Château de Compiègne, Royal château and art museum in Compiègne, France
Château de Compiègne is a royal palace in Compiègne with baroque and neoclassical architecture spread across multiple wings and floors. Inside are art collections and period rooms showing how rulers lived across different eras.
King Louis XV commissioned the building in 1751 as a hunting lodge, which later became a favorite residence for Napoleon I and Napoleon III. The structure underwent major changes across different centuries to serve its rulers' needs.
The rooms reflect how different rulers arranged their living spaces throughout the centuries. Visitors walk through halls furnished as they were when emperors and their courts occupied them.
The palace contains several exhibition areas that visitors can explore at their own pace without rushing through. Plan to spend several hours to see the main rooms and collections properly.
The palace houses a surprising automobile museum with historic vehicles that many visitors overlook while focusing on the royal apartments. This unexpected mix of collections makes the visit more layered than typical palace tours.
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