Les Impériales de Fontainebleau: rock opera, ball, plunge into the Ier Empire era

The Seine-et-Marne town of Fontainebleau has been home to many important figures in French history, not least Emperor Napoleon I! This year, the 220th anniversary of his coronation will be celebrated during the third edition of the Impériales, on the weekend of November 16 and 17, 2024, throughout the town. For the occasion, children and adults alike are invited to take part in a whole host of activities, often free of charge, to retrace his life and immerse themselves in the era of the First Empire!

The program includes a dance, a show, board games and lectures, as well as an exhibition running until December 15, recounting the life of the emperor through colorful miniatures made with Playmobil® toys from a private collection, perfect for teaching children about history!

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The weekend program

Saturday, November 16th

• 11 a.m.: Mini-conference for children "The life of Napoleon I" at the Médiathèque - Free

Conducted by the Friends of the Château de Fontainebleau, this lecture tells youngsters about the great moments in the Emperor's life. It will be followed by a guided tour of the Playmobil® exhibition "The life of Emperor Napoleon I", adapted for younger visitors, and a convivial aperitif.

• 5pm: "Napoléon l'opéra Rock" at the Théâtre - €10 adults and €6 children

From his birth in Ajaccio to his death on St. Helena, the Emperor's life will be retraced through 16 songs performed live in a staging recreating a Napoleonic universe, accompanied by giant screen projections of the greatest Napoleonic paintings.

• 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm: "Napoleonic Conquests" board game evening at the Médiathèque - Reservations required at culture@fontainebleau.fr

The Fumbles association invites you to test your strategic mind during an epic evening of "Napoléon 1815", "Through the ages", "La conquête de Napoléon" and historical miniature games.

Sunday, November 17

• 2pm: Lecture "Napoleon I's stays at the Château de Fontainebleau" at the Theatre - Free admission

In this talk, Sophie Michel retraces the 170 days Napoleon spent at Fontainebleau during his 11-year reign. The Emperor chose Fontainebleau as the place to establish his legitimacy, carrying out major renovations and re-establishing etiquette. Relive the stays he made there, which varied greatly in terms of the people he invited and how they unfolded.

• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Ier Empire Ball in the Theatre's Salle des Fêtes - Free admission

Waltzes, quadrilles, minuets, polkas, mazurkas, the "Paris qui danse" company takes you back in time! Enjoy an afternoon of dance demonstrations and introductory dances.