Chateau Malmaison

Josephine Bonaparte's divorcée pad is a must see if you're ever in the western suburbs of Paris. For only 6€ it has bang for it's buck.

Josephine (born Rose) leaves her home on the tropical island of Martinique at 16 years old to be married off to the cruel god-son of a relative who basically kept her house bound and pregnant (mother of 2 by 20) while he traveled and partied and then tells her he wants her out of the house before he returns from his current trip. She ends up in a convent at the age of 22 with her two children and her childhood friend. She then has to take her hubby to court for coming in the night and stealing their son from her. She won the case. Later after her marriage is over, she meets and falls in love with Napoleon who gives her the name "Josephine" which he prefered to Rose. She was older than he and was never able to give him a male heir. This ultimately led to divorce 14 years later. Josephine moved into the home in Malmaison which Napoleon later gives it to her to keep for herself along with a tidy yearly pension. He himself actually lived here a few days, after Josephine's death, following his defeat at Waterloo until he was sent into exile on the island of Sainte Helena.

The ground level is restored as it was complete with furniture and art. It seems almost modern when compared to Versaille, especially in the billards room. The second story has Napoleon and Josephine's bedrooms, as the were, and in between the two, are rooms displaying gold place settings, art and artifacts. The third floor is devoted to Josephine's wardrobe and artifacts and to a collection of art and sculptures.

The Billards room

This silk flower bouquet was designed to replicate the one in the painting in the music room.

A bit of yet-to-be-restored wall in Napoleon's anti chamber.

Napoleon's bedroom designed to look like a military tent.

Gold service.

Josephine's bedroom and the bed she probably died in.

I love these chairs. I think the 'J' is for Jolene...what do you think?

Josephine's informal bedroom next door to the other.

Watch your head, the stairs up to the top floor get a bit too close to the ceiling.

Trivia

Josephine Bonaparte had a pug named Fortune, and he was used by Josephine to send Napoleon secret messages. It is also said that on their wedding night Napoleon refused to allow Fortune to sleep with them in the bed, and Fortune then bit him. Josephine said "If the Pug doesn't sleep in our bed, neither do I!". From then on, Napoleon shared his bed with a Pug (and Josephine).

The Family

The romantic step-father Napoleon

The pug loving Joséphine (Rose)

The unfortunately named Hortense

The kidnapped Eugene

Josephine's decendants through Eugene and Hortense.
The family extends royaly into Sweden, Denmark, France, Norway and Holland.