This Château de Malmaison guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see.
Château de Malmaison is a national museum near Paris, France, the former country home of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Joséphine. As of September 2026, the château follows its April-to-September schedule, staying open until 5:45pm on weekdays and 6:15pm at weekends, later than its winter hours. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website in September 2026, when this guide was last updated.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily except Tuesday; 10am–12:30pm and 1:30pm–5:45pm (until 6:15pm weekends) |
| Ticket prices | Full price €8; concession €6; park only €1.50 |
| Address | Avenue du Château de Malmaison, 92500 Rueil-Malmaison |
| Nearest transport/parking | Bus 258 from La Défense to “Le Château” stop; free on-site parking |
| Typical time needed | 1.5–2 hours |
Château de Malmaison opening hours
The château opens every day except Tuesdays, and is also closed on 25 December and 1 January.
From 1 April to 30 September, it opens from 10am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 5:45pm on weekdays, staying open until 6:15pm on weekends; the park itself stays open until 6:30pm. From 1 October to 31 March, closing moves back to 5:15pm on weekdays and 5:45pm at weekends. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing, or 30 minutes before the lunchtime break.
Château de Malmaison ticket prices
Full admission costs €8, with a €6 concession rate for non-EU visitors aged 18–25 and large families with valid proof. Groups of 10 or more pay €6.50 per person, and a €2 supplement applies during temporary exhibitions.
Visiting the park alone costs €1.50. Admission is free for EU residents under 26, teachers with a Pass-Education card, disabled visitors and one companion, jobseekers, and on the first Sunday of every month for everyone. Château de Malmaison is included in the Paris Museum Pass, alongside major sites such as the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and the Sainte-Chapelle.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026.
Why book the Paris Museum Pass?
- 🏛️ 60+ Top Museums & Monuments: Enjoy admission to the region’s most iconic cultural sites, including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, the Centre Pompidou, and the Panthéon.
- 🏰 Versailles & Beyond: Your pass extends past the city limits to include historic castles like the Palace of Versailles, the Château de Fontainebleau, and the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
- ⚡ Priority Entry: Maximize your sightseeing time with priority access to permanent collections, allowing you to bypass general admission ticket lines at many popular locations.
- 📅 Flexible Duration Options: Choose between a 2, 4, or 6-day pass to perfectly match your travel schedule and explore the city’s artistic heritage at your own pace.
- 💸 Incredible Value: Save significantly on combined entry fees compared to purchasing individual tickets at each site, especially if you plan to visit multiple landmarks per day.
How to get to Château de Malmaison
The château stands on Avenue du Château de Malmaison in Rueil-Malmaison, about 12km west of Paris via the RN13.
From La Défense (reachable by Metro, RER A, SNCF or bus), take bus 258 to the “Le Château” stop, a journey of about 25 minutes; the château is then a 300-metre walk. An alternative route runs via RER A to Nanterre-Préfecture, then bus 259.
Parking at Château de Malmaison
Free parking is available on-site for cars and motorcycles.
Coaches have a dedicated car park on Avenue du Château de Malmaison, separate from the general visitor parking area. A reserved accessible parking space is also available near the entrance.
How long to spend at Château de Malmaison
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours touring the château’s staterooms and the surrounding park.
Those visiting during the lunchtime closure (12:30pm to 1:30pm) should plan around it, since last entry falls 30 minutes before this midday break rather than the usual 45 minutes.
Accessibility at Château de Malmaison
The Osiris Pavilion and the ground floor of the château are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, but the upper floors, protected as a historic monument, are reached only by stairs.
A free iPad loan with a virtual tour app is available at reception for visitors who cannot access the upper floors. Visitors with a disability card and their companion receive free admission, and a French Sign Language videoguide and audio-described guide are each available for €2.
Inside Château de Malmaison
Bought by Joséphine in 1799, the château was remodelled by architects Percier and Fontaine into an elegant, understated “consular style” residence, rather than a grand official palace like Fontainebleau or Compiègne.
The ground-floor vestibule uses stucco columns to evoke the atrium of a Roman villa, while the council chamber is lined with striped fabric recalling a military campaign tent.
Joséphine’s bedchamber takes the form of a red, gold-embroidered tent, its ceiling painted with a scene of Juno, and its walls hung with flower paintings by botanical artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté.
Outside, the surviving 6-hectare park (much reduced from an original 726 hectares) includes the Temple of Love and a rose garden recalling Joséphine’s own collection of over 250 rose varieties.
The Osiris Pavilion, named after philanthropist Daniel Iffla, who donated the restored estate to the French state in 1905, displays his personal collection of Napoleonic art and objects.
Practical visitor tips
| Focus | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on the first Sunday of the month for free admission, though expect larger crowds. |
| Crowds | The château is closed on Tuesdays, so Wednesdays can be busier with redirected visitors. |
| Layout | Allow time either side of the midday closure (12:30–1:30pm), as last entry beforehand is 30 minutes early. |
| Entry process | No reservation is required for individual visitors, though weekend guided tours are best booked ahead. |
| On-site logistics | Backpacks must be worn on the front or carried, and pushchairs and umbrellas are not permitted inside. |
Frequently asked questions about Château de Malmaison
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Château de Malmaison suitable for children? | Yes. EU residents under 26 enter free, and the park is well suited to families. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Château de Malmaison? | No, for individuals. Reservation is compulsory for groups. |
| Is Château de Malmaison open on Mondays? | Yes. It is closed only on Tuesdays, plus 25 December and 1 January. |
| Is Château de Malmaison wheelchair accessible? | Partially. The ground floor and Osiris Pavilion are accessible; the upper floors are stairs-only. |
| Is Château de Malmaison included in the Paris Museum Pass? | Yes, it is one of the sites covered by the Paris Museum Pass. |
Things to do near Château de Malmaison
- Bois-Préau — a sister site of the same national museum, covering the Napoleonic era from 1815 onwards, within the same park.
- La Défense — Paris’s modern business district, with striking architecture, about 20 minutes away.
- Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye — a former royal residence and archaeology museum, about 20 minutes away.
- Île de la Grande Jatte — a Seine island associated with Impressionist painters, about 15 minutes away.
- Parc de Saint-Cloud — a large landscaped park overlooking the Seine, about 15–20 minutes away.
Alternative attractions
- Château de Fontainebleau — about 1 hour away, now home to the First Empire collections once housed at Malmaison.
- Château de Compiègne — about 1 hour 30 minutes away, home to the Second Empire collections transferred from Malmaison.
- Palace of Versailles — about 45 minutes away, the grandest of France’s royal residences.
- Château de Vincennes — about 45 minutes away, a medieval royal fortress on the eastern edge of Paris.
- Château de Chantilly — about 1 hour away, known for its Condé art collection and horse-racing heritage.
More France travel
Other France travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to know before visiting the Musée Rodin in Paris.
- Practical visitor guide to the Musee de Fromage in Paris.
- Important visitor information for Chateau de Compiegne and Chateau de Pierrefonds in Hauts-de-France.
- Visitor guides for National Monuments around Paris: The Chateau de Vincennes, the Chateau de Maisons and Villa Savoye.
- The end of the First World War at the Glade of the Armistice in Compiègne.
