Paris1972-Versailles2003

I like to have memories and nowdays even more. I remember Fontainebleau castle as it was in the Seine et Marne dept 77 that my dear late wife Martine, took me first to show me her department/region back in 1990. We have come here ever since,and it is one of my favorite castles been friend of the association that helps protect its heritage. Their office is on your left once entering the main entrance to the castle fyi. I have written many posts on it before, so peruse my blog and see beauty before your eyes. These are new pictures to my blog thanks to my vast cd rom vault, Of course, this is also in the Île de France region of my belle France, Therefore, here is my take on the Musée Chinois du Château de Fontainebleau !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Musée Chinois or Chinese museum, the collection was started by emperatrice Eugénie (wife of Napoleon III). As famous as they are precious, these spaces on the orders of Eugenie in 1863 contain exceptional extreme-oriental collections staged by the Empress. These come from both the Imperial Meanable Guard, from acquisitions made by Napoleon III and Eugenie, and from the Beijing Summer Palace bag by the Franco-British expeditionary force in 1860. To this unusual and curious profusion of porcelain, jades and Buddhist liturgical objects, diplomatic gifts from the Siam Embassy, ​​received in 1861, was added by the Emperor and Empress in the ball hall in Fontainebleau. Attached to a fair in which Eugenie gathered an intimate society admitted to entertainment, the whole forms a unique and astonishing scenography, devoting this Chinese museum to the last cabinet of curiosities in the history of the castle.

Arranged by Empress Eugénie, in 1863 on the ground floor of the Gros Pavillon or large pavilion of the castle, the Chinese Museum of Fontainebleau presents, according to the taste of the time of remarkable collections of works of art and Far East furniture. The some 800 objects presented, including three hundred from the Summer Palace of Beijing in 1860, came from China, Japan, Cambodia or Korea and testify to the eclectic taste of collectors in the 19C. The anteroom and the two salons are decorated with Chinese objects, but we also discover a billiards or a piano because it is here that the Empress liked to received and work. The museum proper, is decorated on the ceiling and on the walls of lacquer and paravents of the 18C. This invaluable collection  is also discovered in augmented reality thanks to a touch pad. The Histopad offers an interactive exploration of the collections exposed and the objects tha t have disappeared, as well as a recontextualization of the major parts in their original decor of the Summer Palace of Beijing. It also allows a virtual visit to the Empress Eugenie lacquers fair.

The Chinese salons and museum were intended for relaxation and the intimate evenings of the court. The whole forms a unique and astonishing scenography, devoting this Chinese museum to the last cabinet of curiosities in the history of the castle. The whole collection testifies to the taste for exoticism and the East, very present in the 19C. We discover porcelains, jades and Buddhist liturgical objects, but also diplomatic gifts from the Siam Embassy,(Thailand) ​​received in 1861 by the Emperor and the Empress in the Bal de Fontainebleau. The Chinese museum is attached to a lounge in which Eugenie gathered an intimate society advancing entertainment, thus forming a unique and amazing scenography. Eugénie had herself ensured to set up the decor of lacquer and gold, silk fabrics set to the ceiling, precious trinkets installed in shelves made to measure, consoles, vases mounted in lamps … among These wonders is a contemporary samurai armor of Japanese warrior, offered by the Embassy of Ikeda Nagoki in 1864 to the Emperor Napoleon III. This armor arrived in Fontainebleau around 1865 and was installed at the museum.

Empress Eugénie asked for these collections to be returned but the French State refuse keeping it all here, She made a personal anonimous visit from England where she was in exile to the Château of Fontainebleu in 1914 dress all in black !

The official Château de Fontainebleau on the Chinese room of Empress Eugénie (museum) : https://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/fr/fiche/741277/le-salon-chinois-de-limperatrice-eugenie/

The Fountainebleau tourist office on the Chinese room of the Empress Eugénie (museum) : https://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/en/file/741277/the-chinese-salon-of-the-empress-eugenie/

The Île de France region tourist office on the Chinese room of the Empress Eugénie (museum) : https://www.visitparisregion.com/en/empress-eugenie-s-chinese-drawing-room

There you go folks, yes another jewel in my belle France, a must to visit, The Château de Fontainebleau ,is one of the wonders of our world ! The history of France, Europe, and the World was written from here, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Musée Chinois du Château de Fontainebleau !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!