A Day Trip From Paris - Rueil Malmaison
- Helen
- Nov 5, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 16, 2019
When visiting Paris, the city centre offers plenty of tourist sights, museums, shops and other delights to explore. At times though the noisy and crowded city can be over-bearing and taking time out of the metropolis to discover the offerings of the local suburbs might be a welcome relief.
In a previous post I wrote all about the town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a stunning town with lots to offer just 30 minutes outside of Paris.
Today I want to tell you about Rueil Malmaison which is situated on the same train line as Saint-Germain and is also worth a visit. Whether you have a whole day, or just half a day, it is devote some time to this smaller but historic Parisian suburban town.
RUEIL MALMAISON
To get to Rueil Malmaison you need to take the RER-A train towards Saint-Germain-en-Laye - it takes approximately 20 minutes from Paris.
Rueil Malmaison is one of the more affluent suburbs of Paris and a truly beautiful town which offers architecture that will keep you camera happy, green spaces, tree-lined streets and a slower pace of life than in Paris itself.
A historic town in it’s own right, Rueil Malmaison has a Chateau that has been significant in France’s past.
The Chateau de Malmaison is certainly the most significant attraction here and is located on the outskirts of the town. There are buses that will access the Chateau directly, but if you are feeling energetic then it is worth the walk through the town to the Chateau, stopping to enjoy the centre and other sights on your way.
This wealthy town offers a good collection of boutique stores, cafes, restaurants and typical French boulangerie and patisserie to keep you drooling. Ensure you bring an appetite and time to sit, re-nourish and people watch!
Once you are ready, here are....
The Top Things To See And Do In Rueil Malmaison:
Chateau de Malmaison
The Chateau de Malmaison is tucked away here on the outskirts of Paris and therefore not so well trodden on the tourist trail but certainly worth visiting.
The most significant history of this unassuming Chateau can be found in the times of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Empress Josephine, Napoleon’s wife until their divorce in 1810, purchased the property in 1799 and it remained her home until her death in 1814.
Between 1800 and 1802 the Chateau was also used as the seat of the French government.
Following Josephine’s death, the property changed hands a few more times before being opened as a museum in 1905.
Today the Chateau is predominantly devoted to the life of Josephine Bonaparte and the time she spent here with Napoleon during their marriage.
Lovingly restored with artwork and furnishings from the time of Josephine’s life here, the Chateau provides a fascinating insight into her life and that of her husband.
Josephine was also an extremely keen amateur botanist and devoted much of her time and wealth to improving the gardens and grounds at the Chateau. She sourced plants and trees from around the world (Napoleon’s connections came in handy here!). During her time there were 726 hectares to the estate, although following her death much of this was left untended and so fragmented.
Today just six of the original 726 hectares remain, but what does remain is well worth seeing.
Open daily, other than Tuesdays.
Entry - 6.50 euro with concessions.
Chateau de la Petite Malmaison
This neighbouring building from the main Chateau is the Chateau de la Petite Malmaison. This was built for Josephine Bonaparte between 1803 and 1805. The design was by Louis-Martin Berthault, who later designed Josephine’s tomb.
The building was designed to allow Josephine to indulge her passion for botany and so had large hothouses built onto it to house exotic plants and flowers, some of which grew to great sizes!
Today the Petite Chateau is a private home so not widely open to the public, but it is opened on the second Sunday of each month. The building is also regularly used for concerts and exhibitions.
Musee d’Histoire Locale, Rueil Malmaison
Housed within the old town hall in the centre of Rueil Malmaison, this museum now offers local history displays.
The building itself, dating from 1869, in stone and redbrick has wow-factor alone.
The museum is free to enter and is worth popping into to see the interior of this building, while informing yourself about the region’s history dating from ancient times, through Napoleon’s rule and to the present day.
Eglise Saint-Pierre Saint-Paul
Also located in the town centre is the Church of Saint-Pierre Saint-Paul.
This church is particularly worth visiting as it contains the tombs of Empress Josephine Bonaparte and her daughter, Queen Hortense, who had requested she be buried beside her mother.
The church also contains an organ case that was gifted by Napoleon III, among its other historical relics.
Entry is free and the church is open daily.
Bois de Saint-Cucufa or Forest of Malmaison
While out in the suburbs, away from the busy city, you might be craving some country pursuits… If that is the case then look no further!
The Forest of Malmaison is found adjacent to the Chateau, as this land is made up from the previous property of the estate held by Empress Josephine.
The Forest of Malmaison is now the property of the state and is approximately 201 hectares.
There are walk paths, cycle trails, wooded areas and a lake to keep you occupied, or perhaps just take a picnic and enjoy your surroundings!
The above top things to do in Rueil Malmaison on a day trip from Paris should keep you occupied!
There are plenty more experiences that the town offers but these are the pick of the best.
I really enjoyed my trip to this small, quiet and well preserved town.
Have you visited Rueil Malmaison? What are your thoughts?
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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