Saturday, August 2, 2014

Birthday lunch at Marie Antoinette's house Château de St Cloud

the orange-tree terrace

Today is my birthday Aug 2th. For my birthday I decided to be with Marie Antoinette at Versailles! At the last min I changed plans as Versailles is very heavily populated with tourist on the weekends. I decided to go to the grounds of Marie Antoinette's Château de Saint-Cloud. I'm so happy I did as there is very few people here. I could have not ask for a more beautiful day in France. Queen's of France could not own property outside of there husbands, but Marie Antoinette did. She bought the Château de Saint-Cloud with her own money. The Château de Saint-Cloud was the most beautiful house in the world, that is until the Prussian force burn the Château on 13 October 1870. 





The gardens were replanned by André Le Nôtre, and the park took on the dimensions it retains today. The Grande Cascade, constructed in 1664-1665 by Antoine Le Pautre. has survived. The basin and the lowermost canal were added by Hardouin-Mansart in 1698.

Only a few outbuildings remain from the original structure. The park contains a Le Nôtre-designed garden in the French style, an English garden, and Marie Antoinette's rose garden. After the sale of the palace was officially finished, Marie Antoinette set about transforming her new private home.



The park showcases a panoramic view of Paris called "La Lanterne" or the "Lantern of Demosthenes".

The park showcases a panoramic view of Paris called "La Lanterne" or the "Lantern of Demosthenes".

She set to transforming Saint-Cloud in 1787-1788 by her preferred architect Richard Mique, who enlarged the corps de logis and the adjacent half of the right wing; he rebuilt the garden front. Hardouin-Mansart's staircase was demolished in favour of a new stone stairs giving onto the state apartments.






The château was at first refurnished from the Garde Meuble with furnishing collected from other royal residences, but soon furniture was commissioned for Saint-Cloud. Gilded chairs and marquetry commodes with gilt-bronze mounts in the richest Louis XVI taste were being delivered to Saint-Cloud right to the opening days of the French Revolution. In 1790, Saint-Cloud was the setting for the famous interview between Marie Antoinette and Mirabeau.




The gardens were replanned by André Le Nôtre, and the park took on the dimensions it retains today. The Grande Cascade, constructed in 1664-1665 by Antoine Le Pautre. has survived. The basin and the lowermost canal were added by Hardouin-Mansart in 1698.

The park showcases a panoramic view of Paris called "La Lanterne" or the "Lantern of Demosthenes". I'm so happy I came back to this beautiful grounds on my birthday. I could not have asked for a better day as for a Summer Aug day I can feel a nice cool breeze and the leaves rustle in the wind.


the Bassin des Chiens, with dog statues channelling the water


The gardens were replanned by André Le Nôtre, and the park took on the dimensions it retains today. The Grande Cascade, constructed in 1664-1665 by Antoine Le Pautre. has survived. The basin and the lowermost canal were added by Hardouin-Mansart in 1698.



the Bassin des Chiens, with dog statues channelling the water















Marie Antoinette's rose garden


Marie Antoinette's rose garden



Marie Antoinette's rose garden



Marie Antoinette's rose garden




Marie Antoinette's rose garden


The location of the Chateau is marked by the yew trees

the orange-tree terrace

the orange-tree terrace


the orange-tree terrace





the orange-tree terrace




the orange-tree terrace




















No comments:

Post a Comment