NATIONAL ESTATE OF MARLY LE ROI
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The national estate of Marly-Le-Roi consisted of a fragmented architectural whole
By 1670, Louis XIV was dreaming of a more intimate château, far removed from the grandeur and splendor of Versailles. For this project, he chose Marly and its game-filled valley. In the spring of 1679, construction of the estate began, based on ideas by the painter Le Brun, then on plans by Hardouin-Mansart. Louis XIV made his first visit to the estate in 1684. As his reign progressed, being invited to one of Marly's country parties became the most coveted honor. Etiquette was relaxed, and the sovereign was brought into close contact. The estate consists of a fragmented architectural ensemble: in the center, the square-plan royal château; in its extension, 12 pavilions for guests, with a succession of ponds; and the park adorned with groves, sculptures and water features fed by the famous Machine. Louis XIV found Marly an ideal setting for his passion for architecture, and the opportunity to create an ideal place more flexibly than Versailles and its pre-existing château. Under the Regency, Marly was on the verge of disappearing, but the Duc de Saint-Simon fought and won the case. Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were the last to stay there, and after the Revolution, the estate was abandoned. In 1879, an industrialist bought it and had the château demolished. Today, all that remains are the park and the watering hole, adorned with the famous horses sculpted by Coustou. The Musée Promenade, located next to the royal gate, traces the history of the Sun King's vanished château.
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