Musée national de la Maison Bonaparte
The Bonaparte family home in Ajaccio, where Napoleon was born, a national museum since 1967.
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About the museum
The Bonaparte family has been linked to this house since the late 15th century, when Francesco, the first Bonaparte to settle in Corsica, lived here. At the end of the 17th century the family occupied part of the house, then the entire building. In 1766 it was the largest residence on the rue Malerba, later called rue Bonaparte, but it was badly in need of repair.
Carlo Bonaparte and Letizia Ramolino had twelve children, eight of whom survived. Seven of them, including Napoleon, were born in the house. The family were wealthy landowners whose farms supplied the house and its servants.
The house is a listed historic monument and became a national museum in 1967. The route recounts the family’s daily life and Napoleon’s youth in Ajaccio. The great gallery is decorated with a walnut parquet floor, Directoire-style furniture and sixteen mirrors, and one gallery is devoted to Madame Letizia Bonaparte.
The rooms have been restored; the restoration of the decorative schemes is presented on the museum’s website.
Highlights
- Birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte
- Great gallery with walnut parquet floor and sixteen mirrors
- Directoire-style furniture
- Gallery devoted to Madame Letizia Bonaparte
- Audio guides in nine languages
Permanent exhibition
- Maison natale de Napoléon : appartements de la famille Bonaparte – The route presents the rooms of the family home, including the great gallery and the gallery devoted to Madame Letizia, and tells the story of the Bonapartes in Ajaccio.
- Founded
- 1967
- Operated by
- Musée national (ministère de la Culture)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 93,965
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €8Visitors aged 18 to 25 who are not residents of the European Union, and members of large families, with proof |
| Children & teens | –Minors must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for visitors with disabilities. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €8 per personPrice per person for groups of 10 or more; booking and an approved guide are mandatory. Groups are not accepted on the first Sunday of the month. |
Free admission: First Sunday of every month.
Free admission for EU residents under 26, teachers holding the Pass Éducation, job seekers and recipients of social minimum benefits. Online booking is possible but not required for individual visitors.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum does not provide details on the building’s accessibility; for any questions, please write to contact.malmaison@culture.gouv.fr.
Kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly: not available
Audio guides for children are available in French and English. Strollers are not admitted into the rooms; minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Cathédrale
Bus lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, “Cathédrale” stop; line 8 from Napoléon Bonaparte Airport, “gare CFC” stop, about 350 m away; the bus and ferry terminal is about 200 m away.
Address: Rue Saint-Charles, 20000 Ajaccio.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
An online shop is available at boutiquesdemusees.fr. The following are prohibited in the rooms: umbrellas, strollers, baby carriers with a metal frame, helmets, suitcases, food and liquids. Small backpacks are admitted if carried in front of the body or by hand.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (FR, CO, EN, ES, DE, ZH, IT, RU, JA) |
| Photography | Photography is permitted without flash, tripod or selfie stick. |
| Good to know | Audio guides for adults are available in nine languages; versions for children are available in French and English. Groups must book and be accompanied by an approved guide. The Ajaccio tourist office offers guided tours of the city and of the Maison Bonaparte. Security checks at the entrance may slow access. |
