Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Versailles

Wandering Far Away From Cottage

Le Hameau de la Reine, Versailles


The weather isn't that great this month in Brittany. It's the perfect time to enjoy tea in a cosy Cottage or to sleep on the sofa.


La météo ? C'est vraiment pas ça ce mois-ci en Bretagne. Toute cette pluie et tout ce vent, cela ne vous donne qu'une envie : boire une tasse de thé bien chaude ou dormir sur le canapé, en tout cas, rester au Cottage.

 
I really don't feel like wandering around to take pictures of beautiful Brittany for you to enjoy. I have long hair and it doesn't go very well with strong winds. I could braid my hair... But, no!

Aucune envie d'aller courir la Bretagne pour vous ramener un beau reportage, désolée ! Et puis, le vent, cela emmêle mes cheveux longs!  

Carte administrative de Versailles

I'd rather stay home and look through my pictures files. Grab your cup of tea, I'm taking you to Versailles today (the red spot near Paris on the above map).

Je refuse de sortir ! Mais j'ai des reportages en réserve. Alors, attrapez une tasse de thé bien chaude, je vous emmène à Versailles.
 
See original image

Some of you might remember that I spent part of my childhood in a little village near the famous Versailles castle.

Certains se souviennent peut-être que pendant mon enfance, j'ai vécu dans un petit village non loin du célèbre château.

 
If you think we often visited the castle, you'd be wrong. When you live close to a monument, you don't actually go there every da. Plus Versailles is always crowded. In my family, we don't like crowds.

Me as a famous reporter, courtesy to my mom.
Si vous vous imaginez que, du coup, nous étions tout le temps fourré dans le monument mondialement connu, vous vous trompez. Versailles, c'est toujours bondé et dans la famille, on n'aime pas la foule.

But the grounds of Versailles are huge and most of the tourists stay in the castle and in the gardens that are directly around the building, gardens I showed you in this post. So most of the time, as a little girl, if we were "going to Versailles" with my parents, we would actually walk in the part of the parc that is far from the castle.

Mais le domaine de Versailles est immense et la plupart des touristes reste aux alentours du château dans les jardins aménagés que je vous avais montrés dans cet article. Nous, quand nous allions à Versailles, nous nous rendions en fait dans la partie du parc plus éloignée du château.


So let's go back there, shall we? I took pictures while I was there last December. It was a clear day, but the shadows are always very important at that time of year. Plus, of course, Nature isn't at its best... But it's either that or nothing, because come spring and you'll find me sanding my ceiling, not wandering around with a camera!

Allez, cette fois, je vous y emmène avec moi. J'ai pris ces photos en décembre lors de ma dernière visite. C'était une belle journée, mais en décembre, les ombres sont toujours un problème. La végétation n'est évidemment pas à son top, mais au printemps, je serai en train de poncer mon plafond, pas en train de réaliser des reportages, alors on va faire avec ce que j'ai !

I'm actually taking you today to the "Hameau de la Reine" ("Queen's Hamlet") that was built in 1782-1783 for Marie-Antoinette.

C'est au Hameau de la Reine que je vous emmène aujourd'hui, une partie du parc construite et aménagée dans les années 1782-1783 pour Marie-Antoinette.

 
She didn't like the very strict code of the court life and she was drawn to the simplicity of eerything rustic, just because it was very trendy back then, a trend that came from England.


Elle n'aimait pas l'étiquette très stricte de la vie à la cour et elle était attirée par une mode venant pour partie d'Angleterre et qui prônait un retour à la nature.

Seagulls follow me on my holidays...
She had the idea to have an artificial hamlet rebuilt on the ground of Versailles, with every cliché court people could imagine of life in the counrtyside: from the "laiterie" (dairy) to the farm, from the mill to the colombier (dovecote).


Elle eut l'idée de se faire reconstruire un petit village sur le domaine de Versailles, utilisant tous les clichés qu'une femme de la cour pouvait avoir sur la vie à la campagne. Tout y est : de la laiterie à la ferme, du moulin au colombier.

As artificial as I know it is, it's absolutely charming and I've been in love with this part of the garden since I was a little girl.


C'est artificiel, c'est vrai, mais ô combien charmant ! Je crois que c'est ma partie préférée du parc depuis toute petite.

