The origins of the royal residence of Compiègne are intertwined with those of the French monarchy. However, it was in 1751, under the reign of Louis XV, that the work that gave the castle its current silhouette was launched, based on the plans of Ange-Jacques Gabriel.
Napoleon I made it an imperial residence and undertook extensive renovation work and, from 1856, Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie organised the famous Compiègne "series", bringing together a hundred or so guests for a week.
This guide, which has been completely revised and updated for the reopening of the Empress Museum in 2022, allows visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of this royal and imperial residence, which includes a museum of the Second Empire, an astonishing car and tourism museum, as well as an immense garden overlooking the forest.
