The Queen's Hamlet

Remember when I said to take a nap after you fly....I meant it.

The plan for the day was to get up at 6 am get some food, catch a train to Versailles, walk around all day, and them come back that night.

Did that happen? Do you think we got up at 6 am? 

Let me let you in on a little secret...NOPE.

After two days of non-stop travel, my husband and I crashed.  

Now when I say crashed, it wasn't a small nap, it was go to sleep at 9 pm and didn't wake up until 11 am the next day.

This "nap" put a small damper on our plans, but not by much.  We grabbed a small snack, ran out the door, caught the train, and we were there within 45 minuets, walking from the train station included.

Walking up to the Palace wasn't a bad walk, we were able to walk right in with no wait.  There were no lines, other than for the restrooms.

There were no crowds other than for a few tours that were going on.

The weather was VERY sunny and HOT.

I live where the summers are hot, but this was different.  There was no place to hide unless you were inside the buildings.

I almost didn't want to walk back to The Queen's Hamlet, but we had come all of the way, so we did.....almost.

We cheated.  There is a train and I would suggest taking it.  You can get around a lot faster, you can see a lot more, and it runs pretty often.

I am telling you right now...GO SEE THE QUEEN'S HAMLET!

This is why you need to see it.  

Do you remember when you were little and watched Sleeping Beauty?

The cottage in the woods?

The houses where The Queen's Hamlet remind me of that house all tucked away and out of sight.

Where you have to walk all over the place and get lost to find it.

It is always worth it in the end.

The Queen's Hamlet was built in 1783 when Marie Antoinette didn't want to stay in the Palace and ordered to have it built.  

Once the Queen's Hamlet was built the Queen and her lady's companions would visit regularly to get away. Not only would Marie Antoinette escape from her responsibilities by going to her private estate, she would dress like a peasant. 

Due to this mockery everyone knows how that ended...if you don't know spoiler alert: 

Off with her head!

Starting in 1783 and working until 1787 there would be twelve cottages built along with a few other buildings.

All of the cottages would have a different function and the farm would provide food for the Palace.

There were people that were brought in to be the "residents" of the Hamlet.

The Queen hired an actual farmer to manage the farm and would help by milking cows an sheep.

The Boudoir was the smallest structure and was used by Marie Antoinette.

The Mill.  The wheel was driven by the stream and is only decorative.

Marlborough Tower.  This was called the Fishery Tower.
This was created after a lullaby.

The Farm

Each of the areas were all different.  All of the cottages had a garden out front.  There were a few houses that had someone in them and you can tell that the area is well taken care of.

By the time that my husband and I made it to the back there were no people around and had the area to ourselves.  I would highly recommend spending your time in this corner of the Palace.  It feels like it is out in the countryside of Versailles and not in a Palace.

There are many other parts to this Palace that I will write about later, but I felt like the Queen's Hamlet deserved one of its own.

Tips:

      Make sure that you take all day to come here.  Spend part of the day walking around the                       gardens and the Palace then head to the back and spend the second half of the day.

      Make sure you get a different train ticket if you are staying in Paris or you will not be able to get         back and you will have to pay a fine.

      There are three access points.  Here is a map that will help with getting around.

      Buy the Paris Museum Pass and you will be able to skip most of the entrances, but not the                   security lines.

      Where good walking shoes!

      We went in late August and there were no lines and was easy to get around.  It was very hot so             bring water with you. 

      Go during the week day and not the weekend.  It will be less crowded during the week since                everyone will be working.

       Take in all of the sites that this place has to offer.

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