“Graces, in laughing, designed Montreuil.” These words by Jacques Delille hint at the charm awaiting us at the Orangerie du domaine de Madame Elisabeth. This is a place steeped in history. It echoes with the laughter and sorrows of a French princess.
The Orangerie stands as a testament to a bygone era. It is part of the Domaine de Madame Elisabeth. The estate is located in Versailles. Once a pleasure pavilion, it now serves as an exhibition space. The Yvelines departmental council acquired it in 1997.
Originally, the estate belonged to the Rohan-Guéméné family. King Louis XVI bought it in 1783 for his sister Elisabeth. She was known as Madame Elisabeth. Marie Antoinette surprised Elisabeth with the gift. She proposed a walk in Montreuil. Elisabeth remembered playing there as a child. The queen then announced, “You are here at home.”
Between 1787 and 1789, architect Jean-Jacques Huvé updated the buildings. He used the neoclassical style. Huvé constructed two-story structures. They featured cut stone and horizontal grooves. The complex included a circular chapel. It had zenithal lighting. A Turkish boudoir also featured. Furniture was commissioned from cabinetmakers Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené and Jean-Baptiste Boulard. Some pieces are now in the Louvre and the Musée Nissim-de-Camondo.
Madame Elisabeth lived here until 1789. The wall along the Avenue de Paris was topped with a balustrade. It served as a terrace. From there, one could admire the park and garden. Huvé designed the eight-hectare garden. It was in the Anglo-Chinese style. It featured artificial grottoes, streams, cascades, and bridges.
Madame Elisabeth established a dispensary. It was for the local poor. Doctor and botanist Louis Guillaume Le Monnier cared for them. He brought rare plants to the estate’s kitchen garden.
The French Revolution ended these activities. The Clausse family acquired the estate in the early 19th century. Charles Louis Clausse, mayor of Versailles, died there. The buildings were significantly altered. This likely occurred during the Restoration or the July Monarchy. Jean-Baptiste Chantrell carried out major restorations between the World Wars.
In 2013, an exhibition paid tribute to Madame Elisabeth. It showcased 135 works. These included paintings, drawings, furniture, and costumes. The exhibition took place in both the Demeure and the Orangerie. Visitors had the feeling of entering her home. They could experience her daily life.
The Orangerie today hosts temporary exhibitions. It keeps the memory of Madame Elisabeth alive. Though only parts of the original house remain, they include her bedroom, the Turkish salon, and the clavecin room. The facades and roofs of the old Orangerie are listed as historical monuments. The park is open for free visits.
As we stand here at the Orangerie du domaine de Madame Elisabeth, we remember the life of a princess. She was generous and devout. Her story echoes through these stones. It reminds us of a world that has vanished. Yet, its beauty and spirit endure.