Napoleon's Tomb

Napoleon was buried in Sane Valley in 1821 in a spot he had chosen himself, under willows beside a spring whose water he had been drinking, and the grave was left unmarked because the British and French could not agree on what to call him. In 1840 the body was exhumed and taken to Paris. The slab, the railings and the willows remain, tended as French territory along with the other Napoleonic properties on the island.

What you actually see

• The empty grave - the slab and railings left after the 1840 exhumation.
• The valley - the quiet fold in the hills Napoleon chose for himself.
• The willows and spring - the setting he was drinking water from in his last months.
• The French tenure - the property held and maintained by France on the island.

When to go

Year round; St Helena's climate is mild in all seasons. The interior is cooler and wetter than the coast. The site keeps daytime hours.

Honest expectations

The grave is empty and has been since 1840, which surprises visitors who did not know. The site is small and half an hour covers it. Reaching St Helena means a weekly flight from Johannesburg.

Nearby

The Briars Pavilion is northeast, and Longwood House is nearby.