Joséphine de Beauharnais, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, bought this small 17th-century castle in Rueil-Malmaison in 1799. When he returned from Egypt, her illustrious husband, who was First Consul at the time, became its owner. From 1800 to 1802, the Château de Malmaison was the seat of the French government, in the same way as the Tuileries were. The ministers of the Consulate met there regularly to make major political decisions.
The couple transformed the rooms and landscaped the gardens. After her divorce in 1809, Empress Josephine retired to Malmaison and, in 1810, acquired the neighbouring Château de Bois-Préau. In 1905, the two residences became the National Museum of the Châteaux of Malmaison and Bois-Préau.
During your visit to this timeless place, where the presence of the imperial couple is still felt, you will be able to admire the rooms of the château, decorated with marble, gilding and mosaics. A sumptuous collection of works of art, including paintings, furniture, crockery and weapons, illustrates the early reign of Napoleon I. The mahogany library and the oval room, where Joséphine passed away on 29 May 1814, are the emblematic rooms of Malmaison. Since the end of 2017, a section devoted to Napoleon's life on St. Helena has completed the exhibition.
Themed tours will immerse you in the couple's everyday life, or invite you to share in Joséphine's passion for the château's landscaped park. The rose garden that she helped to thrive, boasting nearly 150 varieties, is the highlight of the outdoor areas. Another symbol of the place, the four black swans which were reintroduced to the park, further add to its character...
