Marie-Antoinette Tour

Travel in the footsteps of Marie-Antoinette

Separating myth from fact is a challenge when it comes to Marie-Antoinette. She has been featured in more than 40 films (including the latest release from Sofia Coppola) and is the subject of countless biographies.

Travel in the Footsteps of Marie-Antoinette and explore her sumptuous state apartments at Versailles, the Royal Chapel where the wedding took place and the Hall of Mirrors and Royal Opera – scenes of the wedding celebrations. Go behind the scenes to her private apartments and other areas not open to the public such as Fersen’s tiny attic apartment.

Discover "The Domain of Marie Antoinette" (opened in July 2006) including the newly restored English Garden surrounding the Petit Trianon as well as the celebrated Theatre de la Reine, where Marie Antoinette starred in regular performances for her husband and friends. Discover the life of Marie-Antoinette after the Paris mob forced the royal family from Versailles right through to her execution and burial in Paris.

SPECIAL VIP DEPARTURES 2008

Two VIP tours have been organized for 2008 to coincide with

Marie-Antoinette’s wedding anniversary (May 14 - May 18)
Marie-Antoinette’s birthday (October 29 - November 2)

The tour concludes with a “once in a lifetime” event -

A tour of the Château de Breteuil as guests of M. Henri-François de Breteuil, the Marquis de Breteuil, whose ancestor the Baron de Breteuil was an important figure in the life of Marie-Antoinette, and lunch with France’s most respected authority on Marie-Antoinette

Evelyne is the author of several biographies of Marie-Antoinette, including “Marie-Antoinette Correspondence (1770 - 1793)” and “Marie-Antoinette - the Last Queen of France”. We are privileged to be accompanied by Evelyne on our visit of the Château de Breteuil as we view mementos personally given to the Baron de Breteuil by Marie-Antoinette and her mother, the Empress of Austria.

The Baron was a trusted advisor of Marie-Antoinette during the “affair of the necklace” and a wonderful recreation of “the” necklace is on display.

Over a special lunch, you will have the opportunity to talk to Evelyne about the life of France’s last queen and as a permanent reminder of your journey in the footsteps of Marie-Antoinette, you will receive a personally signed copy of her biography.

Itinerary

DAY 1, 2	VERSAILLES Today we head off for the first of two days exploring the Château of Versailles and the Domain of Marie-Antoinette, staying overnight at Versailles. We will see all of the opulent state apartments, including Marie-Antoinette’s beautiful bed chamber and the magnificently restored Hall of Mirrors. We will also go behind closed doors and visit the private apartments of Louis XVI, including the dining room where Marie-Antoinette enjoyed hosting dinner parties for her friends. We’ll stand in the actual chapel where she was married on May 16, 1770. A special private visite privilege of Marie-Antoinette’s private apartments is an experience you will never forget. We’ll take the time to enjoy the terraces and gardens that were a feature of Sofia Coppola’s film and spend a whole afternoon in the Domain of Marie-Antoinette - her favorite place in the world, with its little theatre, newly restored English Garden and the amazing hamlet and farm. An annual membership of the “Amis de Versailles” is a feature included in these tours.	“Domain of Marie-Antoinette” “Marie-Antoinette’s bed chamber”
DAY 3	Today we trace the steps of Marie-Antoinette after she and her family were forced from Versailles to live in Paris. We’ll walk through the sites of the Tuileries Palace, the Temple prison and various homes of her friends. At Carnavalet we will visit the recreation of the prison room at the Temple and see items belonging to Marie-Antoinette including her small shoe. To lighten the mood after a sad day, we’ll put ourselves in the atmosphere of the movie as we enjoy dinner at Ladurée on the Champs Elysées.	“The Tuileries" "Laduree"
DAY 4	Today we follow the route taken by Marie-Antoinette on the last day of her life, from her prison cell at the Conciergerie, along the route taken by the cart to the guillotine. After lunch, we’ll follow the route all the way to the Chapelle Expiatoire where she was buried immediately after her execution.	Conciergerie
DAY 5	On the last day of this special tour, we will go to Rambouillet to visit the newly reopened “Queen’s Dairy” before our special visit of the Château of Breteuil. Among personal items given to the Baron de Breteuil we will see an exquisite jeweled table - a gift from Marie-Antoinette’s mother. We will also have the opportunity to see a magnificent recreation of the famous necklace, all accompanied by “the uncontested specialist of the Queen of France”, Evelyne Lever.	“A gift from Marie-Antoinette’s mother, the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria to the Baron de Breteuil” “At the Château de Breteuil - recreation of the scene where Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI discuss the “necklace” problem with the Baron de Breteuil.”
COST:	$6000 - $7200/person - Twin share

Departure Dates

Marie-Antoinette’s wedding anniversary (May 14 - May 18)
Marie-Antoinette’s birthday (October 29 - November 2)

Tour Costs

The tours are available in both “Version Classique” and “Version Luxe” .

The content is exactly the same. The difference between the two is the hotels.

With “Version Classique” the hotels in both Paris and Versailles are charming 3 star boutique hotels. For “Version Luxe”, 4 star luxury boutique hotels are booked in Paris and at Versailles we stay in the fabulous Trianon Palace hotel.

Version Classique - $6000 (twin share)
Version Luxe - $7200 (twin share)

Single Supplement -

Version Classique - $950
Version Luxe - $1600

Includes -

5 nights accommodation with breakfast
Annual Membership of the Amis de Versailles*
All transfers
Guided visit of the State Apartments and Gardens of Versailles
Guided visit of the Domain of Marie-Antoinette
2 x The Visite Privilège** of private apartments at Versailles
Lunch both days at Versailles
Lunches in Paris (including lunch at the famous Pavillon Elysées)
Dinner at Ladurée on the Champs Elysées
Two day guided tour of Marie-Antoinette sites in Paris
All museum entries
Transport to Rambouillet and Château de Breteuil
Tour of Château de Breteuil
Private lunch with Evelyne Lever
Personally signed copy of Evelyne Lever’s « Marie-Antoinette » biography

*As a member of the Amis de Versailles, you will be able to return to Versailles as often as you would like throughout 2008 at no charge.

**The Visite Privilège is a private tour for our group only in the company of an official Versailles conferencière (the very important person with those huge keys), taking us behind closed doors to areas not open to the public. We will enjoy one of these privileged tours each day, including the private apartments of Marie-Antoinette and the private apartments of Louis XVI.

For more information on the VIP tours or other “Travel in the Footsteps of Marie-Antoinette” departures in 2008, please contact Deborah direct -
Deborah@frenchtravelboutique.com

French Travel Boutique caters only to small, select groups and we have the flexibility to offer you individual attention.

We can personalise a package for your own “feel like a queen” experience, with options including champagne and flowers, beauty treatments, meals, limousine transfers etc. We can also offer tailor-made add-ons to extend your stay and give you the opportunity to enjoy the best of Paris shopping and sightseeing with our resident expert.

This is a unique traveling experience - the kind you can only enjoy when you have a (historian!) friend in Paris.

To view a printable PDF file please click here.