The main cottage, where Marie Antoinette presumably stayed, is two stories, with a wide veranda and a set of vine-wrapped circular stairs that are now crumbling toward the dirt.
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| Katie and I declare this one to be our new home! |
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Friday 9 September 2011
In Paris: The Queen's Hamlet
Nestled away in several acres of countryside outside the hubbub of central Paris lies Marie Antoinette's little rural sanctuary. Aside from being a place for her to go and escape her privileged yet harried royal life, it was also one of her charitable institutions. The hameau consisted of a working farm and dairy with residential cottages for a dozen or so impoverished farmers and their families, according to Juliet Grey, who used Huff Post to bust several myths about the infamous queen. For me, the hamlet was refreshing after the almost oppressive symmetry of Versaille's gardens, and a wonderful place to spend an afternoon exploring.
The hamlet consists of about a dozen cottages clustered around a central pond, and a once-working dairy farm. Some animals, including sheep, rabbits, cattle, and chickens, still reside there today. The cottages, whose thatched roofs once sheltered families of farmers, now house gardening supplies and are not open to tourists. Katie and I peeked through some windows, though, and found most to be empty.
The main cottage, where Marie Antoinette presumably stayed, is two stories, with a wide veranda and a set of vine-wrapped circular stairs that are now crumbling toward the dirt.
If you ever visit Paris thinking that Versailles isn't for you, give the Queen's Hamlet a try. This was my favorite part of the day, and I definitely plan to go back again someday.
The main cottage, where Marie Antoinette presumably stayed, is two stories, with a wide veranda and a set of vine-wrapped circular stairs that are now crumbling toward the dirt.
