Lately, Paris' weather has been downright awful, contributing to flooding, damage and spotty public transportation. This past weekend, we were looking for a family outing that would allow us to avoid the chaos in city centre.
Our search led us to the
Château de Malmaison in the suburb of Rueil-Malmaison. Once the private estate of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Josephine, this now museum makes for a wonderful day out. Many of its rooms, furnishings and artifacts are right up there with what you can find at the more well-known
Château de Versailles (also worth a visit).
Entry is free the first Sunday of every month, and even with this advantage, we were surprised to see that we didn't have to wait in line or fight off hordes of tourists to get in. Aside from a small group of young students and a few other families, we nearly had the place to ourselves. It was nice to be able to take our time in each room and snap photos at our leisure.
The weather, albeit a bit gloomy, did not put a damper on the day. We also explored the château's fragrant gardens before concluding our short stay.
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| Château de Malmaison |
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| Hallway in the Château de Malmaison |
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| La salle de billard (The Billiard Room) |
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| Le salon doré (The Gilded Room) |
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| La salle à manger (The Dining Room) |
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| Dinner service |
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| La chambre de l'Empereur (The Emperor's Bedroom) |
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| La chambre à coucher de l'Impératrice (The Empress' Bedroom) |
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| Napoleon Bonaparte Crossing the Alps by the Great Saint Bernard Pass |
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| La bibliothèque (The Library) |
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| La salle de la frise (The Frieze Room) |
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| Jardin des roses anciennes (Garden of old roses) |
Château de Malmaison
Avenue du Château de Malmaison
92500 Rueil-Malmaison
Tip: If visiting with small children, strollers must be left at the welcome desk. Consider bringing a carrier or wrap for a comfortable, hands-free visit.
