Musée des Gardes suisses

About the museum

The Gardes suisses regiment was created by Louis XIII in 1616 and was responsible for guarding and protecting the King of France. Its soldiers were initially housed with local residents. In the mid-18th century, Louis XV had three barracks built to house them, at Rueil, Courbevoie and Saint-Denis. The Rueil barracks, designed by the architect Charles-Axel Guillaumot and built around 1756, housed the second battalion, about 800 men. Each week a detachment left Rueil for Versailles by the Chemin des Suisses to form the honour guard. On August 10, 1792, the Gardes suisses were massacred at the Tuileries while defending the king.

Of the three barracks, only the one at Rueil still exists. The Guynemer barracks has been listed as a historic monument since 1974, and the museum is housed in its former guardhouse. Founded in 1999, it was inaugurated on November 9 of that year by the mayor of Rueil-Malmaison and the Swiss ambassador to France. Spread over two levels, it traces the history of this elite regiment through objects and costumes that belonged to the Gardes suisses.

Highlights

• History of the Gardes suisses regiment, founded in 1616
• Objects and costumes that belonged to the Gardes suisses
• Former guardhouse of the Guynemer barracks, a listed historic monument
• Route laid out over two levels

Permanent exhibition

• Histoire des Gardes suisses – The two-level route presents the history of the elite Gardes suisses regiment, from its creation in 1616 to its massacre at the Tuileries in 1792.

Founded

1999

Admission & discounts

The tourist office of Rueil-Malmaison also gives a full price of €5 (information dated December 2023).

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Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

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