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Exhibition

Queen Victoria in Paris

Detail showing the arrival of Queen Victoria through the crowds in Paris
Adolphe Jean Baptiste Bayot, The Entry of Queen Victoria into Paris, 1855 ©
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In August 1855, Queen Victoria made a historic State Visit to Paris, the first time a British monarch had visited the French capital in over 400 years. Just 40 years after the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo, France and Britain had entered a military alliance against Russia in the Crimean War. The Queen's visit to Paris was to celebrate this remarkable turnaround in Anglo-French relations, but also marked a close personal friendship between Queen Victoria and the French Emperor Napoleon III.

This exhibition brings together 44 watercolours created for Queen Victoria to remember the events of the visit, half of which have never been exhibited before. Showing scenes of the splendid celebrations held in the Queen's honour, the watercolours capture this unique moment in British and French history.

Map & directions

Compton Verney, Warwickshire, CV35 9HZ
By car

Parking is free for visitors to the Gallery and Park.

There is also a designated area for coach parking with spaces for up to 3 coaches.

There is blue badge parking in the main car park, and on most days spaces are available for blue badge drivers in the courtyard directly outside the Gallery. Please call 01926 645 500 to see if spaces will be available on the day you wish to visit. A volunteer driven shuttle is also available for all visitors to use from the car park and gallery.

By train

The nearest stations are Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, or Banbury. Chiltern Railways offers a fast, efficient service from London and Birmingham which stops at all three of these stations. Compton Verney is then a 25 minute taxi ride.

By coach / bus

For details please call 0871 200 2233.