Ajaccio

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Ajaccio Travel Guide

City Map

City Introduction

Ajaccio is the capital of the island of Corsica, which has been under French rule since 1768. The island and Ajaccio are known for a lovely climate, beautiful scenery, beaches, good food and as the home town of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon entered world history in the decades following the French Revolution in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Napoleon’s life and name are central to some of the sights and the tourism during a visit to Ajaccio. You can see his birth home, museums about his life and history and in this context also the history of the island. There are also cafes and more in his name.

As a regional capital, Ajaccio is a smaller city, making it easy to visit and experience. Narrow streets, beautiful squares and palm-lined promenades along the water characterize the town, which also offers nice churches and interesting museums such as Ajaccio’s fine art museum. Palais Fesch is Ajaccio’s leading historical residence, and the beautiful building is now home to the Museum of Fine Arts. 

In the vicinity of Ajaccio there are not far between the sights in the nature. Enjoy countless beautiful beaches along the coasts. Cliffs and fortifications along the sea can also be seen; just as Napoleon’s country house is close to the Corsican capital.

Top Attractions

Ajaccio City Hall

City Hall (Napoleon Salon)
Hôtel de Ville (Salon Napoléonien)

The town hall in Ajaccio was built 1824-1830. It is one of the city’s distinguished and centrally located buildings, and the main attraction here is the Napoleon Salon/Salon Napoléonien. The salon contains furniture and art related to Napoleon and the Bonaparte family. The collection has been established through ongoing donations to the city of Ajaccio.

There is also other art to see in and around the town hall building. You are greeted, for example, by a statue from 1812 of King Jerôme de Bosio, and this is flanked by portraits of Letizia par Gerard and Napoléon par Yvon, respectively. You can also see a Bohemian crystal chandelier that was a gift from Czechoslovakia in 1969 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Napoleon’s birth.

 

The National Museum of Napoleon’s House
Musée National de la Maison Bonaparte

Napoléon is Ajaccio’s most famous city child, and the later French emperor was born in this house on August 15, 1769. The house has been preserved and is now set up as a national museum for Napoléon and the Bonaparte family.

The interior of the house is as it was in Napoléon’s time at the end of the 18th century. This applies, for example, to furniture, paintings, decoration and the actual atmosphere from the time. In these settings, one is presented with various historical depictions during a visit; for example, of Corsica’s 18th-century history, which helped create the basis for the choices Napoléon made during his time in power in France.

Part of the museum is dedicated to Napoléon’s life and legacy and thus the importance he gained from Corsica, France and Europe. There are also completely different impressions to be gained at the museum from the everyday life of the Bonaparte family. One of them is tools for everyday life, which included, among other things, the production of olive oil.

 

Citadel, Ajaccio

The Citadel
Citadelle

The Republic of Genoa was for centuries the dominant trading power in the Mediterranean around Corsica. The city-state had also established a bridgehead on the island, and on 30 April 1492 the Genoese decided to found a fortress and city by starting the construction of the current citadel.

Over time, the citadel was expanded, and its defense facilities were strengthened with, among other things, a moat towards the city, whereby the citadel stood as an independent unit with a stronger defense. There is no access to the citadel itself, which is still used by the military, but you can enjoy the solid building from the outside.

 

St Mary Cathedral
Cathédrale Sainte-Marie

Cathédrale Sainte-Marie is Ajaccio’s cathedral. It was built in the years 1577-1596 as a replacement for a church that had to be demolished in 1554 in connection with the expansion of the city’s citadel. The church’s architecture was in the spirit of the Counter-Reformation in Baroque and Mannerist style and is considered to have been built according to the design of the Italian Giacomo della Porta.

The cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and has a ground plan that is shaped like a Greek cross. The elegant exterior is complemented by a beautiful church space with several chapels and a number of works of art of interest. The Madonna del Pianto chapel from the 16th century offers fine stucco work dedicated to Tintoretto’s son. The Chapelle de la Vierge de la Miséricorde is dedicated to Ajaccio’s patron saint and built in 1752 in gratitude for having escaped a plague epidemic in 1656.

At the end of the church choir you can see the high altar with Mariæ Himmelfart. It was donated by Napoléon’s sister Elisa in the early 19th century. Napoléon himself is also part of the cathedral’s history, as he was baptized here on 21 July 1771. The baptismal font from this event is still preserved in the church. Napoléon also stated on his deathbed on Saint Helena that he wanted to be buried in the cathedral of Ajaccio.

