Arenenberg

Hortense de Beauharnais - Josephine's daughter, married to Napoleon's brother Louis and briefly Queen of Holland - bought Arenenberg in 1817 after the Empire fell, and raised her son Louis-Napoleon here. He spent much of his youth on this hillside above the Untersee before becoming President and then Emperor of the French as Napoleon III; after his death his widow Eugenie gave the estate to the canton of Thurgau in 1906, and it now houses the Napoleon Museum. The rooms hold Empire and Restoration furniture, much of it the family's own, in an unusually complete state. The park drops in terraces toward the lake with views to the Reichenau island in Germany. An agricultural college occupies part of the estate.

What you'll find

• Napoleon III's boyhood home - the exile household of Hortense de Beauharnais.
• Empire interiors largely intact - the family's own furniture in place.
• Terraced park to the Untersee - views across to Reichenau in Germany.
• A gift to the canton - given to Thurgau by Empress Eugenie in 1906.

When to go

April to October. Half a day.

Good to know

Winter opening is reduced and some rooms close for conservation. Labelling is in German with French summaries. The walk up from the station is steep. Part of the estate is a working college and closed to visitors.

Nearby

Stein am Rhein is west; Konstanz and Kreuzlingen are east.

Key facts