The Napoleonmuseum in Salenstein is located in Schloss Arenenberg. The castle, built at the beginning of the 16th century, was bought in 1817 by Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Empress Joséphine, first wife of Napoleon I, and wife of Napoleon's brother Louis. It was then completely remodelled under the direction of architect Johann Baptist Wehrle.

Schloss Arenenberg

Schloss Arenenberg
The visit starts with Hortense de Beauharnais’s salon. The tent decoration, typical of the Empire period, goes back to Napoleon I's military quarters.

Hortense de Beauharnais' tented salon

Hortense de Beauharnais' tented salon

tented dining room

the view over Lake Constance

Napoleonmuseum - pool table
A spiral staircase links all levels of the castle.

spiral staircase

spiral staircase

spiral staircase

Napoleonmuseum

Napoleonmuseum - bedroom

Napoleonmuseum - bedroom
The neo-Gothic chapel was added in 1832. It is one of the earliest buildings of this style in Switzerland.

Napoleonmuseum - chapel

Napoleonmuseum - chapel
The castle was donated to the canton of Thurgau in 1906.