 

Austerlitz Square, Ajaccio

Austerlitz Square
Place d’Austerlitz

Place d’Austerlitz is one of Ajaccio’s large and beautifully landscaped squares. This is where you will find the city’s large monument to the city boy Napoléon Bonaparte. The monument was erected following a public petition in 1935 in favor of the establishment of the tribute to Napoléon.

The statue that stands at the top of the monument is a copy of the one produced by Charles-Emile-Marie Seurre in 1833, which stands on the famous column in the Place Vendôme in Paris. Beneath the statue is a granite pyramid, and a stairway flanked by two bronze eagles leads to this.

Below the monument to the south and in the middle of the beautiful green area here you can see Napoleon’s Grotte/Grotte Napoléon, which stands as the symbol of where Napoleon played as a child with dreams of greatness and honor.

The monument and the facility on Place d’Austerlitz were inaugurated in 1938, and on that occasion there was a party for four days. Place d’Austerlitz is named after the Battle of Austerlitz, which took place in Moravia on 2 December 1805. The battle between Napoléon’s France on one side and Russian and Austrian troops on the other ended in a total French victory. The square was formerly called Place du Casone.

 

Fesch Museum
Musée Fesch

The Palais Fesch was built as a vicarage and the seat of the local ecclesiastical leader. Joseph Fesch was born in the house in 1763. He was Napoleon’s uncle and became both Archbishop of Lyon and Cardinal in the Catholic Church.

Napoleon’s accession to power in 1799 created significant careers for several family members; including Joseph Fesch, who was born in Corsica. In 1802 he became archbishop of Lyon, cardinal the following year, and in 1804 he became ambassador in Rome. Three years later he received the honorable title of Prince of France.

In 1806 he decided to establish a place for art in his hometown of Ajaccio. However, it took until 1827 before the current Palais Fesch was built as a stately mansion and fine setting for Joseph Fesch’s art collection. The building was completed in 1837 and was intended as both a museum, school and library.

The Musée des Beaux-Arts is an art museum which, among other things, offers paintings and sculptures. You can see a collection from the Napoleonic era as part of the exhibition, which offers works from the 1300s to the 1900s. The core is the collection of Italian works, which in France is surpassed only by the Louvre in Paris. There are paintings by, for example, Titian, Bellini and Botticelli.

It was Joseph Fesch who, as one of the great art collectors of his time, laid the foundation for the museum and the many experiential works that you can see today. He had over 17,000 works at his death, of which a thousand were donated to Ajaccio. A part was auctioned off in 1845; it is about paintings by Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and more.

Other Attractions

De Gaulle Square, Ajaccio

De Gaulle Square
Place de Gaulle

Place De Gaulle is one of Ajaccio’s major squares. It is beautifully located down to the sea and it offers a beautiful panoramic view. At the square you can see a monument from 1865 built in memory of Napoleon and his brothers.

 

Pascal Rossini Boulevard
Boulevard Pascal Rossini

A walk along Boulevard Pascal Rossini emphasizes Ajaccio’s beautiful location at the Mediterranean Sea. There are palm tress and a lovely promenade along the boulevard, which is very much worth a stroll just to enjoy the surroundings and the view to the sea.

 

Grand Hôtel, Ajaccio

Corsica’s Parliament and Administration (Grand Hôtel)
Collectivité Territoriale de Corse (Grand Hôtel)

The impressive Grand Hôtel was built in Ajaccio 1894-1896. It was Barthélémy Maglioli who designed the house; just as he was also behind other contemporary buildings in the Corsican city. The building complex includes an elegantly arranged exotic garden with many exciting plants.

Today, the building’s status as a hotel is history, and Corsica’s parliament and administration have set up their seats here. It is the institution Collectivité Territoriale de Corse.

 

Château Conti

The mansion, Château Conti, was built from 1855 by the financier Stephane Conti. The style is neoclassical, and the mansion is one of several examples of fine residences along the street Cours Grandval, linking Place Foch and Place d’Austerlitz.

 

Imperial Chapel, Ajaccio

The Imperial Chapel
Chapelle Impériale

The Chapelle Impériale was built in the years 1857-1859 with Alexis Paccard as primary architect. The construction took place at the will of Joseph Fesch, who had previously had the Palais Fesch built. The chapel was inaugurated in 1860, and it had happened with the support of Napoleon III, who wanted to see the chapel completed.

