Marie Antoinette’s Restored Chambers at Versailles
At Versailles, everything glitters – and it’s probably gold.
Built by Louis XIV on the site of his father Louis XIII’s hunting lodge in the 17th century, the Château de Versailles exemplifies the astonishing wealth of the French royal family.
Welcoming almost 10 million visitors each year, Versailles is one of the most visited monuments in the world. Among its last residents was Austrian archduchess and French queen Marie Antoinette – wife of Louis XVI, the Sun King’s great-great-great-grandson – whose image continues to enchant audiences through generations.
Often depicted wearing elaborate wigs and exquisite dresses of rich blue silk, Marie Antoinette was known for her luxurious lifestyle. Although her infamous comment about bread-starved peasants (“let them eat cake”) is likely apocryphal, it is clear she enjoyed life’s lavish offerings.
Following a seven-year restoration project, her private chambers at Versailles will reopen to the public on June 20. Newly accessible rooms include the Meridian Room (cabinet de la Méridienne), the Library, and the Gold Room, alongside a series of ornately decorated chambers on the upper floor.
What’s Inside Marie Antoinette’s Chambers?
The two floors to reopen were once exclusively reserved for the queen. She would retreat there following public duties, inviting only a select few family members and friends.
“Marie Antoinette always had to be up to date with the latest fashions,” says Hélène Delalex, heritage curator for Versailles. “She had a very self-assured taste. Being exacting and impatient, she redefined her chambers roughly every three years.”
The first floor hosts a vast library filled with gilded bookcases and hidden doors, showcasing the intricate design and innovation of the time. Notably, the Meridian Room – redesigned to celebrate Louis Joseph, their first son, born in 1781 – features an ottoman beneath a stunning stained glass ceiling. On the second floor, you will find a billiards room, dining room, boudoir, and bedrooms for her most esteemed ladies’ maids.
A Restoration Project Worthy of an Episode of Queer Eye
Marie Antoinette was a true bonne vivante, known for her love of the arts, including theater, music, and grand celebrations. At just 14 years old, she inherited her suite of rooms, sparking an extensive renovation project reflective of her distinctive style. This initiative continued until she left Versailles for Paris in 1789, during the upheaval of the Revolution.
Constantly innovating, she was a trendsetter, even adopting the fascination with ancient Egyptian aesthetics that captivated France at the end of the 18th century.
“For a long time, the second floor of Marie Antoinette’s chambers was little known and poorly documented,” Delalex notes. “This restoration has been an extensive research endeavor, utilizing architectural plans and archives from the era. It has enabled us to uncover the purpose and style of each room.”
Featuring new acquisitions and artifacts from the period, the boudoir of one of France’s most famous queens is once again available for all to admire.
