A hidden and little known gem in Farnborough on the Surrey-Hampshire border.
St Michael’s Abbey and the
adjoining monastery of St Michael has a surprising history being the final
resting place of Napoleon 111, his wife Empress Eugenie and their only son, the
Prince Imperial, Louis.
Having been exiled Napoleon chose to live in England and
upon his death and that of his son the Empress Eugenie moved to Farnborough and
decided to build an Imperial Mausoleum to house their remains. The resulting
magnificent French Neo-Gothic and Romanesque style building is outstanding.
Next to the mausoleum the monastery of St Michael was built
to accommodate a religious order to pray for the souls of those in the crypt –
Napoleon, his wife and son; and to share the Christian Faith. The monastery
continues as a small Benedictine community, home of the Catholic National
Library and operates a commercial bookbindery.