As the name suggests, the Chapelle Impériale is associated with Imperial France. Joseph Fesch was Napoleon’s uncle and he is buried here. The graves of Napoleon’s parents, Laetitia and Charles, are also in the chapel. The interior of the church is beautiful with marble decoration and various flower patterns etc. as decoration. The interior design was done by Jerôme Maglioli.

 

Rue de Cardinal Fesch

Rue du Cardinal Fesch is Ajaccio’s main street with shops and restaurants. It is named after Joseph Fesch, who was a French cardinal, diplomat and uncle of Napoleon. Fesch left a clear mark on Ajaccio, and his birthplace and later stately extension, Palais Fesch, is located at numbers 50-52 of the street.

The entire street offers shopping, souvenirs and various cafes and eateries. You should also take a look at the houses, which are a beautiful setting and the street with its many bright colors, shutters and Italian-inspired style.

 

Foch Square, Ajaccio

Foch Square
Place Foch

Place Foch is a beautifully landscaped square in central Ajaccio. It is located precisely where the old Genoese city to the south meets the neighborhood around Rue du Cardinal Fesch, which was formerly called U Borgu and formed a suburb of Ajaccio itself. At the entrance to the current Rue Bonaparte was the main gate to the old town.

At Place Foch you can see a statue of Napoléon standing as a Roman consul. The statue was produced by the Italian sculptor Massimiliano Laboureur in the mid-19th century. The statue was set up on a pedestal adorned with allegorical figures. Here is also a fine fountain with four lions. The fountain is a creation created by Maglioli.

Place Foch forms a natural center in the city with the palm trees and the central paving that lays tiles for a delicious market with fruit, vegetables and various delicate foods.

 

Villa della Rocca

For art lovers and connoisseurs of Henri Matisse, the house with the names Wisteria and Villa della Rocca is interesting. Matisse lived in the house for a while, and from his window he painted the work Le Mur Rose de l’hôpital d’Ajaccio in 1898.

The painting later came to Germany, where during World War II it was confiscated by the SS and then kept by the officer Kurt Gerstein. After the war it was found and it changed owners a few times while hanging in Paris in the years 1949-2008. In 2010, the painting was acquired for the Jüdisches Museum in Frankfurt.

 

Grand Café Napoléon, Ajaccio

Grand Café Napoléon

Grand Café Napoléon is one of Ajaccio’s many cozy cafés. Many of them can be a good place for a cup of coffee or the local beer Pietra. Grand Café Napoléon is a good choice with its atmospheric and elegant back room, and the place also bears Napoléon’s name like quite a few other things in the city.

Day Trips

Ariadne Beach
Plage de l’Ariadne

Ajaccio is surrounded by beautiful nature with many opportunities for hiking and relaxation. There are, for example, a number of beaches in the area west of Ajaccio, and they are among the easiest to reach if you want a trip in the water. There are many beaches to choose from here, and Plage de l’Ariadne is one of the popular ones. You can also drive or sail across the bay southeast of Ajaccio. Here you can, for example, use some beaches around the town of Porticcio.

 

Punta Castle
Château de la Punta

Château de la Punta is an elegant pleasure castle that was built in the years 1886-1891 from stone from the burnt and demolished Palais des Tuileries in Paris. The mansion was built in the 1560s immediately west of the Louvre in central Paris, and a fire was set on the mansion in 1871 during the Paris Commune.

In 1883, the ruin was demolished and parts of it were sold. Some of these were then transported to Corsica at the initiative of Count Charles-André Pozzo di Borgo, who thereby created a different building history here on the French Mediterranean island. Château de la Punta is built with strong architectural inspiration from the Pavillon de Bullant of the Palais des Tuileries.

The location of Château de la Punta is literally on top of a hilltop, from which a fine view spreads out among Ajaccio and the surrounding sea.

The castle burned down in 1978, causing extensive damage. The regional administration bought Château de la Punta in 1992, and later in the 1990s a restoration was initiated, recreating the castle’s fine exterior that can be enjoyed on a visit today.

 

Porticcio

The coastal town of Porticcio is on the opposite side of the bay off Ajaccio from the Corsican capital itself. A trip here is a great experience with partly the beautiful nature that unfolds along the coast at Porticcio, and partly the sailing trip itself, which also gives a new perspective on Ajaccio. Porticcio itself is a small town with all the possibilities for recreation.

