Rambouillet

For those who can’t get enough of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in Paris and Versailles, I give you Rambouillet. The town between Versailles and Chartres is most well known for Château de Rambouillet, a former medieval fortress. Located on the edge of the forest, the château was Louis XVI’s hunting lodge. It’s also where King François I died, where King Charles abdicated the throne, and where Napoleon I stayed before being exiled to Saint Helena. Until recent years, Château de Rambouillet served as the summer residence of French presidents. As a result, the château has hosted international leaders, royalty, as well as the first G6 Summit in 1975.
Located near the château are many points of interest, including the Bergerie Nationale, which housed Louis XVI’s Merino sheep. Nearby is the Laiterie de la Reine {Queen’s Dairy} that was built by Louis XVI for Marie-Antoinette. Also in the forest is Chaumiére aux Coquillages {Shell Cottage}. Built in 1779 by Queen Marie-Antoinette for her friend, the Princes of Lamballe, the seashell cottage is a startling contrast between the rustic exterior and ornate interior, which is made of shells, chips of marble, and mother-of-pearl.

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