Palais Impérial - Boulogne-sur-mer

There are characters who leave their mark on the history of a city forever. This is the case of Napoleon in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Determined to invade England , the First Consul stationed his army there in 1803, consisting of 120,000 men. He never achieved his goals and was forced to abandon the camp two years later. And yet the remains of his passage in Boulogne-sur-Mer do not taste of the bitterness of defeat. On the contrary. Every year thousands of curious people come to follow in Napoleon's footsteps.

The Hôtel Desandrouin, built on the Place Godefroy de Bouillon , welcomed the Emperor three times. Three quick passages were enough to rename this magnificent late 18th century mansion “Palace of the Emperor” . Napoleon, then First Consul, stayed there for the first time, in June 1803, then in 1810 in the company of Marie-Louise, and in 1811. Contrary to what one might imagine, Napoleon did not live in the Imperial Palace during the Boulogne army camp. camp. He had taken up residence in the Château du Pont de Briques. But the building nevertheless played a major role, since it served as the headquarters of the General Staff of the Grande Armée.

Even today, the massive silhouette and neoclassical facade of the Imperial Palace amaze visitors. And with good reason... The building is the work of Giraud Sannier. The architect, best known in the Boulonnais, signed one of his most beautiful creations with the Desaundrouin hotel. It was built for Viscount Desandrouin, member of a family of industrialists from Charleroi, behind flourishing glass factories and one of the largest mining companies in the north: the Anzin mines.

Woodwork, molded ceilings, marble fireplaces, panels decorated with allegorical motifs, paintings... The Imperial Palace has retained its original furnishings, right down to the mirrors! The decoration is representative of the last years of the Ancien Régime , except for the bedroom in which Napoleon I is said to have stayed, in Empire style. The building opens its doors to the public during special events such as Open Monument Days.

Willem Vandenameele