When I was a bit older (no way I tell you how much older), the very first opera I saw on TV was shot using the Hameau de la Reine as a set. I remember vividly how beautiful I thought it was and how happy I was that this was so near my home. Here are two short videos of it if you like Verdi's Traviata and would like to see more of the building that was the Queen's house.


Quand j'étais un peu plus vieille (de combien exactement, vous ne le saurez jamais), un opéra, la Traviata, a été filmé pour la télévision en utilisant le Hameau de la Reine en guise de décor. J'en garde un souvenir très vif, j'avais l'impression que le lieu revivait. J'en ai dégoté deux extraits à l'image de qualité médiocre sur Internet. Cliquez pour découvrir la Maison de la Reine.


The real stars of that part of the parc are not the buildings though, they are the farm animals. I know it's completely stupid: first because farm animals are the same in Versailles as anywhere else, second because I live in the countryside where I can see hens or rabbits whenever I want... Nevertheless, I spent a very long time watching the animals there and there were many families around me, speaking all different langages, but laughing at the same funny things made my the donkey or the geese.


Mais les vraies stars du Hameau, ce ne sont pas les bâtiments, ce sont les animaux. Je sais, c'est ridicule. D'abord parce que les animaux de ferme sont les mêmes partout, ensuite parce que quand on habite la campagne, se rendre à Versailles pour voir des cochons, c'est le comble. Eh bien, tant pis, j'avoue avoir passé à la ferme de Marie-Antoinette un grand moment, entourée de familles parlant toutes des langues différentes et riant toutes des mêmes facéties des animaux.


It was like I could hear Marie-Antoinette laughing at me. "Ah, Ah, weren't you the one pointing out how artificial this place is? Look at you enjoying your time with the animals? See, that's all I wanted, spending good times with my children playing with the animals!"


Il me semble que j'entends Marie-Antoinette se moquer de moi. "Tiens, tiens, mais n'était-ce pas toi qui soulignais combien mon Hameau est artificiel ? Regarde-toi admirer les poules ! Tu vois, c'est exactement ce que je voulais, venir m'amuser ici, avec mes enfants, entourée d'animaux."

If you ever visit Versailles, don't miss the Hameau de la Reine. It's a really fun part of the parc and reveals a very important "back to nature" trend of the 18th century.


Si vous visitez Versailles, ne ratez pas le Hameau de la Reine. C'est la partie la plus amusante du parc et cela révèle vraiment un courant important du XVIIIe siècle, cette volonté de "retour à la nature" très à la mode.


I have to tell you, though, that the employees there were nothing short from impolite and didn't sell us the right tickets... We paid for more than the Hameau de la Reine... So, of course, once I found out about it, I chose to make the most of this blunder and to visit more... There will be an other post about Versailles next month!


Je dois vous prévenir, cependant. Nous sommes tombés sur des employés qui étaient à peine polis et qui ne nous ont pas vendu les bons billets... Quand je m'en suis aperçue, j'ai décidé d'exploiter cette erreur et j'ai donc visité plus que le Hameau... Il y aura un autre article versaillais le mois prochain !

 

See you soon,

A bientôt,







PS1: I remember that in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, at least one scene with Marie Antoinette and her children was shot in the Hameau de la Reine, but I couldn't find a video of that scene... I guess you have to watch the whole film now to find it! The film isn't historically accurate, but once you understand it's not a textbook, you can enjoy the amazing decor and the wonderful costumes. Watching the film mighht prepare you for the next post on Versailles : you have until March to re-watch it! (See how teachers always give you homework?!?)




PS 1 : Je me rappelle très bien que le film Marie Antoinette de Sofia Coppola montre le Hameau dans au moins une scène où elle est avec ses enfants. Je n'ai pas pu trouver ce clip sur Internet. Je crois que vous n'avez plus qu'à revoir tout le film. C'est un très beau film si l'on ne le confond pas avec un livre d'histoire : oui, il y a des erreurs, mais les décors et les costumes sont superbes. En plus, cela vous préparera pour le prochain article sur Versailles. Allez, je vous laisse jusqu'en mars pour le revoir. (Les profs, ça donne toujours des devoirs !!!)

PS2: I'm sharing this post with:
Thoughts of Home            See original image        http://mstoodygooshoes.blogspot.fr/       



63 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this wonderful tour. I am afraid that this will be the only way I get to see France and all the beautiful cities and countryside. France is #1 on my bucket list.

    Sounds like you had a terrific childhood with all the beauty of the castle and surrounding land.

