RPR-FRA-015 · FRANCE
Château de Compiègne
Plan a visit
Some areas accessible — The imperial apartments are listed for independent visits 10:00–18:00 except Tuesdays. The Second Empire and Empress museums open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings; the National Car Museum opens on those afternoons. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Not every museum section is available throughout the day.
Booking: Check the intended museum section and any separately booked animation or guided visit.
Official source / visitor information
Source review: 2026-10-12.
Royal / Imperial Palace
French name: Palais de Compiègne
Type: Royal / Imperial Palace
Dates: royal site from Charles V; present palace largely Louis XV–Louis XVI; imperial remodeling
Status: Surviving / national museum
Provenance: Major royal and imperial residence
Geography
Geographic Path: France → Hauts-de-France → Oise → Compiègne
Local Place: Compiègne
Estate / Micro-location: Palace and forest
Browse France Palace Geography →
Rulers, Residents & Use by Reign
| Period | Ruler | Relationship | Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| late 14th century | Charles V | founder / royal residence | Charles V acquired land and established a palace at Compiègne. | High |
| 1715–1774 | Louis XV | royal residence / private retreat | Louis XV balanced Versailles with Compiègne and smaller private châteaux. | High |
| 1774–1792 | Louis XVI | royal residence / private or court use | Louis XVI's court and retreat network before the Revolution. | High |
| 1804–1814/1815 | Napoleon I | imperial residence / patron | First Empire residence network. | High |
| 1852–1870 | Napoleon III | imperial residence / patron | Second Empire court and state-residence network. | High |
Useful Links
Important Interiors
Can You Visit?
Access status: open_regularly
Historic apartments and museums open on scheduled days; park free.
Official visitor information →
Visitor Statistics
| Year | Value | Unit | Scope | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 102,000 | visitors | Musée national de Compiègne | Museum attendance. |
| 2024 | 117,000 | visitors | Musée national de Compiègne | Official wording: more than 117,000. |
| 2024 | 117,000 | visitors | Musée national de Compiègne within national domain | Official Ministry figure reported as more than 117,000. |
For the latest access review, see Plan Your Visit above.
Palace Profile & Official Website
Château de Compiègne is recorded as Royal / Imperial Palace. Location: Compiègne. Major royal and imperial residence
Summary from the existing catalogue; the historical description has not been fully re-audited in this release.
Official source / visitor information
Access: The imperial apartments are listed for independent visits 10:00–18:00 except Tuesdays. The Second Empire and Empress museums open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings; the National Car Museum opens on those afternoons. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Not every museum section is available throughout the day.
Sources
Annual Visitor Statistics
| Year | Reported figure | What is counted / notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 102,000 | Musée national de Compiègne; Museum attendance. Prior catalogue record; not reverified in this release. Precision: rounded. | Source |
| 2024 | 117,000 | Musée national de Compiègne; Official wording: more than 117,000. Prior catalogue record; not reverified in this release. Precision: rounded lower bound. | Source |
| 2024 | 117,000 | Musée national de Compiègne within national domain; Official Ministry figure reported as more than 117,000. Prior catalogue record; not reverified in this release. Precision: rounded. | Source |