The Museum of the History of France, created in 1837, is located at the beginning of the Grand Apartments.
It was designed by architect Frédéric Nepveu in Baroque and Neo-Classical styles.
It is open from 9 am to 6.30 pm every day except Mondays. It is estimated that around one million visitors come here each year.
The Museum features the Crusades Rooms, the Africa, Crimea, and Italy Rooms, the Empire Rooms, the North and South Attics, the 1830 Room, the Gallery of Great Battles, and the Coronation Room.
Why should you visit the History of France Museum?
The entire Gallery of the History of the Palace narrates Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise and fall in French history through an array of artifacts, portraits, and documents that capture his legacy.
Here, you will gather an understanding of how France regained its authority in World Politics from the early monarchy to the modern era.
Many of the paintings, commissioned by Napoleon himself, are on display. Louis Philippe supervised all the others.
It is an absolute delight for art lovers as it houses 6,000 paintings, 3,000 sculptures, and numerous artifacts.
The clear insight into how emperors, artists, and thinkers influenced France’s cultural, political, and social development will definitely make an impression.
Each set of rooms has its own significance, and here’s what you need to know:
The Crusades Rooms
Located in the North Wing, the Crusades Rooms consist of five rooms built between 1837 and 1846.
These rooms tell the story of the eight major crusades, from the late 11th century to the late 13th century, through 150 paintings.
You can access these rooms from the Gallery’s ground floor.
The Africa, Crimea, and Italy Rooms
Situated on the first floor of the North Wing, these rooms illustrate the victories of Louis Philippe in Algeria and Napoleon III in the Crimea and Italy.
Comprising a total of seven rooms, they are utilized for temporary exhibitions.
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The Empire Rooms
The Empire Rooms are located on the ground floor of the Palace’s South Wing.
Louis Philippe first laid out the construction of thirteen rooms, and later, Napoleon himself commissioned the paintings in these rooms.
Some of the notable works are Napoleon’s return to Paris from Saint Helena Island in 1840, Napoleon I’s entry into Berlin in 1806, and Napoleon I walking through the battlefield of Eylau in 1807.
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The North and South Attics
The North and South Attics at the Palace of Versailles are key parts of the museum’s collection.
King Louis-Philippe restructured these attics in the 19th century, turning the palace into the Museum of the History of France.
North Attic features paintings depicting major events of the 19th century. It is part of the Historic Galleries, which Louis-Philippe created in 1837.
South Attic displays paintings chronologically, covering the French Revolution to the celebration of the French Empire. It includes the Chimay Attic, located above the Queen’s Apartment.
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The Gallery of Great Battles
Being part of the French History Museum, the Gallery of Great Battles is the largest room in Versailles, covering nearly the entire first floor of the South Ministers’ Wing.
Spread over 120 meters long and 13 meters wide, it showcases 33 remarkable paintings that narrate historic battles of France from Tolbiac to Wagram.
Commissioned by Louis Philippe, it is one of the finest art museums of the 19th century and part of the French history museum.
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The Coronation Room
The Coronation Room at the Palace of Versailles is a grand and historic space.
It was originally the Palace’s second chapel from 1672 to 1682 and then served as the Great Guard’s Room for both the King and Queen until 1789.
In 1833, it was transformed into a room dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte.
Some highlights from Napoleon’s reign include two huge works by Jacques-Louis David: The Coronation of Napoleon and The Distribution of the Eagle Standards.
The room’s decor, with contributions from various artists and craftsmen, adds to the magnificence of these artworks.
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