21 - 27 June 2027 - Broad Chalke, Salisbury

Festival

Join the Chalke History Club

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Membership

Enjoy Chalke year-round by joining the Chalke History Club, with access to past talks, exclusive online events and festival benefits. (2026 talks added in the autumn)

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Forum

Included

17:30 - 18:30
Mon, 22 June
2. Marie Antoinette: The Original Cultural Influencer
Chalke ConfidentialForum

When the Austrian archduchess Marie Antoinette arrived at the glittering court of Versailles as the future queen of Louis XVI, she began a transformation from teenage bride to one of history’s most enduring cultural influencers. With her bold style, lavish commissions, and fearless approach to fashion and taste, she reshaped the rigid traditions of court life and became a powerful patron of the arts. Step into the world of this complex and iconic Queen with Classic FM’s Alexander Armstrong, Sarah Grant, the curator of the V&A’s hit Marie Antoinette Style exhibition and Catriona Seth, Marshal Foch Professor of French Literature, as together with cultural historian Tim Richardson they explore how Marie Antoinette sparked her own cultural revolution and why, 250 years on, she remains a captivating muse for artists, designers, and filmmakers around the world.

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The Festival will return in 2027! 21st - 27th June, 2027. Keep up to date on all the festival news, including the latest line up announcements.

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