Napoleon at Malmaison: Heart of an Emperor

Continuing my tour of this beautiful French château, let’s step out of the domain of Empress Josephine and take a look into that of Napoleon at Malmaison. For it is a peak into the heart of Josephine’s second husband, the first emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte I.

As I mentioned in Josephine at Malmaison: Retreat of an Empress, the Josephine spent a fortune on the house. Expecting Bonaparte to return with riches from the Egyptian campaign, which he was fighting at the time, she spared no expense. Unfortunately, he did not return victorious and so was not happy with her extravagance.

A Militaristic Fashion

Despite this, he came to find great happiness here. And I suspect that the style of decorating employed may have contributed to his feelings for the place. For there is definitely a militaristic theme to the château decor. Both the front entrance and the counsel chamber were designed to look like military tents. Even the wall sconces in the dining room resembled a bundle of arrows. Apropos, since, during the time of Napoleon at Malmaison, the château also served as headquarters for the French government between 1800 and 1802.

First Empire

Napoleon’s desire to be surrounded by the dignified grandeur associated with the great Roman generals was also apparent at Malmaison. And the beautifully preserved library is a wonderful example of the French Empire or First Empire style that came to define this era. Filled with Neoclassical features such as columns, wreaths and rosettes, it reflected the motifs the Emperor had seen during his Egyptian campaign. And I found it interesting that the classic lines of the mahogany bookshelves and the Sphinx-adorned furniture were accented by luxurious red drapes that echoed those found in Josephine’s chambers.

Another wonderful feature of this incredible room was the secret staircase that would have led Napoleon to his chambers directly above. With walls draped in silk, chairs dressed in cashmere, and the Neoclassical lines of its furniture, it was the definition of elegance.

A further touch of this magnificence was found in the elaborately designed ceremonial sabres that once belonged to the Emperor. Forged from precious materials, they left no mistake as to the stature of their owner.

Winter Blooms

As I departed the château, pretty pink blooms bursting forth on a shrub near the entrance gate caught my eye. Coming from Canada, this certainly wasn’t something that I had expected to see in December.

Glory Exiled

And a little further along, a collection of abandoned sculptures captured my attention. To me, these remnants of the First Empire seemed like a metaphor for the reign of Napoleon. While once great, both eventually fell out of fashion.

Despite his divorce from Josephine in 1809, Napoleon continued to visit her at the château until her death in 1814. And after escaping from the isle of Elba after his abdication and banishment, Napoleon returned to Malmaison in 1815 as a place of pilgrimage before leaving to fight the Battle of Waterloo. Upon that defeat, he returned one last time, taking up residence there until his final exile from France. Obviously, this wonderful château held a special place in the heart of the Emperor.

Now, take a peak into Josephine’s regal wardrobe in my post Josephine at Malmaison: An Imperial Wardrobe.

Musée National du Château de Malmaison  Avenue du Château de la Malmaison, 92500 Rueil-Malmaison, France

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