Pauline Bonaparte and her lover in Forbin townhouse

Forbin townhouse hosted upper crust! Like Louis XIV’s grandsons, dukes of Berry and of Bourgogne in 1701; princess Caroline of Naples (1816) or duke of Angoulême (1830)… and Pauline Borghèse in 1806.

Ah, Pauline! Paolina Bonaparte, emperor Napoleon’s favourite sister, the most beautiful lady of her time!

In the townhouse, she had a love affair with her lover, count Auguste de Forbin...

The Forbin-La Barben

César de Milan, lord of Cornillon, councilor in the Parliament, raised the house in 1656. His son, Gabrielle de Forbin’s husband, extended it. Then the house fell to the Forbin-La Barben, by marriage. A famous Provencal family!

What about Auguste? Well, we was born in 1779: a talented (he painted), witty and handsome man. He became general director of French museums, then director of the Louvre in 1816. He extended the Parisian museum and even bought the famous painting Le Radeau de la Méduse in 1824, just after Géricault’s death, after years of insistence!

And with his artistic feeling, Auguste seduced ladies: his friend viscount Siméon said about him (with jealousy?) he was ″elegant and noble, tall″, he had ″good-looking eyes″… Women fell in love with him! But only one made his heart beating… Pauline!

Pauline and Auguste

Bonaparte’s protégé in Italy (where he studied art), Auguste became Napoleon’s chamberlain, then the one of Pauline. Love at first sight! She came in Aix in 1806, for thermal bathes, but she also met her lover in this townhouse…

The tradition says she complained about the courtyard poor decoration and put plants and flowers everywhere… And they also met in castle of La Barben (family de Forbin’s estate)!

But in 1807, their love affair suddenly ended… maybe Pauline’s husband, count de Borghèse, learned about his wife’s lover? Meanwhile, Auguste was abruptly sent (coincidence?) in Portugal, in the army… And even if he married the pretty and rich countess de Dortan, he never forget her Paolina...