Visit the royal estate of Marly, the family home of Louis XIV

Well-known as the Trianon of Versailles, the Château de Marly was a pleasure residence where Louis XIV and his family retired far from the hustle and bustle of the Versailles Court. In contrast to the official life at Versailles, Marly was a place apart, where Louis XIV expressed his personal tastes. During the famous and much-appreciated Marly, the sovereign regularly surrounded himself for a few days with distinguished guests, to whom he offered a multitude of entertainments: hunting, concerts, games, balls, walks and more.

Today, the Château Royal de Marly no longer exists, but a Museum of the Royal Estate of Marly has been built to showcase the destroyed site.

• To be read
• Tips for the week of December 23 - 29, 2024 in Paris: free or cheap outings
• What to do in Paris in December 2024? Discover this month's events in the Paris Region
• Free museums and monuments this Sunday: places to visit in Paris on January 5, 2025

The tour begins with a presentation of Marly's unique architecture and gardens, compared with the remains currently visible in the park. Another area reveals the secrets of the Marly machine, the'eighth wonder of the world', a gigantic mechanism whose construction required the development of the Seine to supply the waterworks in the king's gardens, using technical know-how unrivalled at the time.

The rest of the tour is devoted to theintimate atmosphere of Marly, which over time became a royal residence. Visitors discover the art of living and pleasures at Marly, the singularity of its uses, and the historical figures who left their mark on the place, such as Madame de Maintenon, the Dauphin, the Duc d'Orléans and the Princess Palatine.

A virtual reality experience called'L'Eclipse royale' will also offer visitors the chance to witness the solar eclipse of May 3, 1715 alongside the Sun King, the astronomer Cassini and the Duc d'Orléans, while guided tours, lectures, creative workshops and activities for the whole family are scheduled throughout the year.

The Musée du Domaine Royal de Marly is an essential complement to the discovery of Versailles and the world of Louis XIV, and we urge you to discover it.