    Again, thank you so much, I really enjoyed this post. Have a great week.

    Mary

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  2. I enjoyed this tour, thank-you. I think Marie would laugh to see how so many today are also embracing "rustic living" , but very citified rustic for sure !

    What a beautiful place to live so near and be able to visit. I would enjoy it immensely. There is so much ancient history you actually live and work near, indeed, it is common life for you, the history I learned as a child only in books. Very interesting.

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  3. Dear magali,
    that was nice, I could stay inside and take a stroll at the same time! Thanks a lot. We have a much smaller version at the castle at Nymphenburg, it was meant as a playhouse for the royal children. Perhaps one day you will visit this as well?
    For me it´s back to work, but I really liked this little coffee-braek with a visit to Versailles!
    Yours, Sarah

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  4. voila une façon originale de nous conter Versailles et sa démesure royale ;-)
    Ici le soleil est revenu, tu veux pas revenir pour une autre visite ??
    allez, passe une belle semaine, moi je file bosser

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    1. Ici le soleil est revenu aussi, mais plutôt que de retourner visiter Versailles, j'ai passé l'après-midi dans mon jardin!

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  5. I LOVE EVERYTHING about this place. The palace, the "cottage", the nature (those ducks are BUXOM!) and the calm and beauty of the grounds. Ah......

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  6. It is tres beautiful! I was in France when I was in my twenties, and I would love to return for another visit (now that I am much older).

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  7. J'aime ce hameau, c'est trop beau, j'aimerais bien avoir le mien mais je ne suis pas reine et mon époux est loin d'avoir la fortune d'un roi.
    C'est bien d'avoir des blogueuses qui visitent pour nous.
    Les vacances scolaires ont-ellesété productives ?
    Caresses aux griffus ( ton squatteur vient-il toujours grapiller?).
    Bises. Babette

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  8. I love looking at the photos of the parks/countryside - how beautiful. I know to grow up so near a historic place one just gets totally used to it from birth and doesn't really think about how many people would love to go see it as you saw it every day. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. I have been to Versailles and loved it but not at this part of the place!AriadnefromGreece!

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  10. We missed most of this on our Versailles visit; I guess we'll have to go back. Lovely tour. Thank you so much. Jo @ Let's Face the Music

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    1. It's rather far from the main castle, so if you did a one day tour, you couldn't visit everything... Next time, maybe?

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  11. You live in a place from which dreams are made.

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  12. This wee rustic village is always featured in any narrative about Marie Antoinette. I'd certainly love to see it. Thank you for the tour!

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  13. This was a wonderful tour and photos were incredible. I loved it all Magali! Thanks for a wonderful feature.

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  14. Charming, this post is so charming! I think it is awesome you grew up near Versailles and it was just "normal" everyday scenery! I've traveled there with hubs and we enjoyed the palace and as much of the grounds that were open. The Hameau de la Reine was closed! I have enjoyed it through film, and I know the scene you are referring to. I'll go back and watch your clips too. Lovely photos and I will look forward to more on this next month. Merci Magali, I enjoyed this post so much……….

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  15. My daughter loves the movie and she would enjoy this armchair travel to Hameau De La Reine.
    I love these posts! Kathleen in Az

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. The movie used the real rooms of the castle and that made a whole difference.

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  16. We were lucky enough to visit Versailles on our trip last summer. I loved this little hamlet so much, I can see why you do also, Magali. I could have spent all day there - so enchanting! I didn't even go in the main castle because of the crowds and also it is a little too ornate and over the top for my taste. We enjoyed the gardens and the smaller castle which I thought was very pretty. Renting a golf cart there was one of the best decisions we made. That reminds me that I still need to post about that part of our trip. I'm looking forward to your post in March!

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  17. Thank you so much it was wonderful and i enjoyed it immensely.I also enjoyed those scenes of the opera,love to hear them sing.

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  18. Thanks for sharing such lovely and beautiful pictures :0))

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  19. It's true--my childhood was spent not too far from the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but we only went there once. I enjoyed this "arm chair" travel so much and hope to see more. Thank you for the lovely pictures and information on the hamlet.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the tour... I think I've been more to Versailles now that I don't live near it anymore.

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  20. Hi Magali, thank you so much for showing this wonderful ancient setting. One of my many passions is history. It's as though I can feel the people that have passed on before when I visit historical places. Have a wonderful week. Jo

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  21. Ahhhh....such a beautiful place. I would love to visit. We don't like crowds either, so I appreciate visiting via your photos!

