To mark the 300th anniversary of Madame de Maintenon’s death, the Palace de Versailles dedicates a beautiful exhibition to the Sun King’s secret spouse and reopens especially on the occasion her quarters, four rooms on the 1st floor of the main wing of the Palace of Versailles where she lived from 1680 to 1715.
This apartment, visible during temporary exhibitions, kept its volume but not its historical decorum. Thanks to the reproduction of the original hangings from the Apartments by the oldest silk factory founded in Lyon by Louis XIV, Tassinari and Chatel, the production will take us a little bit more to the atmosphere of Madame de Maintenon’s quarters.
For this exhibition, the Palace of Versailles brought together paintings, drawings, engravings, books, sculptures, medals from the Versailles collections and from foreign museums. All in all, 60 works recounting the different stages of Madame de Maintenon’s life. We (re)discover then how Françoise d’Aubigné – simple governess from the king’s bastard children – became her wife in 1683 when Queen Marie-Thérèse died.
For over 30 years, Madame de Maintenon will have a great influence on Louis XIV who visit her daily in her quarters looking onto the palace royal court. The King even had his habits; he works there and even meets some of his ministers. She even married him in secret, becoming the unknown queen of the monarchy.
After the King’s death, Madame de Maintenon leaves the palace for Saint-Cyr in a Royal Educational Establishment for poor young girls she had Louis XIV build.
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Dates and Opening Time
From April 16, 2019 to July 21, 2019
Location
Palace of Versailles
Place d'Armes
78000 Versailles
Prices
-26 ans UE: Free
tarif plein: €20
Official website
www.chateauversailles.fr