The Queen's Apartments

The Queen's Guard Room

Time Needed: 10 minutes

Where guards protected the queen and where they failed on October 6, 1789.

Notable Features: - Military-themed décor deemed appropriate for guards - Paintings added by Louis-Philippe in the 19th century - The door through which Marie Antoinette fled revolutionaries

The Queen's Antechamber

Time Needed: 10-15 minutes

Where the queen dined in public—a peculiar royal obligation.

Key Elements: - Portraits of Marie Antoinette and her family - The tapestries following seasonal themes - The ceremonial dining arrangement

Royal Reality: "Grand Couvert" meals were public spectacles. Anyone properly dressed could watch the royals eat. Marie Antoinette hated this, often taking just a few bites before retreating.

The Queen's Bedchamber

Time Needed: 15-20 minutes

Nineteen royal children were born in this room before audiences of courtiers.

Must Notice: - The bed reconstructed exactly as Marie Antoinette left it - The secret door through which she escaped in 1789 - Ceiling corners showing queenly virtues - The privacy balustrade separating queen from courtiers

Intimate Detail: Queens gave birth publicly to prevent baby-switching. Marie Antoinette nearly suffocated from the crowded, airless room during her first delivery.

Children's Activity: Count all the fleur-de-lis symbols you can find.