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  22. Thank you. I loved this tour. Your are right. What a charming place. xo Laura

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  23. Chère Magali, merci d'étre venue à mon billet aujourd'hui!

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  24. Magali muy lindas las fotos y muy interesante todo lo que explicas realmente me gusto mucho todo y si lo volvere a ver creo que antes de marzo para estar preparada:) me doy cuenta que has tenido una bella ninez. cuidate nelly

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    1. Como ya he dicho que no ir al castillo muy a menudo , ya que por supuesto , que quedan atrapados en la vida . Pero seguía siendo agradable no estar muy lejos. Gracias por su visita.

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  25. We have been to France a few years ago but not to Paris or Versailles. This is a very interesting part of history. Thank you for sharing. I believe we have seen the movie "Marie-Antoinett." However it was a long time ago. It would be nice to see it again. I do love a cup of warm black tea with milk. I lived in Zimbabwe (3 years) so I got used to make tea with lots of milk and then a tea bag. It is delicious that way :) Hope your cup of tea was a great one!

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  26. Magali, this is all so beautiful and I can't imagine getting to live there among such history. Thank you for sharing your pretty pictures.

    I hope you'll link with Thoughts of Home on Thursday again. We were so happy to have you. :)

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  27. What a beautiful place. I love your tours and plan on doing my homework. Someday I hope we can see this in person!

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  28. I enjoyed the "tour" and the photos are great. I once went to the Loire Valley and toured several chateaus there. They were amazing! I love old places!

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  29. Oh to grow up in such a beautiful place! I would love to go to Versailles some day! Hubby and I love history and stories such as this.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  30. You pointed out a true, but amazing fact, that people tend to take places in their own back yards for granted. This post was fabulous for its unique views of such a famous place. And, from the earlier comments, views that visitors don't usually see either. Thank you.
    Ginene

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  31. What a charming place, Magali, thank you for taking us along! Whenever I think of Marie Antoinette, I always think of her tragic death, but now I can think of her living in this delightful place with her children and all the sweet animals. xx Karen

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    1. It's the same for me, but it's easier to understand how she lived before her death when you visit the places.

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  32. Ótimo post. Adoro história. Lembro-me que quando eu era adolescente (isso foi em 1982), ganhei de um senhor bem idoso, um livro sobre a vida de Maria Antonieta. O escritor é stefan sweig. A principio pensei ser um romance. Eu não associei a personagem principal com a rainha decapitada da frança. Depois fui percebendo tratar-se da historia da rainha. O livro é apaixonante, eu ainda o tenho e ele é bem velho, de quase cem anos. Sempre imaginei como seria os lugares descritos no livro, e hoje, com a internet, tenho oportunidade de ver esses lugares. Sei que nunca poderei ver esses lugares pessoalmente, mas graças a pessoas como você, posso conhece-los virtualmente. Obrigada professora. Sua leitora do Brasil.

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  33. What beautiful photos, Magali! I am much more interested in visiting the countryside and Versailles than in visiting Paris. (I would take free airfare to Paris if the airline offered it to me, however.) Your photos make me want to book a trip!

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  34. quelle jolie et inhabituelle vue du château de Versailles avec les moutons en premier plan !!! on le voit toujours avec les jets d'eau en premier plan... j'adore les moutons mais je n'aime pas les jets d'eau....
    j'aimerais bien vivre dans un si paisible hameau (la petite chaumière et son potager me conviendraient parfaitement) ou tout au moins le visiter un jour !!
    c'était une plaisante ballade sous un beau soleil d'hiver, merci !
    mes demi-racines bourguignonnes ont bien remarqué l'ouvrage de Colette...
    bien cordialement - monique59

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  35. Your photos came out beautiful. This village of Marie's was the most charming part of our visit in August. It is interesting how she liked to pretend: the elegant theater built for her to sing in and a bucolic village to enjoy the "simple" life. I have to say, that it was so hot in the summer, and that's coming from someone who lives where it is HOT. But it sounds and looks like a lovely way to spend a day in December. Fortunately, I've been in March too, and the crowds were not too bad, but I really wanted my daughter to see it. xoox Su

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  36. How absolutely charming! Thank you so much for taking us along on this tour today, Magali!