From both Ajaccio and Porticcio you can enjoy more of the Corsican nature from one of the many boat trips available. You can, for example, sail along the coast towards Pointe de la Parata and the island of Îles Sanguinaires or to the particularly beautiful natural area of ​​Scandola, which is on UNESCO’s list of world natural heritage. The Réserve Naturelle de Scandola consists of a dramatic coastal landscape with characteristic red cliffs, bays, beaches and caves that are in a distinguished composition.

Shopping

Carrefour

Round-point du Finosello
carrefour.fr

 

Monoprix

33 Cours Napoleon
monoprix.fr

 

Spar

1 Course Grandval
spar-supermarche.com

 

Shopping streets

Rue du Cardinal Fesch, Cours Napoléon, Place de Gaulle, Avenue de Paris

With Kids

Mini train

Petit Train d’Ajaccio
Place Roch
petit-train-ajaccio.com

 

Beach

Plage Saint-François
Boulevard Pascal Rossini

 

Napoleon House

Musée National de la Maison Bonaparte
Rue St-Charles
musees-nationaux-napoleoniens.org

City History

Roman origins of the city

It is believed that the beginning of Ajaccio dates back to around 100 century BC. It was a time of prosperity in the Mediterranean economy, and trade was increasing across the sea and the countries and provinces that lay here. In this connection, a good port was needed for goods to and from several parts of western Corsica, and archaeological finds are believed to confirm a Roman presence at Ajaccio at this time.

Growth and recession

In the following centuries, Ajaccio grew so much that it is mentioned as the diocese of Pope Gregory I in the year 591. The size of the city at this time is unknown, but with its religious status it has been the capital of the area. The settlement itself was then around the present Castel Vecchio and Sainte-Lucie.

From the 7th century, many Corsican settlements along the coast were destroyed. There was no breeding ground for development, and activity in the surrounding countries naturally infected Corsica. However, well into the later Genovesian period, some of the early Ajaccio buildings were still preserved.

Genoa’s Lordship and New Town

The Republic of Genoa emerged as an independent city-state concentrated on a large fleet and trade on the Mediterranean. The influence of the city and the state grew throughout the Middle Ages, and with it also the spread of the territory of Genoa.

The Genovese conquered Corsica, and in the late 1400s they were looking for a suitable place for the establishment of a fortress and its associated city. With it, they wanted to emphasize their dominance on the island and in this part of the Mediterranean. The result was a new establishment of Ajaccio at its present location.

The work began on April 21, 1492. At Capo de Bolo, architect Cristoforo Gandini built a residence, around which he built housing for several hundred inhabitants. These were initially colonists from Genoa, with Corsicans unable to settle here for the first time. They lived with time in the area north of the real Ajaccio.

While Bastia was the capital of Corsica, Ajaccio grew rapidly and became the capital of the region around the city and much of southern Corsica. The inhabitants of Ajaccio, among others, were administrators of this part of the island, and they were also citizens of the Republic of Genoa, unlike the native Corsicans.

The beginning of French Corsica

In 1553 Ajaccio was conquered by France, and the city was French until 1559, when the peace in Cateau-Cambrésis between France’s King Henry II and King Philip II of Spain. Peace returned Corsica to the Republic of Genoa.

Thereafter, all of Corsica, and thereby Ajaccio remained Genovesian until 1755, when Pasquale Paoli proclaimed Corsica as an independent republic. It succeeded in establishing a state consisting of virtually the entire island, but Genoa nevertheless maintained military positions of strength, such as the citadel of Ajaccio.

The Republic of Corsica created both a constitution, a Corsican administration and a military. Paoli and the Corsican sought to build the new nation, but formally Genoa could sell the right over Corsica to France in 1768 as a mortgage. It happened in the context of the Versailles Treaty of this year.

The following years there were strong fighting between French and Corsican troops, and after sending large forces to the island, over the years France overcame the locals, thereby ending the island’s independence.

Napoleonic period

The Buonaparte family lived in Ajaccio’s Genovese district these years. The family was of Italian origin like many others on the island who had just become French. On August 15, 1769, a boy came into the world in their house, named Napoleone di Buonaparte, who eventually became Napoleon Bonaparte, who later became the emperor of France and for some years the dominant figure in European great politics.

