Page 181 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

illuminated manu scripts, vivid
ceramics from Lyon, Nevers, PARC DE MALMAISON
Venice, Faenza, and Iznik, and Josephine Bonaparte was a keen amateur botanist and
a display of early mathemat­ took a great interest in the garden at the Château de
ical instruments. There are Malmaison. She introduced several exotic plants and
also 16th­ and 17th­century flowers, such as magnolia, camellia and hibiscus, which
engrav ings from France, Italy had never before been seen in the country. Josephine’s
and Germany. The castle is set rose garden was renowned and contained some 250
within lovely formal gardens. species. She also kept a menag erie with kangaroos and
zebras. Neglected for many years, the gardens have
been restored and extended by several hectares.
6 " '
Basilique St-Denis and Louis XIV had Le Nôtre for servants, and so he had a
landscape the gardens before curious drawbridge built at the
! D2 ⌂ 1 rue de la Légion
d’Honneur, 93200 Sain- leaving for Versailles in 1682. back of the château. The finest
Today the château houses
rooms are the frescoed and
Denis q Line 13 Basilique
de St-Denis # Apr–Sep: the Musée d’Archéologie vaulted library, the canopied
10am–6:15pm daily; Oct- Nationale, with archaeological campaign room and the
Mar: 10am–5:15pm daily finds from prehistory to the sunny Salon de Musique.
Napoleon’s restrained, yellow
Middle Ages. Inaugurated by
¢ 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec
∑ saint-denis.basilique.fr Napoleon III, the collection canopied bedroom contrasts
includes a 22,000­year­old with the bedchamber in which
Constructed between 1137 carved female, a megalithic Josephine died, a magnificent
and 1281, this cathedral is set tomb, a bronze helmet from indul gence in red. Many of the
on the site of the tomb of the 3rd century BC and fine rooms overlook the romantic
St Denis, the first bishop of Celtic jewellery. The finest “English” gardens and the
Paris, who was beheaded in treasure is the Gallo­Roman rose garden that Josephine
250. The building was the mosaic pavement. cultivated after her divorce.
original influence for Gothic Memorabilia abounds, from
art. From Merovingian times, Musée d’Archéologie imperial eagles to French
it was a burial place for rulers Nationale artist Jacques­Louis David’s
of France. During the French " '= ⌂ Château de St- moody portrait of Napoleon.
Revolution, many tombs were Germain-en-Laye, pl Charles Set in the wooded grounds
desecrated and scattered, but de Gaulle # 10am–5pm Wed– nearby, the Château Bois Préau
the best were stored, and now Mon ¢ 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec houses a fascinating museum
represent a collection of funer­ ∑ musee-archeologie dedicated to Napoleon’s exile
ary art. Memorials include nationale.fr and death.
those of Dagobert, Louis XVI
and Marie­Antoinette.
8 "
Château de Malmaison
7
St-Germain-en-Laye ! D2 ⌂ Rueil-Malmaison,
Hauts-de-Seine, av du
! D2 ⌂ Yvelines £ @ Château de Malmaison
n Maison Claude Debussy, # Hours vary, check
38 rue au Pain; www.seine- website ¢ 1 Jan, 25 Dec
saintgermain.fr ∑ musees-nationaux-
malmaison.fr
Dominating place Général
de Gaulle in this chic suburb Set 15 km (9 miles) west of
is the legendary Château de Paris, this 17th­century estate
St­Germain, birthplace of is known for its Napoleonic
Louis XIV. Louis VI built the associations. Attracted by its
original strong hold in 1122, charming rural grounds,
but only the keep and St­Louis Empress Josephine pur chased
chapel remain. Under François the estate as a tranquil retreat
I and Henri II, the upper tiers from the formality of the royal
were demolished, leaving a residences at the Tuileries and
moated pentagon. Henri IV Fontainebleau. While she loved Empress Josephine’s
built the pavilion and terraces this country manor, Napoleon decadent bedroom at the
that run down to the Seine, scorned its entrance as fit only Château de Malmaison
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