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  37. What a magical place, Magali. I think I could live there, be part of the fantasy.
    Amalia
    xo

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  38. Thanks for this lovely little getaway. I did not visit Versailles when I was in France. I guess we just need to make another trip.

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  39. Ah Versailles. Son faste, sa démesure, sa grandeur, son luxe. Pour moi Versailles reste intimement lié à Louis XIV. Je suis une fan inconditionnelle du Roi Soleil. Les jardins d'André le Notre, le potager de la Quintinie, le château si parfait de Mansart, quelle merveille.J'ai eu l'occasion l'été dernier de me rendre au château de Herrenchiemsee en Allemagne, réplique de Versailles et d'y admirer la magnifique galerie des glaces(plus grande de 25m que l'original). J'ai également pu visiter le château de Linderhof, inspiré par le Trianon. Tout ça pour dire que je n'ai jamais visité le château de Versailles, trop de monde mais j'ai visité ses magnifiques jardins. Le hameau de la reine, tellement charmant, le grand et petit Trianon, les bosquets, le grand canal, l'orangerie, ses statues. J'ai été enchanté par cette journée passée dans le parc et jardin. Il y a tellement à voir, à sentir, à admirer.
    Merci de m'avoir replongé dans cette merveille.

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  40. AMAZING!! This is something I never realized. Such a whimsical place to visit. Thanks for taking me there Magali! Have a great weekend.

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  41. The first time I saw a photo of Hameau de la Reine I thought it was one of the most charming places I had ever seen. After now seeing more of Marie's "farm" I feel even more that it is the most charming of places. Thank you for sharing these wonderful images, Magali. I loved this post so much. xo

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  42. Oh, what a charming and whimsical place, sweet friend! This is a place I will likely never see in person, but you took me there with your beautiful photos - thank you so much!

    It's always a joy to visit you! Have a wonderful week. Hugs!

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  43. What a beautiful place and so quirky. I would never think of going to this part (if I ever went) but it is so rustic and beautiful and so interesting. Have a wonderful and dry week ahead xx

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  44. Stunning photos. Thanks for the virtual trip!

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  45. It looks like an amazing place. I'm pinning it so I remember to visit when I get back to France someday. Now I want to see the movie!

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  46. The rustic, for me, having lived in the countryside of Crete, and choosing to build my home there, has always been so much more romantic than the rich! Your beautiful photos have managed to rekindle my love affair with the charm of village life, from the furry farm animals to the fairy tale architecture, it's all so dreamy and divine!

    Poppy

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  47. Thanks for taking me to a place i would otherwise not see! I did see the movie and enjoyed it.

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  48. Thanks for the tour. I had never heard of Le Hameau de la Reine, and now I have another place on my list of must visits!

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  49. It would be a dream come true if I ever had the chance to visit there - thanks for sharing these beautiful photos!

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  50. Le Hameau de la Reine est mon plus beau souvenir de Versailles. Merci de m'avoir rafraîchi la mémoire!
    Bon après-midi.

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  51. Je ne suis pas fan de ce film car justement il y a pas mal d'erreurs historiques et le problème est que le cinéma a une forte influence sur l'idée que se font les gens de l'Histoire...sinon jolis photos. Moi, je lis et relis un bouquin réédité dans sa v.o qui avait les délices de ma mère et de moi-même gamine, Les Pardaillan de Michel Zevaco, un pur régal.

    Au sujet de ton com, oui, je suis d'accord pour les teintes obtenues pendant la cuisson.

    Bises.

    Caroline de bleunordique.canalblog.com

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  52. Thanks for the tour and the lovely photos. I went there when I was a young girl – so that is a long time ago and I had not taken pictures. We went several times to Versailles, mostly when family or friends would stay with us in Paris, and we would take them there for a visit. But I am talking about the 1950s, and we never had to wait to get in. There were some tourists, but it was not too bad. It is such a lovely place, the farm, the gardens, and of course the castle.

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  53. I so enjoyed the tour, Magali! How wonderful that you spent part of your childhood in Versailles. I would have been mesmerized by the history and beauty of it. Thank you so much!

    Jane

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  54. You live in fairy tale land Magali, literally! Such a lovely place and you describe it and take photos of it impeccably!

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  55. Absolutely fascinating, Magali - and perfectly charming. I had never heard of Hameau de la Reine. it looks like a film set - something from the Three Musketeers, perhaps! Loved your photos and commentary - but I'll risk a detention by not doing my homework.

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