from Louis XIV to Charles de Gaulle

GrandtheTrianon

FUN AT

Game booklet

– 3 –

Far from the pomp of the Court

Louis XIV the King builds a holiday home

A Palace designed for pleasure and relaxation, this was the most private of Louis XIV’s palaces.The name Trianon comes from the village that the King had razed to build a little palace, the “Porcelain Trianon”. It was here that he carried on his affair with Madame de Montespan, then he had it destroyed and replaced it with the current building, built in the Italianate style by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1687. With its elegant peristyle (columned gallery), its intimate salons and its scented flower gardens, it is a bit like the King’s country home, far from the pomp of Versailles. This where he could get away from all the “Etiquette”, the system of rules governing the behaviour of the King and his courtesans.This palace was to remain a place for rest and relaxation throughout its history. Deserted after King Louis-Philippe, it was returned to its original splendour under General de Gaulle, who transformed it into a Presidential residence to welcome foreign Heads of State.

This engraving represents the Porcelain Trianon, which was called that because of its blue and white facing tiles, in a Chinese style. It became too small and was pulled down to make room for the Grand Trianon, where the King invited his friends and the lovely ladies of the Court.

Louis XIV successively occupied several apartments at the Trianon, first in the left wing, to the south, with a view over the Grand Canal (where he never stayed), then in the left wing, to the north, which he later preferred because it was cooler.

This painting by Jean Cotelle, View of the Trianon Parterres with Flora and Zephyr, illustrates an episode of mythology taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Take a close look – the Trianon is part of the scene, as is the case in most of the paintings that you can admire in the Cotelle Gallery.

Who do you think Zephyr was?

Louis XIV’s nickname

The god of the west wind in Greek mythology

The Roman god of love

Before the 18th century, the Grand Trianon had a different name - what was it? Look at the building to help you.

The Wooden Trianon The Marble Trianon The Stone Trianon

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Louis XV rarely came here. In August 1741, he gave the Trianon to his wife, Marie Leszczynska, to get her away from the Court. Louis XV nonetheless took advantage of the palace to live with Madame de Pompadour, whom he met in 1745. He was the one who undertook the construction of the Petit Trianon in 1750. Thus, the Marble Trianon became the Grand Trianon.

In this portrait, Madame de Pompadour is looking straight into the viewer’s eyes. Beautiful, intelligent, cultivated and interested in politics, she was no doubt the woman who had the greatest influence on the King.

What was the little table you can see here in the middle of the three chairs used for?

A minibar A sewing box A writing table

This lunch table set, which belonged to Empress Marie-Louise, was produced by the Manufacture de Sèvres.

In this Salon of Mirrors, which Louis XIV used as his Council Room, the decoration dates from the Sun King but most of the furniture, sold during the French Revolution, was made for the Emperor. Under the Empire, the women came here to write their correspondence and to play parlour games.

Do you know who Louis XV was in relation to Louis XIV?

His son His brother His great-grandson

Put the letters in the right order to discover what these dishes are made of.

Among these 3 motifs, circle the one that adorns the Duchess of Burgundy’s dress and symbolises royalty.

The daughter of a squire who was ennobled by Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour’s real name was Jeanne Antoinette Poisson.

After the French Revolution, when all the furniture was sold, the Grand Trianon found a new owner: Napoleon. The Emperor first wanted a home for his mother, Laetizia Ramolino, who didn’t want it, before preparing the site for his new wife, Marie-Louise, starting in 1810. The Emperor set up his private apartments in the former apartments of Madame de Pompadour and Louis XV. He probably only slept here about fifteen times.

Louis XV the Marble Trianon becomes the Grand Trianon

NAL E CR PO I

Another important woman in Louis XV’s life was his mother. She is represented here when she was very young. Born Marie-Adélaïde of Savoy, she was married to the Duke of Burgundy at the age of 11. She had her own apartment in the Trianon’s left wing, under the supervision of Madame de Maintenon. This did not stop her from having many parties.

NAL E CR PO I

Napoléon made a home for his second wife, Marie Louise

A B C

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Louis Philippe moves in with his whole family

Among the many transformations undertaken by Louis-Philippe at the Trianon Palace, this former music room became a game room for his five sons. What could they play on the table you can see here?

Parcheesi Poker Billiards

Proclaimed “King of the French” rather than King of France, Louis- Philippe reigned over a country that was changing drastically under the control of the Parliament. He nonetheless stayed in power for eighteen years between two revolutions – that of 1830 and that of 1848.

Find the corresponding silhouette

With General de Gaulle, the Grand Trianon became a Presidential residence used to host foreign Heads of State. The palace was therefore completely restored and refurnished.

AB

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The Queen of England, Jimmy Carter, the Shah of Iran, Ronald Reagan and many others were welcomed to the Grand Trianon by General de Gaulle’s successors.

Jacques CHIRAC

Valéry GISCARD D’ESTAING

Nicolas SARKOZYGeorges POMPIDOU

François HOLLANDE

In 1835, King Louis-Philippe decided to move into the Grand Trianon to supervise the work undertaken to transform the Palace of Versailles into a museum. His private apartment was set up in the west wing, in Louis XIV’s former kitchens overlooking the Grand Canal. Queen Marie-Amélie opted for the left wing, and their daughters moved into the Emperor’s former apartments. The eldest son, the Duke of Orléans, occupied the Petit Trianon with his wife.

François MITTERRAND

Put the six Presidents who have succeeded General de Gaulle into chronological order.

These four chairs include General de Gaulle’s armchair. It has armrests and legs ending in animal feet. Can you find it?

Charles de Gaulle hosts foreign Heads of State

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Louis XIV loved flowers. A changing collection could be admired in the parterres – they were planted in pots so they could be renewed every day. Their fragrance produced such an odour that some ladies became faint and had to leave the gardens, even though they are very large.

SOLUTIONS: page 3: The Marble Trianon. The god of the west wind in Greek mythology - page 4: His great-grandson. Answer B - page 5: A writing table. Porcelain - page 6: Answer A. Billiards - page 7: Answer C. 1-Georges Pompidou, 2- Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, 3- François Mitterrand, 4- Jacques Chirac, 5- Nicolas Sarkozy, 6- François Hollande. page 8: Horizontally, from top to bottom: Cyclamen - Daffodil - Tulip. Vertically from left to right: Hyacinth - Anemone - Iris.

The Grand Trianon’s nickname was the Palace of Flora because of its magnificent flower gardens designed by the famous André Le Nôtre. He had a brilliant way of playing with perspectives – seen from the Grand Canal, this palace indeed looks grand!

Complete the crossword puzzle with the names of flowers that Louis XIV imported from around Europe They were rare at the time.

HYACINTHTULIPDAFFODILANEMONECYCLAMENIRIS

the Grand Trianon's flowers

Design and production Editor: Maïa Bouteillet with Orianne Charpentier. Graphic creation: Olivier Junière. Coordination: Aïcha Djarir. Pa

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