Malmaison - a great garden

Initially Malmaison was a run-down estate, eight miles (13 km) west of central Paris that encompassed nearly 150 acres (0.61 km2) of woods and meadows.

The aim of the Empress Joséphine was to transform a large estate into "the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe, a model of good cultivation". To this end she:
* built a heated orangery large enough for 300 pineapple plants.
* a greenhouse, heated by a dozen coal-burning stoves.
* cultivated nearly 200 new plants in France for the first time.
* sought out flora and fauna along with rare and exotic animals from around the world.
* created a rose garden using some 250 varieties of roses from across the world (painted by Pierre-Joseph Redoute)
* her gardeners created new roses. The tea rose, which is a 'parent' to most modern roses, was developed at Malmaison

Her garden was also home to a variety of animals. Birds and animals were allowed to roam free in the grounds including: kangaroos, black swans, zebras, sheep, gazelles, ostriches, chamois, a seal, antelopes and llamas.

Architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine initially enclosed the park and built stables and hot houses. The garden was subsequently remodelled by landscape architect Louis Martin Berthault

After her divorce from Napoléon, Joséphine received Malmaison in her own right, along with a pension of 5 million francs a year, and remained there until her death in 1814.

After her death the house and gardens went through many owners, including Napoléon III, until falling into ruin after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. A wealthy philanthropist, Daniel Osiris Iffla, bought Malmaison and donated it to the state, which opened it as a museum in 1906. The house has been beautifully restored.

It's been suggested that the gardens at Malmaison were probably the most important factor in establishing the popularity of the rose in the 19th century

Château de Malmaison is situated at Rueil, 8km from central Paris, towards St-Germain-en-Laye. Its museum features furniture and artworks relating to the Imperial family, while its park contains the rose garden and many rare, old trees.

Musée national du château de Malmaison
Avenue du château de Malmaison
92 500 Rueil-Malmaison

Contacts
Overseas Tel: +33 1 41 29 05 55.
Standard : 01.41.29.05.55
Télécopie : 01 41 29 05 56
Renseignements et réservations : 01 41 29 05 57
catherine.cario@culture.gouv.fr