Château de Malmaison
Joséphine de Beauharnais bought the manor house in April 1799 for herself and her husband, General Napoléon Bonaparte. The estate sat west of central Paris and encompassed nearly 200 hectares of woods and meadows. It was a run-down property when she acquired it. Bonaparte expressed fury at Joséphine upon his return from the Egyptian Campaign. He had expected to bring money back from that campaign to pay for such an expensive house. She paid well over 300,000 francs for the land. The house needed extensive renovations immediately. She spent a fortune doing them to transform the ruin into a home. Despite the cost and initial anger, Malmaison would bring great happiness to the couple. Hortense de Beauharnais later called it "a delicious spot".
Joséphine endeavored to transform the large estate into "the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe." She located rare and exotic plants and animals to enhance the grounds. In 1800, she built a heated orangery large enough for 300 pineapple plants. Five years later, she ordered the building of a greenhouse heated by a dozen coal-burning stoves. From 1803 until her death in 1814, Josephine cultivated nearly 200 new plants in France for the first time. The property achieved enduring fame for its rose garden. Empress Joséphine hired the Belgian artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté to record her roses. Prints of these works sell quite well even today. She grew some 250 varieties of roses gathered from places like her native Martinique. Birds and animals of all sorts began to enrich her garden where they were allowed to roam free among the grounds. At the height of her days at Malmaison, Joséphine had the company of kangaroos, emus, black swans, zebras, sheep, gazelles, ostriches, chamois, a seal, antelopes and llamas.
The Château de Malmaison served as the headquarters of the French government from 1800 to 1802. This function occurred under Napoleon Bonaparte during his time as First Consul. The estate sat near the left bank of the Seine about 16 kilometers west of Paris. It stood in the commune of Rueil-Malmaison. While the Tuileries Palace remained the official residence, Malmaison operated as the administrative center. Political decisions shaping the new Consulate were made within these walls. The location provided a quieter alternative to the chaos of central Paris for governance. This period marked the transition from revolutionary turmoil to imperial stability. The house hosted ministers and officials who traveled from the capital to discuss state affairs.
Napoléon returned and took residence in the house after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He stayed there before his exile to the island of Saint Helena. After Josephine's death in 1814, the house was vacant at times. The garden and house had been ransacked and vandalized by various groups. The garden's remains were destroyed in a battle in 1870. Napoléon found the property damaged when he arrived following his military loss. He spent his final days in France here before leaving for permanent exile. The atmosphere reflected the end of an era rather than the beginning of a new one. The silence of the estate contrasted sharply with the noise of war that had just concluded.
In 1842, Malmaison was purchased by Queen mother Maria Christina, widow of King Ferdinand VII of Spain. She lived there with her second husband Agustín Fernando Muñoz, Duke of Riánsares. He received his dukedom from his step-daughter Isabella II of Spain in 1844. In 1861, Maria Christina sold the property to Napoleon III. This buyer was Josephine's grandson through her daughter Hortense. Damaged by fighting during the War of 1870, then by the installation of barracks in the château, the estate was sold by the State in 1877. A goods merchant gradually sold off parcels of land from the park. In 1896, the patron and philanthropist Daniel Iffla, known as Osiris, purchased the château along with its park. By then the land had been reduced to 6 hectares. He donated it to the State in 1903.
A museum was opened on the estate in 1905. Malmaison was fully restored by the famous French architect Pierre Humbert in the early 20th century. The site is now considered an important historical monument. The public can visit the manor house as a Napoleonic musée national today. The museum lies on RN 13 from Paris and bus 258 from RER A Grande Arche station. The restoration preserved the legacy of both Joséphine and Napoléon for future generations. It stands as a testament to the complex history of the Bonaparte family. Visitors walk through rooms that once hosted emperors and queens. The grounds remain open for those interested in French imperial history.
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Common questions
When did Josephine de Beauharnais buy the Château de Malmaison?
Joséphine de Beauharnais bought the manor house in April 1799 for herself and her husband General Napoléon Bonaparte. She paid well over 300,000 francs for the land which was a run-down property at that time.
What plants and animals did Josephine cultivate at the estate between 1803 and 1814?
From 1803 until her death in 1814, Josephine cultivated nearly 200 new plants in France for the first time including some 250 varieties of roses gathered from places like her native Martinique. The grounds also housed kangaroos emus black swans zebras sheep gazelles ostriches chamois a seal antelopes and llamas.
Where is the Château de Malmaison located relative to Paris?
The estate sat near the left bank of the Seine about 16 kilometers west of Paris in the commune of Rueil-Malmaison. It served as the headquarters of the French government from 1800 to 1802 under Napoleon Bonaparte during his time as First Consul.
When did Napoleon return to the house after his defeat at Waterloo?
Napoléon returned and took residence in the house after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He stayed there before his exile to the island of Saint Helena spending his final days in France here.
Who purchased the property in 1896 and what happened to it later?
In 1896 the patron and philanthropist Daniel Iffla known as Osiris purchased the château along with its park when the land had been reduced to 6 hectares. He donated it to the State in 1903 which led to the opening of a museum on the estate in 1905.