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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…
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Josephine at Malmaison: An Imperial Wardrobe
I continued my stroll in Josephine’s footsteps at Château de Malmaison with a visit to her garderobe – wardrobe. Here I discovered that the elegant sophistication of her decor, which I shared with you in my post Josephine at Malmaison: Retreat of an Empress, was also mirrored in her personal attire. This exhibit of her clothing was a wonderful example of the French Empire mode of fashion. A style that just so happened to be named after her the reign of her second husband, Napoleon I. French Empire This style was a drastic departure from the stiffly corseted and elaborately adorned fashions of the pre-revolutionary period. Women of means now…
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Josephine at Malmaison: Retreat of an Empress
The Christmas season is over now. However, memories of my Parisian Christmas visit still linger. We are currently being blessed with a mild streak of weather and it has transported me back to a similar pleasant, sunny afternoon I spent exploring the retreat of Empress Josephine at Malmaison that Boxing Day. In the Footsteps of Royalty I had made my way from the heart of Paris to its western edge and the suburb of Rueil-Malmaison by Metro and bus. I then strolled along le Chemin Joséphine et Napoléon Bonaparte. Round brass markings bearing the bee emblem of the Emperor guided my way to the regal Château de Malmaison. Cone-shaped topiaries,…
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The Prettiest Street in Paris: Rue Crémieux
The prettiest street in Paris can be found just down the street from this beautiful city’s most gorgeous train station, and home to the incredible Le Train Bleu restaurant, Gare de Lyon. Situated in the Bastille neighbourhood of the 12th arrondissement – district – this short street is filled with an array of unique and whimsical houses. And if you ever have the chance to walk it, it will be one of the cutest strolls you ever take. Most of the townhomes lining Rue Crémieux were constructed in the last half of the 19th-century as a housing development for Parisian workers. Today’s inhabitants have brightened them up by painting them…
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Where to Eat in Paris When Visiting Place des Vosges
To me, Place des Vosges is a hidden treasure within the heart of Paris. I must have passed it dozens of times over the years during my visits to the city, never knowing that it was hiding in plain sight, just beyond a wall. Fortunately, I had a wonderful opportunity to discover it last summer when I stayed nearby. The primary entrance is visible from Paris’ famous Rue de Rivoli, a stone’s throw from the Saint Paul Metro station in the Marais district. And the second arched gateway is directly opposite the gorgeous courtyard from it, at the end of rue de Béarn. Fit for a Queen That’s one of…
