Category Archives: French Royalty

French Palaces, French Royalty, Royal documentaries

‘Marie Antoinette: The Scapegoat Queen’: A Documentary About the Last Queen of France. Plus, other Films about the French Monarchy

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Here is a documentary about the last queen of France entitled, Marie Antoinette: The Scapegoat Queen.  Click the links below to watch this five-part series:

Finally, the French historian, William Beik, from Emory University in the United States gives a lecture about the lives and landscape of the French monarchy   “… [which focuses on] and discusses the lives of the monarchs, including Kings Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI, and the transformation of French culture into the pinnacle of art and refinement.”  

Following Mr. Beik is designer and lecturer Christian Duvernois who discusses “… the gardens of Versailles and the two passionate ‘royal landscape designers’ who spent time working on these gardens: Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette.”  

If you loathe listening to dry and otherwise boring university professors chit-chat about detailed history you can skip this program.  If not, click the link here to watch. 

French Palaces, French Royalty, Royal documentaries

Château de Versailles, King Louis XIV of France, and Le Petit Trianon: Three Documentaries

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Well, it’s that time of the week again!  Yes, it’s royal documentary time, my friends.   🙂   Tonight the subject is all things French and royal.

The first documentary is entitled, The Palace of Versailles.  The program is somewhat short, but nonetheless fantastic.  Click the links to watch:  Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four and Part Five.  

The second documentary is entitled, Versailles: The Dream of a King. The focus is on Louis XIV aka the Sun King and the building of Versailles:

The film recreates the life and loves of France’s most famous king, Louis XIV. Dubbed the Sun King by his admiring court, Louis conquered half of Europe, conducted dozens of love affairs and dazzled his contemporaries with his lavish entertainments. But perhaps his greatest achievement – and certainly his longest lasting love – was the incredible palace he built at Versailles, one of the wonders of the world.

 


 

 

 

Finally, here is a short program, a total of 6:09 minutes, about the restoration of Le Petit Trianon from TV5 Monde Europe.  Yes, it’s in French.  Click here to watch.  And, a program regarding the restoration of the La Galerie des Glaces at Versailles.  Again, it’s in French… sorry about that.   Click here to watch. 

Photo courtesy of:  Wikipedia

French Royalty

An Interview with Prince Jean, The Duke of Vendôme

Recently, Prince Jean, Duke of Vendôme gave an interview to the French newspaper, La Montagne, where he discussed his life and everything else under the sun.  Here is a short translated snippet from the article:

The Orleanists consider him to be the heir to the French throne.  Prince Jean of France refuses to give up his right to exercise his “responsibilities” as part of the his royal linage.  The prince will also host a conference at Avrilly Castle in the coming days.

 L’Allier, because of its history, is more accustomed to the house of Bourbon, at the house of Orleans, who sees you as the heir to the throne of France. Do your two families maintain good relations? 

Yes, of course, they are excellent (laughs). You know, the Bourbons and the Orleans family ties. Henry IV is especially because he is our common ancestor. I am  also know a little Allier.

Your family history has it weighed heavily on you and in your education growing up?

Of course! I was raised in that memory. But, my mother also had the presence of mind to ensure that her children are in direct contact with the world today. She has prepared us to live in our time. So I can say I had a “normal” life when I was young. Also, had to fend alone in my journey as a student, then in my career. In particular, I served in the banking sector. Today, I manage the family forest, bordering south of the Ardennes, an area of 2,500 hectares. I also created my brand, “Prince Jean”, which offers for sale, online, clothes, dishes, crystal, or the tables.

The full interview will be available in tomorrow’s edition of La Montagne.

Finally, it was recently announced that the Duke will attend the princely wedding, on July 1 and 2, in Monaco alongside his wife, the Duchess of Vendôme.

Source:  La Montagne.fr

Photo courtesy of: Zimbio by Pascal Segretain/Getty Images Europe