The Petit Trianon
The Petit Trianon was built between 1763 and 1768 by the architect Gabriel, requested by Madame de Pompadour, mistress then friend of king Louis XV.
Mme de Pompadour was the former mistress of the king but still his friend. She was the instigator of this little palace, built by Gabriel from 1763 to 1768 near the botanical gardens and the new menagerie to entertain him with one of his passions : sciences. To please the Marchioness, always aware of the last trend, the architect changed his rocky aesthetics to adopt pure lines and cubic shape. It was the latest architectural style, called “the Greek style”.
It is not as simple as it looks like : each frontage is different, built to reply to its surrounding : the Courtyard, the French Garden and its lovely pavilion, the Botanical Garden and the Flower Garden.
Even inside we find a modern style. The decoration of the Small Trianon is more simple than the rest of the estate. It is not about materials, you will notice the absence of gold for example, but more about the fineness and elegance of the sculptures dedicate, like the palace, to nature.
Sadly, Mme de Pompadour died before the completion of the Palace in 1764. Nowadays it keeps the souvenir of an other inhabitant : Louis XVI made a gift of the Trianon Estate to his queen Marie-Antoinette in 1774. She lived there a distant life from the court, maybe too distant for some of the courtier.
General information
Openings
Every day throughout the year.
Closed on Monday.
Closed exceptionally on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
During high season: Marie-Antoinette's Estate is open from 10:00a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (access to interior areas until 5:45 p.m.) from Tuesday to Sunday except for certain holidays or official ceremonies.
During low season: Marie-Antoinette's Estate is open from 12:00 noon to 5:30 p.m. (no admission after 5:00 p.m.) from Tuesday to Sunday except for certain holidays or official ceremonies.
Fares
Reduced price: 8 €
Adult: 12 €.
Free entry for children < 26 years, children accompanied by an adult, teachers, people with reduced mobility, disabled people, disabled people and accompanying persons.
Group rate available for > 30 people.
Free for people under 26 years old from European Union
Free for people under 18 years outide of the European Union
Free for disabled person and an accompanying person
More ticket options available :
- The 1 day pass includes the entire estate (Gardens + Trianons)
- The 2 days pass includes the entire estate (Gardens + Trianons) for two consecutive days.
Free the first Sundays of each months from November to March).
Visits
Features
- Picnic area
- Toilets
- Exhibition space
- Restaurant
- Parking
- Coach access
- Tourist brochures
- Tourist information
- Guided tours
- Fast food
- Temporary exhibition
- Shows