Ins ide the inPRESENTS tim acy of kin gs A docum en tar y by ERIC DE LOCHNER 52’ | History | HD | 4K he Trianon is an area of more than 96 acres, comprising two castles, one hamlet, both English and French gardens T and so-called workshops (also known as ‘Folies’), crea- ting a pleasant and bucolic imbroglio of styles and epochs, representative of the various sovereigns having embellished it through their diff erent reigns. A true haven of peace, located at 1.5 First of all because the Trianon ‘invites’, km form the o� icial palace, it has been it doesn’t house the courtesans. This Ins ide the in tim acy of kin gs the home to many �inancial investments gives it its particularity, unique in the of the French kings throughout history, landscape of other o� icial residences. as well as laying the scene for their While the Marly was accommodating everyday private life. Sheltering their the courtesans chosen by Louis XIV, the intimacy behind the enclosing walls Trianon is exclusively dedicated to the of the domain, the Trianon has long intimacy of the king, with no obligations. been the subject of much attention and In this place, common protocol is dis- sparked the wildest dreams. Its secrecy carded. At least so it seems. For though has even left historians and specialists one lives behind these walls, abiding to on the matter with many unsolved mys- new rules, we shall soon come to �ind TrIANON teries as to what the sovereigns would that the sovereigns, though sheltered, allow and indeed live behind these are never truly free. walls... This is what we wish to uncover through this documentary. The Trianon also off ers an indisputable advantage in discovering who the kings The Trianon has in�lected the solem- really were. It holds buildings and instal- nity of the Versailles Palace to �ind a lations that correspond to the personal form of intimacy until then forbidden preferences of its occupants; the gardens to the monarchs, and create a contrast strewn with workshops, showing the taste between everyday life and power. 52 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY for botany of Louis XV or the theater and As we venture deeper into the disco- the hamlet, attesting to Marie-Antoinette’s WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ERIC DE LOCHNER very of this hidden place, the intimate taste for the arts and drama. lives of former rulers unfold before Finally, the Trianon is an essential his- us. This new perspective allows us on torical asset in determining the private one hand to create the timeline of this life of its three last sovereigns. It has domain, left unscathed to us in spite of miraculously remained intact in spite the vicissitudes of time. Furthermore, of the revolution and certain hasty and it leaves us with a portrait of its inhabi- shoddy embellishments. tants, namely Louis XIV, Louis XV and fi nally Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. While the other intimate-size residences of the kings such as Marly, Saint-Cloud Why should the Trianon be particular and Choisy-le-Roi were destroyed, the in giving us a glimpse into the personal Trianon still stands to this day, unscathed. lives of the kings? 3 DIRECTOR’S NOTES The documentary e shall begin the documentary with a drone aerial shot taking of from the rear courtyard, unveiling the W ‘Domaine de Trianon’ behind the curtain of bushes and trees. Not only does this give us a sense of the proximity of this location, but it also provides a few general indications t’s in this exclusive domain, far from the polished, marke- about the domain. ted image that the sovereigns of Versailles conveyed, that their everyday ordinary life unfolded, tasting life’s simple I Our �irst protagonist, whose emblem We finish off with the ‘Parc à L’An- pleasures and passions. And these intimate protagonists for the domain is the ‘Grand Trianon’, a glaise’, and the ‘Hameau de la Reine’, would do so in perfect secrecy. building of great sobriety with classical emblems of its last occupant, Ma- Italian inspirations, with marble-covered, rie-Antoinette, and her love for the imposing and regular alignments, much countryside. The spectator will discover through this rangements and decorative arts through appreciated by the Sun King. It’s with him Long since abandoned and mistakingly tale, far from the golden panache of each epoch. Stefan Zweig would later that everything starts. Not merely Ver- considered as one of Marie-Antoinette’s Versailles, the heartening story of these describe the domain as a ‘prototype of sailles, but also the history of the Trianon. many eccentricities, though she had lived persons burdened by the strict protocol fashion and taste’. A story that will show, as we shall come happy as