Audio GuideQueen’s Hamlet

The Hameau de la Reine is situated in the park of the Palace of Versailles, close to the Petit Trianon. Commissioned by Queen Marie Antoinette in seventeen eighty-three and completed by seventeen eighty-six, it served as a private sanctuary away from the strict formality of court life. Embracing natural simplicity and inspired by the philosophy of thinkers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Queen created a pastoral retreat resembling a working farm.

Sven Kasper

The hamlet incorporates architectural elements from Norman, Flemish, and French styles. Its delightful cottages and practical buildings feature half-timbered facades, reed-thatched roofs, and decorative gables. The design was spearheaded by Richard Mique, with creative contributions from the painter Hubert Robert. Notable structures include the Queen’s House, linked to a billiard room by a curved wooden gallery, a small boudoir for private leisure, a decorative mill that once functioned as a laundry, and the captivating Marlborough Tower.

Gaston Oschwald

Beyond its visual charm, the hamlet was home to orchards and vegetable gardens, reflecting the everyday life of that era. Today, visitors can wander through this charming setting where art, history, and nature come together, offering a glimpse into the private world of one of France's renowned queens.

Nick Perry