General Charles Louis de Marbeuf organized significant parts of the French administration following Pasquale Paoli’s final defeat, which included the involvement of Corsicans in the French system. Marbeuf thus offered a place at the military academy in Brienne to the Buonaparte family, who was to be sent a son of less than 10 years for this education. It was Napoleon who went to the academy in Brienne in the years 1779-1784.

After 1784 Napoleon advanced to various positions in the French army, and with the revolution in the country in 1789 he returned to Corsica, where Pasquale Paoli arrived the following year after 21 years of exile from the island. Napoleon and Paoli met, and Napoleon, like Paoli, was also a Corsican nationalist. However, there was a break between them as Paoli, among other things, replaced the revolutionary ideas with more conservative ideas. Napoleon was later convicted of Paoli in absentia in Paris, and he was sent to Ajaccio to take the citadel, which had been in the hands of the royalists since the revolution; and they were supported by Paoli.

Napoleon won the showdown with Paoli; even though the family’s house was burned by Paulists with a relocation to the French mainland as a result. Napoleon also wrote history when, as a general and emperor, he strengthened France’s position in Europe; however, to finally suffer defeat after a few years. For Ajaccio, the Napoleonic era had the consequence that the emperor’s birthplace was named the island’s capital and thereby the administrative center.

19th Century Construction and Tourism

Ajaccio and Corsica had already been in the spotlight in English during the 17th century, and for a time there were even British troops and a British-Corsican government.

The English returned to Corsica in the 19th century, but this time it was as tourists, as Ajaccio, among others, developed as a global holiday destination in line with, for example, Cannes and Nice on the French south coast.

New neighborhoods sprang up in the city, spreading rapidly from the historic Genovese center. To the west, large mansions, fine residences, hotels, and even an Anglican church were erected for the considerable number of Britons who lived and visited Ajaccio.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Corsica’s infrastructure was also greatly expanded. Ajaccio’s port grew continuously in pace with both traffic and contemporary size of ships, and in 1888 the railway was opened from the city. It was a long track that connected Ajaccio with Bastia and other cities in northern Corsica.

1900s to the present

Ajaccio continued to expand from the beginning of the 20th century, and over the years Napoleon put more and more mark on the city in the form of statues, monuments and other things reminding tourists and residents of the Corsican city’s most famous urban children through the ages.

During World War II, Corsica first belonged to the German-controlled Vichy France, and thus the island was not directly occupied by Germany. Italian wishes to bring Corsica back to Italy were in a way fulfilled by a German-Italian agreement that Italy occupied Corsica, which happened during the period November 1942-September 1943.

With the fall of Mussolini and Italy in 1943, Germany had to take over, and 12,000 German troops were sent to the island as replacements for the far more numerous Italians who had been stationed here.

On September 9, 1943, Ajaccio fought for a kind of early liberation as the first French city during World War II. The liberation of the island itself followed on October 4, the same year that General Charles de Gaulle came to Ajaccio.

In the decades since the end of World War II, Ajaccio has experienced strong urbanization and economic growth, bringing the population to around 90,000 in Ajaccio’s urban area. The city is the regional capital and together with Bastia it is the economic and political center of Corsica.

Tourism continues to influence Ajaccios and its development. Hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and many tourist activities attract many travelers based on nature, climate, Napoleon and the city’s lovely atmosphere; eg from cruise ships during the summer season.

Geolocation

In short

Ajaccio, France Ajaccio, France[/caption]

Overview of Ajaccio

Ajaccio is the capital of the island of Corsica, which has been under French rule since 1768. The island and Ajaccio are known for a lovely climate, beautiful scenery, beaches, good food and as the home town of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon entered world history in the decades following the French Revolution in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Napoleon’s life and name are central to some of the sights and the tourism during a visit to Ajaccio. You can see his birth home, museums about his life and history and in this context also the history of the island. There are also cafes and more in his name.

As a regional capital, Ajaccio is a smaller city, making it easy to visit and experience. Narrow streets, beautiful squares and palm-lined promenades along the water characterize the town, which also offers nice churches and interesting museums such as Ajaccio’s fine art museum. Palais Fesch is Ajaccio’s leading historical residence, and the beautiful building is now home to the Museum of Fine Arts. 

