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Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée de l'Histoire de France was founded in 1837 when Louis-Philippe I transformed the Palace of Versailles, abandoned since 1789, into a place dedicated to "all the glories of France". Former royal residence, the castle opens its apartments of Ancien Régime (Glass Gallery, lounges) and arranges historic galleries to exhibit works illustrating national history, from the Ancien Régime to the Restoration. The collections, enriched until the 20th century, combine authentic remains and contemporary artistic controls.

The project is led by Louis-Philippe, passionate about history, who entrusts the renovation to architect Frédéric Nepveu and intendant Montalivet. Between 1833 and 1837, the castle's wings were rearranged to accommodate 120 metres of galleries, such as the Battles, decorated with monumental paintings. The king visited the site 398 times, adjusting the decorations and works, often copied or inspired from the royal and institutional collections.

Inaugurated on June 10, 1837, the museum became a symbol of national reconciliation, mixing monarchical and revolutionary heritage. After 1848, the collections continued to enrich (6,000 paintings, 1,500 sculptures in 2014), despite changes under Napoleon III. In 2007, a renovation regroups works in the South Wing, reaffirming the historic vocation of the site.

The collections, now composed of 65,000 works (drawing, medals, furniture), reflect an official discourse on French history. They served as an iconographic reference for generations of works. The museum remains a unique testimony of Louis-Philippe's desire to create a national visual narrative, between memory and propaganda.

The historical galleries, often distinguished from the Old Regime spaces, form a unique ensemble in Europe. Their recent restoration highlights rooms such as the Battle Gallery, where 33 paintings celebrate military victories. The archives of the royal visits, kept at the National Archives, reveal the meticulous involvement of the sovereign in every detail.

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