Château de Malmaison

It is the story of a true coup de cœur, the one that Josephine de Beauharnais, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte had for this beautiful residence located today only a few minutes away by train from the capital. She bought it in 1799 (without saying anything to her husband…) and never stopped transforming it into a haven of peace.

Decorated in the antique style by the famous architects of the time, Percier and Fontaine, the castle became between 1800 and 1802 the seat of the French government, a place where Napoleon liked to gather his ministers. Great
political decisions were taken within these walls… After crossing the first vestibule in the shape of a tent, you are plunged into the heart of the daily life of its most famous owners, from Josephine's bedroom, where she died in 1814, to the music room where the harp of the Empress still sits, passing through the Marengo room and its weapons that belonged to Napoleon.

Malmaison Castle also holds an impressive collection of souvenirs from the Emperor's exile on St Helena Island from 1815 until his death in 1821. These memorabilia objects, rarely exhibited, are now part of the permanent collection.

I love my roses

The park of the castle is so impregnated with the presence of the Empress that one could almost hear the wrinkling of her dress in the alleys… Fascinated by botany, Josephine cultivated exotic plants alongside her important collection of roses. The discovery of the rose garden and its some 150 varieties of flowers represents a true olfactory journey and a nice ending to your imperial visit!

Discover the Château de Malmaison through one of the treasure hunts in the Paris Region Adventures application specially designed for families and downloadable free of charge.

Napoleon left a deep mark on the history of Paris and its region. Discover the man behind the legend.

The great châteaux of Paris Region have their little secrets. Find out for yourself!