Empress Eugénie requested the creation of this Imperial Chapel for her own personal spiritual worship. Built in 1865, the chapel is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico's patron saint).
This intimate chapel reveals an eclectic yet harmonious blend of architectural elements: Romanesque-inspired arches, Moorish design motifs, and glittering Byzantine-style gilded mosaics. The ornate details add up to an enchanting interior, which dazzles the eyes.
The chapel is open to the public for visits and guided tours. Mass is held here four times a year on specific dates: January 9th to commemorate the death of Napoleon III; June 1st, the anniversary of the death of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, the Prince Impérial (the only child of Napoleon and Eugénie) who was killed in action during the Anglo-Zulu War; July 11th to commemorate of the death of Empress Eugénie; and December 12th to celebrate the Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Prior to the construction of the Imperial Chapel, the Empress Eugénie, Emperor Napoleon III, and the Imperial family attended mass at the Eglise Sainte-Eugénie near the old port. This neo-Gothic chapel was inaugurated in 1856 and is dedicated to the patron saint of the empress.
