As part of the commemoration of the bicentenary of the death of Napoleon I in 1821, the town of Rueil-Malmaison is organising a weekend of re-enactments and events called the “Imperial Jubilee”.

Updated 26 October 2020.

For further information please consult the Rueil-Malmaison town website (in French).

To see the events organised at the National Museum and Château de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau, see the specific page.

5th May 2021
– Concert Garde Républicaine
– at 5.49 pm – Bell-ringing – St-Pierre St-Paul Church
– Launch of the Giant Cluedo game “Who killed Napoleon? – City Centre

Re-enactment > 25 & 26 September 2021: the Imperial Jubilee 
Since its creation in 2014, the Imperial Jubilee has been a great success, with more than 110,000 visitors in 2017. The recipe remains the same, with more than 150 events in the city centre, historical re-enactments, parades, brass bands, concerts and many other cultural and artistic initiatives. Naturally, this 4th edition will be marked by the celebration of the bicentenary of the death of Napoleon I.

Website of the Imperial Jubilee (currently shows material related to the 3 previous Jubilees. It will soon have details on the next 2021 Jubilee)

Exhibition > “The Legend of the Eagle. The story of Napoleon Bonaparte in LEGO® and historical works”
15 October 2021 to 13 February 2022 – Atelier Grognard

From 15 October 2021 to 13 February 2022, the exhibition “la Légende de l’Aigle. L’histoire de Napoléon en briques LEGO® et œuvres historiques [“The Legend of the Eagle in LEGO® and historical works”] will take place at the Atelier Grognard in Rueil-Malmaison. As part of the commemorations of the bicentenary of the death of Napoleon, the town of Rueil-Malmaison presents a new travelling exhibition at the Atelier Grognard which revisits in LEGO® the great moments of the Emperor’s life.

The exhibition, co-produced with Epicure Studio, a communications and events agency, with the historical support of the Fondation Napoléon, features forty original LEGO® models as well as a hundred or so historical works on loan from the Fondation Napoléon and the Château de Malmaison.

Through this fun and immersive event you may discover some little-known historical anecdotes. The scenography features a fictional account of the Napoleonic era, which serves as a common thread throughout the exhibition: namely the testimony of Roland “Flamboyant”, a soldier in the Grande Armée, whom we follow in the footsteps of Napoleon Bonaparte, on his travels and adventures until his death, and whose diary, we are told, was found a year ago in the home of a family in Rueil…
Quizzes and competitions will round off this exceptional tour.

Location:
Atelier Grognard,
6 Av. du Château de la Malmaison
92500 Rueil-Malmaison

Exhibition opening hours:

Outside French school holidays*:
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 1pm-6pm
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday: 11am-6pm

During French school holidays*
Tuesday to Sunday: 11am-6pm

*French school holidays: 23 Oct – 8 Nov 2021, and 18 Dec 2021 – 3 Jan 2022.

Late opening Fridays (until 9pm) once a month: 15 October, 12 November, 10 December, 14 January, 11 February.

general Information

List of partners of “2021 Année Napoléon”.

The calendar of events.

Follow the special Instagram account for “2021 Année Napoléon” events.

Follow the Fondation Napoléon’s Facebook page in English.

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Presentation of the town of Rueil-Malmaison

Rueil-Malmaison offers a delightful dive into history. The town’s Napoleonic heritage revolves around several imperial sites: the Château de Malmaison which was the private residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Josephine, the Château de la Petite Malmaison with the Empress’ former greenhouses and finally the church of Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul where the Empress’ mortal remains rest alongside those of her daughter, Queen Hortense, mother of Napoleon III. The town of Rueil-Malmaison highlights this rich imperial heritage by organising cycles of talks and exhibitions, but also the Imperial Jubilee, a major re-enactment event.