Compiègne 2010

The Life of a Château

    Compiègne has been a french national treasure for centuries. In its modern state it began its life as a royal residence built for Louis XV and restored post-Revolution by Napoleon Bonaparte. Compiègne was one of three seats of royal government, the others being Versailles and Fontainbleau. It is located in Compiègne in the Oise Departement, and now as a museum is open to the public.

    Even before the château was constructed, Compiègne was the preferred summer residence for French monarchs, primarily for hunting given its proximity to the Compiègne Forest. The first royal residence was built in 1374 for Charles V and a long procession of successors both visited it and modified it. The Sun King Louis XIV resided in Compiègne some 75 times during his reign between 1643 and 1715.

    In 1810, after its restoration, the château hosted the state wedding of Napoleon to his new wife Arch-Duchess Marie-Louise of Austria on 27th March.

The château is to day open to the public as a fabulous museum, a few minutes walk from the historic centre of the town of the same name, a name given to both of the Armistice agreements signed in the forest around the town after the respective World Wars.

    The Château de Compiègne is steeped in history, and is a fabulous place to visit.

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