well as dramatic moments, this put in place by the Sun King. to learn, that the Trianon has had very Thus, the best architects, artists and area relives, and gives us a glimpse into diff erent uses for its diff erent successors. Here for example, the admittedly schi- cabinetmakers worked tirelessly in order the personality of the queen. zophrenic life of Louis XV will allow him to turn this place int a place of intimacy Thereafter, we �ind the ‘Petit Trianon’, The personality of one who, secluded to act out his passion to the extent of and luxury. located not far away from the ‘Grand herself in misunderstandings, entrenched building a castle for his mistress... There, Trianon’, though not aligned with it. From Louis XIV until the revolution, ‘The behind her walls. This will lead to the only 1.5km from the queen, Louis XV lives The brainchild of Louis XV, its garden Trianon, inside the intimacy of Kings’ most fantastic speculations regarding his telltale life, married to someone else featuring specialized workshops that recounts the personalities and inclina- her life at the Trianon, leaving France in and enjoys his passion for botany. witness the fashion for things out of tions of the last sovereigns of the ancient absence of a queen. the ordinary, but also his passion for At the Trianon, we shall also come to regime. botany. We will come to �ind that it is understand that enjoying the simple Three universes and three types of archi- Though Versailles hasn’t left much space indeed Louis XV, strongly encouraged life isn’t necessarily incompatible with tecture for these three monarchs who for the privacy of the sovereigns, subser- by Madame de Pompadour, that shall wanting the best. have lived, loved and embellished the vient to their role of absolute monarchs, trigger the Trianon to provide the Trianon, with the careful consideration The domain represents the quintessence the Trianon allowed them to live secluded, possibility of a parallel life, in concor- for their predecessors’ work. in all matters of architecture, garden ar- in the true dreamworld of kings. dance with his human passions. 4 5 LOUIS XIV the �inancial side of the sun e is the king through which everything starts at Versailles and Trianon. Not only does he build the most impressive H palace in Europe, but he also installs the heavy proto- col and etiquette that will leave little space for intimacy and ordinary passions. In his domain of Trianon, two castle will erected alongside the relation held follow in order: the ‘Porcelain Trianon’, between the Sun King and the sparkling and the ‘Marble Trianon’, also known as Antenais de Montespan. the ‘Grand Trianon’. Their both represent 17 years later, the Italian inspired two diff erent eras, and two very distinct ‘Marble Trianon’, evoking this time character traits of Louis XIV. the austerity of the end of Louis XIV’s First, the ‘Porcelain Trianon’, beautiful reign, and his pious and sober rela- edi�ice that now has disappeared, is tionship with Madame de Maintenon. 6 7 The ‘Porcelain Trianon’ now gives way when Louis XIV purchased it in 1660. to the ‘Marble Trianon’. He instructs his architect, Louis le Vau, to build “a house to recollect oneself”. This new construction sees the light of day in 1688. Classical, with only The Porcelain Trianon is composed “I have built Vers aill es for my court, one �loor, it is composed by two wings of 5 buildings coated in delicate ear- connected by a peristyle, purple marble thenware from Delpht. It was built to columns and pillars, and falls into per- please Madame de Montespan, and we Mar ly for my frie nds , fect harmony with the surrounding will draw a portrait of this relationship, gardens. representative of the pinnacle of the Sun King’s reign. an d Trian on for mys elf It is the family home that Louis XIV de- ” sires, and for the �irst time, he appears Together they shine, and the first LOUIS XIV more human. Life is more free there Trianon reflects the image of the than anywhere else, and the duchess stunning couple, both narcissistic of Burgony, wife to the oldest grandson and seductive. Louis XIV appears vi- of Louis XIV, becomes the ray of light of rile and powerful by the side of Ma- this miniature court, and prolongs for dame Montespan, a builder that seeks a short while the sparkle of the former to conquer and seduce not only his pompous parties held by the Sun King. mistress, but also Europe and the en- tire world. We will discover that beyond being a space of intimacy for Louis XIV, it is This portrait will give way 17 years later mainly intentioned and dedicated to his to one of a quieter, more pious man, mistresses. This function will continue weakened by the state of a country through the reign of Louis XV.