The first time I visited Versailles, I was awestruck by the Halls of Mirrors. The guide said something that changed my view forever. He explained that in the time of Louis XIV, the King’s residence was open to the public. Mirrors were incredibly expensive so for many visitors, it was the first time they had been able to see themselves. He added: “And for some it was a very bad shock!”
We then went into the King’s bedchamber with its fabric woven with real gold and silver and heard about ceremonies for getting up and going to bed. The King received courtiers and even important guests there. As bizarre as it may seem to us the bedroom was the centre of court life.
Continuing the visit, I noticed that the Queen’s bed was larger than the King’s and heard how Marie-Antoinette loathed the intrusion of the public ceremonies she had to endure in her bedroom.
This visit literally changed my life as I became fascinated by the people who had lived in these spaces. I started reading everything I could on French history and my regular visits to France became centred around visiting the places where the lives of the colourful figures of French history had played out. This approach took me to places well off the tourist trail and even in those well known places such as Versailles, it literally opened new doors.
Architecture and furnishing had become an important personal and political statement for most of the French Kings and their own living spaces set the trends for the rest of Europe. The vast spaces of many of the chateaux and museums have been featured in many beautiful photographic books. We are inviting readers to become more intimately acquainted with the places and people responsible for the development of French style décor and opening the doors to a wider range of tourism options than ever before.
As the subject is so vast, we start with the most important space – where Kings, Queens and aristocrats received their most privileged guests, where so many of the famous writers penned their works, and where everyone spent a large part of their lives – the bedroom.
Welcome to our unique journey.
The beds and boudoirs featured are in chronological order, with a short history of the person
involved. Most importantly, THEY ARE ALL AVAILABLE TO VISIT.
Most are in museums or chateaux open to the public.*
* In some rare instances, such as the mistresses’ apartments at Versailles and Napoleon’s
private bedroom at Fontainebleau, visits need to be made in small groups regularly
organised by the chateau or a private tour needs to be requested. in all cases it is possible
to actually visit the bed shown. We specify the location the bed is displayed so you can plan
your own itinerary.
You can follow the stories in chronological order, starting by clicking “The Bed Back in Time”
below.
If you are interested in any particular person or period, you can go straight to that option by
clicking on the person in the options below.