Visitors to this 1337-room palace, originally built under Louis XV, are struck by its imposing grandeur. This was the location of Napoléon III's dazzling hunting parties, which drew aristocrats from all around Europe.
The same ticket grants access to the adjacent Musée du Second Empire , which illustrates the lives of Napoléon III and his family; the Musée de l'lmpératrice , which stars Eugénie (Napoléon III's wife); and the Musée de la Voiture , which features vehicles that pre-date the internal combustion engine.
The sumptuous Grands Appartements, including the empress's bedroom and a ballroom lit by 15 chandeliers, can be visited with an audioguide (available in English).
Stretching east from the château, the 20-hectare, English-style Petit Parc links up with the Grand Parc and the Forêt de Compiègne, a forest that surrounds Compiègne on the east and south and is criss-crossed by rectilinear paths. The area is a favourite venue for hiking and cycling (maps available at the tourist office) as well as horse riding.
