Versailles part 5 (the final bit) - A hamlet fit for a Queen

Due to the earlier misfortune and the absolute vastness of the estate we didn't get to see everything.

But there was one place I absolutely did not want to miss.

The Queen's Hamlet.

Constructed in 1783 under the instruction of Marie Antoinette, it became an extension of her retreat at the Petit Trianon and an actual working farm complete with peasant farmers, a small herd of cows, a bull, some goats and pigeons.

With 11 houses around a beautiful lake (5 reserved for the Queen and her guests and one for domestic use), each with it's own little garden, it is like a little girls dream of a fairytale village come true.

The Queen's House

 The Queen's House
Composed of 2 separate buildings connected by a covered walkway, it's the most impressive building and reminds me of an inn of the "Olden days" I used to imagine in stories.
On the right is the Queen's rooms comprising of a dining room and games room on the ground floor, and a large and small living rooms and a Chinese room on the first floor.
On the left is a billiard room on the ground floor and Marie's private apartment on the first floor.
According to books I read before the trip, Marie Antoinette used to oversee the work on the farm from this building, wearing a simple white muslin frock and a straw hat.
I could just imagine her walking along the balcony or descending the stairs in the pictures below in her simple "peasants clothes" can't you?

I so very much wanted to climb the stairs and peek inside, but restoration work was being done and I couldn't get any closer than these photos show.

The Mill

The Mill
This was a fully functioning mill used to grind grain and also contained a washing place.  It was for the use of the villagers.

I found each and every building utterly enchanting and wanted to stay for hours, but alas, from the look of daughter's thundercloud face I knew a teenage meltdown was not far away.  And fair enough - it had been a very long day (5 blog posts worth in fact).

Unfortunately I cannot now remember which building housed what but you can read a bit more about it here.

And the best bit was that there were far less tourists.  It's quite a long walk down to the Hamlet and most tourists were hanging around the Chateau and main garden.

As we started the trek back up to the Chateau we entered a little woodland grove and I stopped and looked back at the hamlet and closed my eyes again just for a moment.  And finally I found it.  What I had been searching for since I entered the front gates that morning.  

I felt a cool breeze on my skin, smelled flowers, heard soft laughter and people speaking French and - yes - a cow moo, and in that brief moment I was back in time.  I was there - where she was - at one of her happier times.  Yes.  All that reading and walking and frustration was worth it for that one small moment.

After finally reaching our apartment after a long trip home and yet another debacle but this time at the train station, I burst into tears from sheer exhaustion focusing on what went wrong that day and vowed I would never go back.

But you know something?
After posting these photos and remembering that one glorious moment I think I will.
(However I think it would be alone as hubby and daughter may protest at even thinking of going back)

The Queen's Hamlet, Versailles, France - June 2015

Tomorrow we are heading up to Forster for a bit of post Christmas rest but I will be back in a week with more adventures.  This time in a different country.  Where?  Well you must wait and see ;)