Must-See Masterpieces

1. The Crown Jewels (Room 705, Richelieu)

Dating: Various periods Why They Matter: Power crystallized into portable form

What to Look For: - The Regent Diamond (140 carats!) - Empress Eugénie's crown - Louis XV's coronation crown - The Côte-de-Bretagne spinel dragon - Historical jewels with dramatic stories

Viewing Tips: The darkened room protects jewels but bring patience for eyes to adjust. Security is tight—no bags allowed near cases.

Human Drama: The Regent Diamond adorned Louis XV, Louis XVI, Napoleon, and Charles X. Imagine the weight—literal and symbolic—on royal heads.

2. Napoleon III Apartments (Rooms 544-548, Richelieu)

Dating: 1850s-1860s Why They Matter: Second Empire excess preserved perfectly

What to Look For: - Gilding on everything possible - Ceiling paintings rivaling Versailles - Furniture where comfort meets grandeur - Table settings for state dinners - Private spaces versus public display

Contemporary Connection: This is how the 1% lived in the first "Gilded Age"—Instagram would have loved it!

Access Note: Rooms can be crowded; early morning or late afternoon best.

3. Marie Antoinette's Furniture (Rooms 628-630, Richelieu)

Dating: 1770s-1780s Why They Matter: Personal taste of history's most famous queen

What to Look For: - Delicate neoclassical style - Flower motifs everywhere - Japanese lacquer showing global trade - Mechanical furniture (tables that transform!) - Contrast with earlier, heavier styles

Tragic History: Many pieces saved from Revolutionary destruction by furniture-lovers who recognized artistic value beyond royal association.

4. Medieval Tapestries (Rooms 505-507, Richelieu)

Dating: 14th-16th centuries Why They Matter: Portable grandeur and visual storytelling

What to Look For: - Thousand flowers backgrounds - Hidden symbols and animals - Biblical and mythological narratives - Incredible preservation of colors - Repairs showing conservation history

Practical Beauty: Tapestries provided insulation, privacy, and propaganda—medieval multimedia!

5. André-Charles Boulle Furniture (Room 601, Richelieu)

Dating: Late 17th-early 18th century Why They Matter: Furniture elevated to high art

What to Look For: - Tortoiseshell and brass marquetry - Impossible precision in patterns - Hidden compartments and mechanisms - Each piece unique despite similar style - Light playing on mixed materials

Technical Marvel: Boulle developed techniques still difficult to replicate. His workshop's fire in 1720 destroyed many designs, making surviving pieces more precious.