Secrets of Versailles

by Nicolas-Bruno Jacquet, Lilith Cowan (Translator)

Ouvrage coédité avec l'établissement public du Château de Versailles Versailles est la matérialisation architecturale des songes des rois, rêve éveillé mariant goût pour le faste et sensibilité des formes.
Versailles doit être compris comme un organisme complexe dont les habits d'apparat dissimulent les coulisses ou les pièces aux fonctions plus intimes que publiques. La demeure royale est la scène principale de la vie monarchique autour de laquelle s'articulent la ville et le parc. C'est donc bien de cet ensemble unique au monde, du château et de ses annexes en ville comme de ses prolongements côté jardins qu'il est question dans ce guide. En un mot, il s'agit du Versailles de la vie quotidienne, du Versailles à jamais habité.

On y découvrira notamment :
- les combles de la Galerie des Glaces
- le cabinet de la garde-robe des appartements du Roi
- le cabinet des bains de Louis XV
- les passages secrets entre la chambre du Roi et celle de la Reine
- le bureau du Roi, coffre-fort des secrets d'État
- la chaise volante de Mme de Pompadour
- la forge de Louis XVI
- la sacristie de la chapelle royale
- la Petite Venise du Grand Canal
- l'ancienne ménagerie de Louis XIV
- les dispositifs de la salle à manger du Petit Trianon....
et, en ville :
- l'hôtel de Mme de Pompadour
- le pavillon des Sources
- le mystérieux Parc aux Cerfs
- l'hôtel de la Guerre
- l'orangerie de Madame Élisabeth
- le portail de l'ancienne chapelle du couvent des Récollets...

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2011

Reviews

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before the review can really begin, I have to give a little background. I recently visited France (for the first time) with my mom on a trip organized for French students at my (now) former high school. Former high school? Alma mater? I'm not sure what to say. I haven't actually been graduated that long. Anyway, we visited Paris and did all the touristy stuff before taking a lovely day trip to Versailles. There's no doubt in my mind that the palace and gardens at Versailles are some of the most lavish things I'll ever see. The palace is just so ornate and beautiful, and I only saw about 20 of over 700 rooms! The gardens are simply stunning, though I only saw a small portion of them. My mom and I had a lovely lunch in the gardens with our new friend and enjoyed the beautiful breeze. My mom did get a little tipsy, but I forgave her because the amount of stairs we did is staggering for a woman with a new hip. I also did some light shopping, my main purchase being this book. Overall, I'd highly recommend Versailles.

Now that I've significantly gushed over my fabulous vacation (which I seem to be doing a lot of lately because I just can't get over it), I can actually review Secrets of Versailles. The biggest problem with it for me is that it is a coffee table book, a book filled with beautiful pictures and very specific facts that is meant to be flipped through instead of read.

I will admit I just wanted something with gossip and intrigue and naughty royals, and this just wasn't it. It's really more my fault I didn't like it than the book's, but since books can't rate their readers I'll have to give it two stars. Sorry, Versailles! I still adore you.