entrance my excitement brought me to throwing leaves in the air.

Versailles fountain - The cat, you and us Versailles fountain - The cat, you and us

Back in the fountain the nicest girl asked us to take a picture of her, so we ventured to ask another one of us in return. This was the first take :)

Versailles fountain - The cat, you and us

After a few more tries (that girl was persistent, we were lucky to find her!) we finally have a picture of us together to end this amazing getaway to Paris. I could not have wished for a better anniversary!

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13 Comments

  1. Fiona ADDS...

    Ahhh so amazing! I would go crazy at this place. What a character Marie was! lol I love it, love the animals and the matchy pattersn! On a side note, whenever I see 18th century (?!) furniture it always looks so hard! Not nice soft pillows :P I would of been a complainer like Marie “I demand soft furniture!” lol. I can’t believe also there was an area to keep the food warm *gasp* such excess!

    So awesome you got a cute shot in the end too, yay for persistent photographers :)
    Happy Anniversary you too!!

    5th December 2013
    • We reply...

      Fee thanks!!! Hahaha I’ve never thought of the hardness of the 18th century furniture but looking at it now you are completely right! They were in extremely need of soft pillows :) hahahaha, love your Marie impersonation ♥

  2. petra ADDS...

    stunning pics :) you really made the most of your time in Paris, didn’t you? xo

    5th December 2013
    • We reply...

      We were smiles all day! Paris is a beauty :) thanks Petra!

  3. Jane Y. ADDS...

    hope you feel better. i’ve been sick the past two days as well and i’ve been having this weird cough for couple of weeks now. so odd. these pictures are so pretty. as always! and i love the person who took the picture of you two!! persistent! very sweet :)

    6th December 2013
    • We reply...

      Thanks! I feel a little better today, tomorrow I’m going to eat a Ramen and I’m sure it will do the trick to completely heal me ;) Hope your cough is going away soon, it can be really annoying! Yay for that sweet girl! I now wish we had asked her name.

  4. Chris ADDS...

    wow
    these pics are so amazing!

    http://lapetitetasse.blogspot.it/

    6th December 2013
  5. jessica ADDS...

    ahh, this takes me back to a few years ago when i visited versailles! it’s just the most beautiful place, especially marie antoinette’s little retreat and the gardens. i can’t wait to go back one day!

    little henry lee

    8th December 2013
  6. sara ADDS...

    A true fairytale landscape <3

    8th December 2013
  7. Deniz ADDS...

    I am really curious about Marie Antoniette’s home (or should I say; Palace). I think this place must be so dreamy! Also I’ve thought about watching movie of her life story, but cannot decide, did you see this movie? Suggest?

    Great to do tine travelling with your Parisien captures! :)

    10th December 2013
    • We reply...

      Thanks Deniz! Glad that the pictures are giving you memories of your time in Paris ♥

  8. Deniz ADDS...

    Upss now I realize that we were talking about the same movie! From Sofia Coppola! So ı should watch it soon, I trust on your taste :))

    10th December 2013
    • We reply...

      I think you will like the movie! the aesthetics are to die for :) We haven’t seen any other film or documentary about Marie Antoinette, but I wish I knew a good one! You are reminding me to check, thanks!

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