Queen Marie Antoinette's "little hamlet" was designed by Richard Mique at the Queen's commission in 1783 and comes complete with a dairy, mill and farmhouse. It is located inside the provate section of the park in Versailles.
Often you would find the Queen and her ladies wondering the grounds dressed as shepherdesses and milkmaids, playing peasant for the day. Milking cows with porcelain bowls and attending to the other docile creatures living there.
At Petit Hameau Marie Antoinette ruled supreme and even the King bowed to her.
The Queen's Hamlet also included a theater where Marie would stage plays there with her friends and would invite the King and his retinue to attend.
The Royal family in the garden at Petit Hameau. The Temple of Love can be seen in the background.
Click here for a first hand account of a visit to Petit Hameau from a fantastic new blog I found, Jane Austen's World. She includes great pictures and a little tour!
I could live there!
ReplyDeleteOh, I've never seen pictures of the Petit Hameau before. So lovely!
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way -- thanks for the Jane Austen link -- interesting!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen such beautiful pictures of the Petit Hameau! It's sooo MA. I can really picture her there...(and myself)! Thanks, Amy, fgreat post as usual;-)
ReplyDeleteOh my, your photos are great! I remember reading about the little mill -- it is beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad my passport is up to date . . . I have places to go!
Say what you will, the woman had impeccable taste, didn't she? Wow.
ReplyDeleteIt's so beautiful! For some reason, I am thinking it would make a beautiful backdrop for a wedding. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful and elegantly quaint. I love the mental image of her milking cows into a porcelain bowl.
ReplyDeleteHow gorgeous is that! Thanks for the photos!
ReplyDeleteThe Kirstin Dunst movie Marie Antoinette, prominently featured this hamlet. Apparently they used the real thing, I thought it was destroyed but apprently not.
ReplyDeleteOh to play peasant for the day :)
This is definitely on my list of places to go when I get to visit France. I love this new series of yours!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful pictures - it seems like something out of a fairy tale!
ReplyDeleteI've left you an award! Stop by when you get a chance and pick it up! ~ Wendi
I am so happy I am blogging before bed.. perfect serene images. Thank you so much for posting.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful it is!
ReplyDelete