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Other Attractions

De Gaulle Square, Ajaccio

De Gaulle Square
Place de Gaulle

Place De Gaulle is one of Ajaccio’s major squares. It is beautifully located down to the sea and it offers a beautiful panoramic view. At the square you can see a monument from 1865 built in memory of Napoleon and his brothers.

 

Pascal Rossini Boulevard
Boulevard Pascal Rossini

A walk along Boulevard Pascal Rossini emphasizes Ajaccio’s beautiful location at the Mediterranean Sea. There are palm tress and a lovely promenade along the boulevard, which is very much worth a stroll just to enjoy the surroundings and the view to the sea.

 

Grand Hôtel, Ajaccio

Corsica’s Parliament and Administration (Grand Hôtel)
Collectivité Territoriale de Corse (Grand Hôtel)

The impressive Grand Hôtel was built in Ajaccio 1894-1896. It was Barthélémy Maglioli who designed the house; just as he was also behind other contemporary buildings in the Corsican city. The building complex includes an elegantly arranged exotic garden with many exciting plants.

Today, the building’s status as a hotel is history, and Corsica’s parliament and administration have set up their seats here. It is the institution Collectivité Territoriale de Corse.

 

Château Conti

The mansion, Château Conti, was built from 1855 by the financier Stephane Conti. The style is neoclassical, and the mansion is one of several examples of fine residences along the street Cours Grandval, linking Place Foch and Place d’Austerlitz.

 

Imperial Chapel, Ajaccio

The Imperial Chapel
Chapelle Impériale

The Chapelle Impériale was built in the years 1857-1859 with Alexis Paccard as primary architect. The construction took place at the will of Joseph Fesch, who had previously had the Palais Fesch built. The chapel was inaugurated in 1860, and it had happened with the support of Napoleon III, who wanted to see the chapel completed.

As the name suggests, the Chapelle Impériale is associated with Imperial France. Joseph Fesch was Napoleon’s uncle and he is buried here. The graves of Napoleon’s parents, Laetitia and Charles, are also in the chapel. The interior of the church is beautiful with marble decoration and various flower patterns etc. as decoration. The interior design was done by Jerôme Maglioli.

 

Rue de Cardinal Fesch

Rue du Cardinal Fesch is Ajaccio’s main street with shops and restaurants. It is named after Joseph Fesch, who was a French cardinal, diplomat and uncle of Napoleon. Fesch left a clear mark on Ajaccio, and his birthplace and later stately extension, Palais Fesch, is located at numbers 50-52 of the street.

The entire street offers shopping, souvenirs and various cafes and eateries. You should also take a look at the houses, which are a beautiful setting and the street with its many bright colors, shutters and Italian-inspired style.

 

Foch Square, Ajaccio

Foch Square
Place Foch

Place Foch is a beautifully landscaped square in central Ajaccio. It is located precisely where the old Genoese city to the south meets the neighborhood around Rue du Cardinal Fesch, which was formerly called U Borgu and formed a suburb of Ajaccio itself. At the entrance to the current Rue Bonaparte was the main gate to the old town.

At Place Foch you can see a statue of Napoléon standing as a Roman consul. The statue was produced by the Italian sculptor Massimiliano Laboureur in the mid-19th century. The statue was set up on a pedestal adorned with allegorical figures. Here is also a fine fountain with four lions. The fountain is a creation created by Maglioli.

Place Foch forms a natural center in the city with the palm trees and the central paving that lays tiles for a delicious market with fruit, vegetables and various delicate foods.

 

Villa della Rocca

For art lovers and connoisseurs of Henri Matisse, the house with the names Wisteria and Villa della Rocca is interesting. Matisse lived in the house for a while, and from his window he painted the work Le Mur Rose de l’hôpital d’Ajaccio in 1898.

The painting later came to Germany, where during World War II it was confiscated by the SS and then kept by the officer Kurt Gerstein. After the war it was found and it changed owners a few times while hanging in Paris in the years 1949-2008. In 2010, the painting was acquired for the Jüdisches Museum in Frankfurt.

 

Grand Café Napoléon, Ajaccio

Grand Café Napoléon

Grand Café Napoléon is one of Ajaccio’s many cozy cafés. Many of them can be a good place for a cup of coffee or the local beer Pietra. Grand Café Napoléon is a good choice with its atmospheric and elegant back room, and the place also bears Napoléon’s name like quite a few other things in the city.

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