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.