Where did Napoleon and Josephine live?

At the château of Malmaison, in Rueil-Malmaison, which Josephine bought in 1799 and which was the couple’s main residence during the Consulate. Josephine lived there until her death.

Where did Napoleon abdicate?

At the Palace of Fontainebleau, on 4 and 6 April 1814. He then said farewell at the foot of the Horseshoe Staircase and left for exile on Elba.

Napoleon castles: which ones are open all year?

5 are listed as open all year: Château de Malmaison, Palace of Fontainebleau, Château de Compiègne, Château de Rambouillet and Château de Portets. The others open in season, and winter hours are often shorter.

Napoleon castles: how much is admission?

Across the 4 places whose prices we know, adult admission ranges from €8 to €17.

The castles of Napoleon

13 châteaux listed

13 places where Napoleon lived, built, stayed or planned a battle, with admission prices and opening seasons.

Josephine de Beauharnais bought Malmaison, at Rueil, in 1799. During the Consulate it became the couple’s main residence, and Napoleon and Josephine had it renovated by the architects Percier and Fontaine. After the divorce of 1809 Josephine lived there until her death. Bois-Préau, which she owned, and the Petite Malmaison, the estate’s hothouse, stand next door.

Under the Empire, Compiègne was given lavish interiors and became one of Napoleon I’s favourite residences. At Rambouillet he had the east wing removed, the central building reworked and the gardens restored. At Valençay, Talleyrand’s château, he had a theatre fitted out between 1808 and 1811 to entertain the exiled Spanish princes.

On the eve of his coronation in 1804 Napoleon made Fontainebleau one of his residences, and the palace was refurnished in nineteen days to receive Pope Pius VII. It was here that he abdicated, on 4 and 6 April 1814, before making his farewells at the foot of the Horseshoe Staircase and leaving for Elba. The palace keeps the only Napoleonic throne room still in existence.

In that same year, 1808, Marshal Duroc bought Marracq, near Bayonne, in the Emperor’s name; Napoleon stayed there with Josephine, and it was there that the terms of the Treaty of Bayonne were discussed with Charles IV of Spain. In Germany, Napoleon was treated at the Pürkelgut after being wounded outside Regensburg in 1809, and spent a night in May 1813 at Nossen castle, his headquarters. In 1814 he stayed at Brienne during the battle of La Rothière and planned the battle of Montmirail at the château there.

Each link comes from the French Ministry of Culture’s Mérimée records, the official website of the Château de Fontainebleau or our own château pages. Several places cannot be visited, or no longer can: Marracq has been a ruin since a fire in 1825, Brienne is a hospital, and the Pürkelgut is under restoration.

The places, one by one

From the best known to the most discreet. Prices are for one adult; the season comes from the opening periods each place publishes.

Château de Malmaison (Malmaison Castle)
Rueil-Malmaison, Hauts-de-Seine
Bought by Josephine in 1799; the couple’s main residence during the Consulate.
Adult admission: €8Open all year
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access
Palace of Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne
His residence from 1804; he abdicated here on 4 and 6 April 1814 and said farewell at the foot of the Horseshoe Staircase.
Adult admission: €17Open all year
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access Tickets
Château de Compiègne (Compiègne Castle)
Compiègne, Oise
One of Napoleon I’s favourite residences, lavishly fitted out under the Empire.
Adult admission: €10Open all year
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access Tickets
Château de Rambouillet (Rambouillet Castle)
Rambouillet, Yvelines
Napoleon had the east wing removed and the gardens restored.
Adult admission: €11Open all year
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access Tickets
Château de Valençay (Valençay Castle)
Valençay, Indre
The theatre fitted out at Napoleon’s request between 1808 and 1811 for the Spanish princes.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Bois-Préau (Bois-Préau Castle)
Rueil-Malmaison, Hauts-de-Seine
Owned by Empress Josephine, then by her son Prince Eugène.
Open December to December
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access
Château de la Petite Malmaison (Petite Malmaison Castle)
Rueil-Malmaison, Hauts-de-Seine
The hothouse of the imperial estate, where Josephine liked to receive guests.
Open April to October
Opening hours and access
Château de Marracq (Marracq Castle)
Bayonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Bought in 1808 in Napoleon’s name; he stayed here with Josephine. Only two walls remain.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Montmirail (Montmirail Castle)
Montmirail, Marne
Napoleon planned the battle of Montmirail here in 1814.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Brienne-le-Château
Brienne-le-Château, Aube
He stayed here in 1814, during the battle of La Rothière; the château is not open to visitors.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Portets (Portets Castle)
Portets, Gironde
Napoleon and Josephine stopped here in 1808, held up by the tide on the Garonne.
Open all year
Opening hours and access
Schloss Nossen (Nossen Castle)
Nossen, Sachsen
Napoleon made it his headquarters for one night in May 1813.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Schloss Pürkelgut (Pürkelgut Castle)
Regensburg, Bayern
He was treated here in 1809 after being wounded outside Regensburg.
Season not published
Opening hours and access

The map

The 13 places on this page. Tap a point to open its page.

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The route

The imperial residences around Paris take two days: Compiègne, then Rueil-Malmaison, where Malmaison, the Petite Malmaison and Bois-Préau are a few minutes’ walk apart, Rambouillet, and Fontainebleau, south-east of Paris, to finish.

Stop	From the previous stop
1.Château de Compiègne (Compiègne Castle) · Compiègne
2.Château de Malmaison (Malmaison Castle) · Rueil-Malmaison	78 km
3.Château de la Petite Malmaison (Petite Malmaison Castle) · Rueil-Malmaison	0 km
4.Château de Bois-Préau (Bois-Préau Castle) · Rueil-Malmaison	1 km
5.Château de Rambouillet (Rambouillet Castle) · Rambouillet	37 km
6.Palace of Fontainebleau · Fontainebleau	70 km

186 km in a straight line overall

Frequently asked questions

Where did Napoleon and Josephine live?: At the château of Malmaison, in Rueil-Malmaison, which Josephine bought in 1799 and which was the couple’s main residence during the Consulate. Josephine lived there until her death.
Where did Napoleon abdicate?: At the Palace of Fontainebleau, on 4 and 6 April 1814. He then said farewell at the foot of the Horseshoe Staircase and left for exile on Elba.
Napoleon castles: which ones are open all year?: 5 are listed as open all year: Château de Malmaison, Palace of Fontainebleau, Château de Compiègne, Château de Rambouillet and Château de Portets. The others open in season, and winter hours are often shorter.
Napoleon castles: how much is admission?: Across the 4 places whose prices we know, adult admission ranges from €8 to €17.