@ Betsy....I must say you are in an unenviable position: decisions, decisions thanks to your" history loving heart."
On the Napoleon "stuff" and history, you have to decide which is of greater value, importance , etc, etc., (1) being at a site where
Napoleon actually lived walked, standing on the ground of the Chateau de Fontainebleau where he bade Farewell to the Old Guard (that's the Cour des Adieux), the area adjacent to right of horseshoe like stairs, where 700 soldiers stood and witnessed this dramatic farewell.) or (2) visiting a museum of 2 floors located elsewhere in France, the exhibitions of which are entirely devoted to Napoleon, revamped, refurbished, expanded in 2007.
This is the Musée Napoleon located in the small town of Brienne-le-Chateau, east of Paris. Logistically, easy to get to.
Take train from Paris Est to Troyes, the bus depot adjacent to the train has a bus going to Brienne, the terminus. That bus ride is one hour, the last bus returning to Troyes is 16:00 something. It's stated at the bus stop. It suffices for a history packed day trip.
The little town's main and only feature is the Napoleon Museum, ask about it and everyone will know it.
The Tourist Office in Troyes enthusiastically endorsed seeing this museum if one is into Napoleon...absolutely riveting and delightful. I went there this summer, the Tourist Office is right, absolutely captivating, riveting, the female staff very approachable and helpful. A lot to see , film excerpts of Napoleon movies over the years, focus on the Napoleonic Code, dipl. and mil. history.
This entire geographic area, (Troyes, Brienne, Chaumont, Soissons, Chateau-Thierry, etc ) was the operational and strategic area in 1814 which saw the Russians, Austrians, Prussians pushing towards Paris with Napoleon fending them off
