The Lords' Antechamber

This room originally served as a waiting area for nobles and lords who came to be received by the king. Napoleon, who valued practicality, later converted it into a dining room. It was first used for meals by the attendants of his mother, "Madame Mère," and later became the dining room of his second empress, Marie-Louise.

At the center of the room stands a large round table 2.75 meters in diameter — famous enough to be called one of the most celebrated dining tables of the 19th century. Its tabletop is a single unjointed slab of wood, chosen to showcase the natural beauty of the grain, a considerable technical feat for the time. The legs are carved in the shape of winged mermaids, and small carvings on the table depict ordinary people playing cards and ball games, adding a touch of rustic charm within the palace's splendor.