Saturday 17 September 2011

Versailles - Le Grand Trianon part 1

Lillian :  The Grand Trianon is really pretty and elegant.
Audrey : It is all pastel pink and buttery yellow outside.
 
Lillian :  Yes, it is pink marble and porphyry and was built for Louis XIV in 1687 by Jules Hardouin Mansart, he was also the architect of the grand Les Invalides building in Paris.  You can read about the building of the Grand Trianon here on the Official Chateau de Versailles Site.

Audrey : I loved all the pretty basket/urns full of flowers.

Lillian :  Inside the furniture and decor mostly dates from the time of Napoleon - The First Empire. 

Mostly everything is very tasteful - though we weren't sure about the carpet in The Boudoir de l'Imperatrice (Napoleon's mother). 



Audrey : I think that even an Empress can take leopard print Too Far!  What is that frame thing for Lillian? 



Lillian :  It is for stretching a tapestry or embroidery on while you stitch it ... and that one is really large. 
Lillian :  This room is quite lovely - it is known as The Room of Mirrors. 




 


Audrey : Oh, I wonder why?

But look at those permanent flowers and up the top - one of those Fritillaries we saw in the Petite Trianon gardens.

Lillian :  Our stylist was very interested in all the curtain treatments - and all the very impressive trimmings. 
Lillian :  From the very pastel blue & pink of the Room of Mirrors you go to The Empress's Bedroom which has lots of red upholstery.

Audrey : Which Empress?

LillianEmpress Marie-Louise - the 2nd wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Audrey : Wasn't wife No: 1 Josephine?

Lillian :  Yes, Marie-Louise was Empress of France from 1811 to 1814 which wasn't very long but she furnished this room as it appears today except for that bed.



Audrey : The fire-places in the Grand Trianon were very impressive -

This red marble (I think it is red marble) fire-place is in The Chapel Room.


Lillian :  And this is in The Louis-Philippe Family Room


Audrey :  A large room all done in yellow with a circular pattern in blue.  Again fabulous curtains and tassels.


 









Lillian :  Back in The Chapel Room is this portrait of Marie Leszczinska - married to Louis XV she was also the daughter of Stanisław Leszczyński.  We will talk more about later when we show you all the photos from Nancy.

 
Audrey : I do like the sleeves of her dress and that very grand train though the young lad seems to be having quite a hard time keeping it clean and off the floor.  
Lillian :  It is blue with gold fleur-de-lis and lined with ermine -it indicates that this lady was French Royalty - the cupid in front is carrying her crown on a pillow.

Audrey : The Grand Trianon building is in 2 parts with a wonderful walk-way in the middle ...

Lillian :  It is called The Peristyle ...

Audrey : I wished that I had on a big silk dress like Marie Leszczinska's so I could parade up and down there.

Lillian : It is quite lovely, a very pretty indoors / outdoors link.  The Courtyard is over that side ...
 









and to the other side - the gorgeous gardens.
 












Audrey : Wonderful formal gardens with masses of tulips and some pointy trees ...





And all the tulips were pastel pink and white and buttery yellow - exactly, pweecisely the same colours as the building.


 









Lillian : So many tulips - and the plants must be really healthy as many had multiple blooms.


 
Audrey :  Almost TOO pwetty!

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