Inside the domains of Chateau de Versailles there are many things to see. Among the uncountable gardens, fountains, lakes and sculptures there are other palaces. Le Petit Trianon is one of them.
Located in the domains of Trianon, a place that used to be a French village, destroyed by the monarch to build palaces and gardens with more privacy than the main castle in Versailles. There you will find the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon, a palace built for the queen Marie Antoniette.
It is a palace made of pinkish marble and has many windows with a view to the private garden. Outside there is a chapell, a small theatre, a vivarium for flowers and a romantic bandstand.
Also, inside the domains of Trianon you will find an exact copy of the village destroyed. It was build in the 18th century because Marie Antoniette wanted to feel more close to the poor and to have a simple life, but she couldn't be in the middle of the people because she was hated by them.
Marie Antoniette
The person who most visited the Petit Trianon was the queen Marie Antoniette. She was from the noble austrian family and married the French king Luis XVI when she was only 14 years old, as a political bond between both families.
Since she wasn't French, the royal family didn't like her much. Also, she didn't follow many ceremonial rules, being quite stubborn. Some people say she was also very spoiled and bossy, demanding many luxury. The people didn't like her either due to that.
Together with her husband Luis XVI, she represented a very cruel government, that beheaded people who were against the monarchy. Also, they symbolize a life of ostentation and wealth, while the rest of France was living a hunger crisis.
All this factors lead to the killing of both king and queen during the French Revolution and the ending of absolutist monarchy. And the Chateau de Versailles and Trianon domains remain as an important part of this French history.
Visitations
The Trianon domains are open for visit to anyone who is intrested by feeling inside the French monarchy's life. It is open from 9 am to 5 pm every day and you need to buy tickets to attend. The ticket including the visit to Chateau de Versailles (the main castle and the biggest in the world) are 20 euros. To visit only the Trianon district the price is 12 euros. Young people under 25 living or studying in European Union don't need to pay.
I reccomend doing both visits, and walking around the gardens as well. While visiting you'll be stunned by the size of the castle and its domains, as well as the luxury and ostation inside it. It is both beautiful and scary - really impressive.
Inside the Petit Trianon you'll be able to see the rooms where Marie Antoniette used to sleep, eat and spend time - and if that is what she called a simple life I don't know what is a luxury life...
Outside you'll be able to see the French Gardens, really beautiful as well. Also, don't miss the village inside the Trianon domains and the Main Waterway in the Jardins (main garden).
You can also find little souvenir shops and snack bars there, where you can have coffee, snacks and buy some guifts. I advice you to try the chocolate of Angelina Chateau on the way from the main castle to Trianon domains. It is the best hot chocolate in Paris (and maybe in the world)!
Location
Petit Trianon is located in the city of Versailles inside the gardens of the main castle. It is about 20km from Paris and you can get there by taking the RER C train in any central station in the city and hop of at Versailles Rive Gauche station. The ticket to go is 3,65 euros.
Even though the visit can be expensive if you're not an EU resident or young enough, it is totally worth it! Don't miss le Chateau de Versailles and its domains, includin Petit Trianon
