Madame de Maintenon, the exhibition at the Palace of Versailles

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Published by · Photos by My de Sortiraparis · Published on April 26th, 2019 at 01:30 p.m.
From April 15, 2019 to July 21, 2019 the Palace of Versailles dedicates a beautiful exhibition to Madame de Maintenon by restoring her quarters within the Palace of Versailles. Discover the story of this woman who has been king Louis XIV's wife and the founder of the Ecole de Saint Cyr.

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.

Exposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photos

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.

Exposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photos

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.

Exposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photos

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.

Exposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photos

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.

Exposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photosExposition Madame de Maintenon au Château de Versailles, les photos

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.

Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
From April 16th, 2019 to July 21th, 2019

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    Location

    Place d'Armes
    78000 Versailles

    Prices
    -26 ans UE: Free
    tarif plein: €20

    Official website
    www.chateauversailles.fr

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