Shortly before the French Revolution, Marie-Antoinette had decided to move her apartment from the former queen’s apartment to a new wing, with the adjacent apartments being occupied by her two children.
The new wing was furnished and ready the year before the French Revolution. Marie-Antoinette never saw it completed.
When Napoleon took over the Chateau of Compiègneas an imperial residence, he had his architect Berthault transform the wing formerly planned for Marie-Antoinette into an apartment to accommodate foreign monarchs.
In 1808 the deposed King of Spain and his wife set up residence there for three months. Napoleon’s brother Louis, then King of Holland, and his wife Hortense (Josephine’s daughter) also used the apartment when they were at Compiègne to greet Marie-Louise when she initially arrived from Austria.
Napoleon decided to give Marie-Antoinette’s former apartment to his son. The walls were left as they were in her time, with Napoleon’s monogram replacing Marie Antoinette’s. New Empire style furniture in gilded wood was added.
