Napoleon's mother, Letizia Ramolino, fled the house through a hidden passage during the 1793 uprising against the French Republic.
The house was enlarged and renovated by Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Fesch, in the early 19th century.
The museum collection includes a sedan chair once belonging to the Bonaparte family.
The house features a traditional 'trapdoor' in the floor that served as an emergency escape route.
Despite his rise to power, Napoleon only returned to this house once after childhood, during his return from Egypt in 1799.
Maison Bonaparte serves as the ancestral home of Napoleon Bonaparte, where he was born in 1769. The house remained in the Bonaparte family possession until 1923, when it was donated to the French state. Now a national museum, it displays family furniture, portraits, and personal mementos spanning several generations. The building's architecture reflects the typical Genoese style of 18th-century Ajaccio townhouses. Visitors can explore various rooms, including the bedroom where Napoleon was allegedly born and the family salon. It is one of the few properties in Corsica that provides an intimate look into the domestic life of the Bonaparte lineage. The museum also hosts rotating temporary exhibitions focused on Napoleonic history and Corsican heritage.
The central internal courtyard, which captures the authentic 18th-century Corsican stone masonry and light.
Book tickets in advance during peak summer months to bypass queues.
Visit the top floor first to work your way down through the historical displays.
Take time to read the placards in the salon for context on the complex family tree.
Do not attempt to park a rental car in the immediate vicinity, as the streets are extremely narrow and pedestrian-focused.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
Maintain a quiet volume; do not touch historical furniture or portraits; no flash photography allowed.
