Napoleon and Josephine in Paris
Andrew Roberts, author of the acclaimed biography of Napoleon and presenter of the recent BBC series, is leading our tour of Napoleon and Josephine’s Paris.
The city is imbued with the emperor’s genius and we will be visiting the sites that made his reputation: Notre Dame, where he was crowned emperor in 1804, the Invalides, where he is buried, and the masterpieces by David in the Louvre celebrating the key moments in Napoleon’s career.
Outside Paris we will be visiting the Château de Malmaison, where the Empress Josephine created the most famous rose garden of the day, beautifully captured in the watercolours of Redouté.
The Château de Fontainbleau, to the south of Paris, was exquisitely decorated by Percier and Fontaine for Napoleon in the fashionable Empire style. This was the site of the emperor’s abdication in 1814.
Hotel: The Intercontinental Paris le Grand Hotel has a wonderful location next to the Opera. The long established hotel has very comfortable rooms and spacious public areas including a delightful glass-roofed winter garden.
Lecturers: Andrew Roberts
Tour Leaders: Charles FitzRoy and Jane Rae