Chateau de Malmaison

About

Château de Malmaison, located in the western suburbs of Paris in Rueil‑Malmaison, is a historic mansion that once housed Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais and later served as Napoléon Bonaparte’s winter residence during the Hundred Days. The chateau’s elegant 18th‑century architecture—an elegant blend of Renaissance and Empire styles—provides a dramatic backdrop for the impressive gardens that were meticulously cultivated by the empress. Today it is a national museum open to the public, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the opulent domestic life of revolutionary France and the extraordinary personal correspondence in the collection of the Musée national de la France. Inside, the museum’s finely appointed rooms showcase authentic period furnishings, original porcelains, and a spectacular display of contemporary and historic art pieces donated by patrons such as Napoleon III. Highlights include the grand salon where Joséphine hosted dignitaries, the well‑documented Billiard and Music rooms, and the recreated servant quarters that illustrate the day‑to‑day routines of the household. Outside, the meticulously landscaped park—once a playground for exotic animals—features strolling paths, a raised terrace, and a rare collection of exotic roses, many of which were catalogued by the Belgian botanical artist Pierre‑Joseph Redouté. A visit to Malmaison allows guests to experience the ambiance of Napoléon’s domestic sphere, to wander through a French château set within one of Europe’s most celebrated historic gardens, and to appreciate the confluence of political history and cultural heritage in one of Paris’s must‑see cultural sites.

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