Arenenberg is anestate with a smallchateau,Schloss Arenenberg, in themunicipality ofSalenstein at the shore ofLake Constance inThurgau,Switzerland that is famous as the final domicile ofHortense de Beauharnais. Today it houses theNapoleonmuseum. It is a Swissheritage site of national significance.[1]
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Arenenberg was built in the early 16th century by the mayor ofConstance (1546–48) Sebastian Geissberg. The name of the farm that had been located there before wasNarrenberg ("fools' mountain"), perhaps not a suitable name to hold on to, but also the hill towards the lake was named "Arnhalde". By the 19th century the current name was used.
The estate saw a number of owners. In 1817, Johann Baptist von Streng sold it to the exiled Hortense de Beauharnais, the daughter ofex-Empress Joséphine, for 30,000 guilders. As arranged byNapoleon, Hortense had to marry his brotherLouis Bonaparte, and the couple were namedKing and Queen of Holland (1806–10). The royal couple not only suffered with the demise of the rule of Napoleon, but also had an unhappy marriage leading to a separation. Hortense initiated reconstructions and renovations in an attempt to recreate the atmosphere ofMalmaison. The surrounding park was possibly designed byLouis-Martin Berthault. In 1818 she moved in. Her brother,Eugène de Beauharnais, bought the nearby Schloss Sandegg and built a villa close by.
While Hortense initially spent time at her house inAugsburg, Arenenberg soon became her main domicile. At her Parisian-styledsalon she entertained many luminaries. Her son Louis Napoléon, the future emperorNapoléon III, who had attended school in Augsburg, visited Arenenberg as a teenager; there he was further educated and then attended theSwiss military academy atThun, receiving Swiss citizenship. In 1837, while he was exiled and living inNew York City, Louis Napoleon received notice of his mother's deteriorating health and returned to Arenenberg. Hortense died on 5 October 1837. After mourning, Louis Napoleon had to leave Switzerland, due to French pressure, and moved to London. In 1843, in need of money to finance his aspirations, he sold the property to Heinrich Keller. Once he was emperor, his empressEugénie bought it back in 1855. Further renovations were made between 1855 and 1874.
After Napoleon III's death, Eugénie visited Arenenberg several times before she donated it in 1906 to the Canton Thurgau. Today the château is home to theNapoleon Museum. TheNapoleon Park is being restored.
47°40′22″N9°03′33″E / 47.67278°N 9.05917°E /47.67278; 9.05917
