Ep 275: The Ghosts of Versailles Part 1

Seated on the steps was a man with a heavy black cloak ‘round his shoulders and wearing a slouch hat. At that moment, the eerie feeling which had begun in the garden culminated in a definite impression of something uncanny and fear-inspiring.
— Eleanor Jourdain from "An Adventure," 1911
 

Description:

In the late summer of 1901, two women journeyed to the renowned Palace of Versailles, a few miles west of Paris. This breathtaking royal home, once the epitome of the French Monarchy during the reigns of Louis XIV, XV, and XVI, was an unfamiliar territory to them. Yet, the palace grounds seemed eager to impart a history lesson they had not anticipated. While exploring the vast estate, Charlotte Anne Moberly and Eleanor Jourdain found themselves amidst various characters adorned in peculiar attire. They noticed buildings, structures, and anachronistic farm tools from a past era. It was as if they had inadvertently stepped through a portal into a bygone era. The highlight of their uncanny experience may have been an encounter with a spectral figure of what may have been Queen Marie Antoinette herself. The bewildering events of that summer day left Moberly and Jourdain perplexed. Over time, they gradually pieced together the puzzle of their extraordinary visit. Years were devoted to delving into Versailles' rich history, with additional visits undertaken to comprehend the mysterious occurrences they had witnessed. Despite being mocked by many, they remained steadfast in their quest to understand what they had seen in 1901. Today, their astonishing experience, known as the Moberly-Jourdain Incident or The Ghosts of Versailles, continues to fascinate fans of timeslips, time travel and encounters with ghosts of events that happened long ago. Tonight, Scott is joined by special guest co-hosts Richard Hatem and Marie Mayhew to dive into this bizarre tale.

 
 
 
 

Location:

The Palace of Versailles and more specifically Le Petit Trianaon where the Moberly-Jourdain Incident took place in August of 1901. About 12 miles west of Paris. Le Petit Trianon was gifted to Marie Antoinette by her husband Louise XVI and was considered to be one of her favorite places to spend time. One of the women believed they saw her sketching outside when they passed by on that very strange day.

 
 

Suggested Listening:

 
 

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CREDITS:

Episode 275: The Ghosts of Versailles Part 1. Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess; Special Guest Co-hosts, Richard Hatem & Marie Mayhew. Audio Editing by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound. Music and Sound Design by Allen Carrescia. Tess Pfeifle, Producer and Lead Researcher. Ed Voccola, Technical Producer. Research Support from The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short. Copyright 2024 Astonishing Legends Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.