Salle des Croisades

The Salle des Croisades is a connected series of five rooms in the north wing that houses approximately 120 paintings. These artworks depict scenes from the medieval crusades and military campaigns to Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

King Louis-Philippe commissioned these halls in 1837 to honor French nobility, with the grand opening taking place in 1843. The project was part of his broader effort to reshape the palace as a monument to French history.

The walls display thousands of coats of arms from French families who took part in the crusades between the 11th and 13th centuries. These heraldic symbols tell the story of French nobility's involvement in these medieval military campaigns.

These rooms are easily accessible when exploring the north wing, though seating is limited throughout the space. Plan to spend time studying the paintings, as the details are rich and the natural light from windows shifts as you move through.

An original door from the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller in Rhodes, donated by Sultan Mahmud II in 1836, remains in these rooms. This doorway creates a direct connection to crusade history and shows the international relationships behind the project.