Our first weekend outing lead us seven km north of Garches to Rueil-Malmaison. Known best for the Chateau where Napoleon Bonaparte and his first wife Joséphine lived in the late 18th century. This small castle became part of the seat of French Government and the location where Napoleon made many important acts including selling Louisiana to the US. (
http://www.mairie-rueilmalmaison.fr/histoire-de-rueil)
The Chateau is much smaller and less extravagant than Versailles, but certainly not lacking in luxury and opulence. Just like Versailles, the castle had intricately painted scenes on the walls and ceiling, beautiful crystal chandeliers, and gilded furniture -- just much less of it.
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| Chateau Rueil-Malmaison - taken from the garden 2012. |
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| Vue du Chateau de Malmaison around 1805. Pierre Joseph Petit |
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| Billards Room |
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| Bibliotheque (Library) |
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| Napoleon's bedroom. |
There was no entrance fee to the house when we visited, but that might have been because of the jubilee celebration. According to the website it looks like there is a nominal fee to the house and surrounding park. Also, be aware that it is a bit of a walk from the RER station. You can find more information on their website:
http://www.musees-nationaux-napoleoniens.org/homes/home_id24833_u1l2.htm
The town was also celebrating the first imperial jubilee for Napoleon and Josephine. This meant lots of historical re-enactment throughout the town. We ran into a few as we walked from the Chateau back to the RER station.
