Two monarchs swept away by the Revolution, and historians who have still not finished examining them. The Saturday 28th and the Sunday 29 Novemberthe château de Fontainebleau brings together historians, researchers and curators for two days of lectures, «Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI: Between Myth and Reality», in the Salle des Colonnes. It is one of the highlights of the season that the château is dedicating to the royal couple, alongside the exhibition «Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI at Fontainebleau: Splendour and the good life» and the dramatised tour: «Marie-Antoinette, Queen of Fashion».
The first day follows Marie-Antoinette during her stays at Bellefontaine. The historian Patrick Daguenet begins by recounting his stays at the château, Patrick Ponsot, Chief Architect for Historic Monuments, describes the royal couple’s apartments, and Stéphane Castelluccio, a researcher at the CNRS, recounts the Queen’s balls. The afternoon takes on a more intimate atmosphere: Évelyne Lever talks about «Marie-Antoinette, the private woman», Matthieu Da Vinha, director of the Centre for Research on the Palace of Versailles, the Queen and Fashion, and Muriel Barbier, the castle’s director of heritage and collections, described it as a «castle adorned entirely with fabrics».
Sunday finds its way into objects. Jean Vittet showcases the royal furniture, Paul Giraud Macret the joiner and the furniture from La Dauphine, Grégoire Berthier, a student at the École du Louvre, the furnishings of Fontainebleau. Next came the royal goldsmith’s workshop under Yves Carlier (Palace of Versailles), the Sèvres of Fontainebleau by Guillaume Séret, English visitors to the château during the reign of Louis XVI by Vincent Droguet, and, finally, the myth of Marie-Antoinette at the château by David Millerou, head of the educational department.
Every day at 12h, Florence Porcheron, a research assistant at the château, offers a a dramatised reading of Marie-Antoinette’s correspondence in the Victoria lounge. The capacity is 19 seats However, registration takes place on site upon arrival: it’s best to get there first thing in the morning. Please note that access involves climbing a large number of steps.
€7 per day, all-day ticket, Salle des Colonnes with access via the Couloir des Mariniers. Those wishing to stay longer may visit the exhibition and the Grand Apartments at their leisure for €17 (free for EU nationals under 26). Bookings via the Fontainebleau Castle’s lectures page.
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