Paris
Paris
+ Exploring Paris
Vicinity
+ Vicinity
Sights
* Chantilly, Château de
* Disneyland Paris
* Ecouen, Château d'
* Fontainebleau, Château de
* France Miniature
* Malmaison, Château de
* Parc Astérix
* Saint-Cloud, Parc de
* Saint-Denis, Basilique
* Saint-Germain-en-Laye
* Sceaux, Château de
* Sèvres, Musée National de la Céramique de
* Vaux-le-Vicomte, Château de
* Versailles, Château de
* Vincennes, Château de
Walk/Drive
Food&Drink
In The Know
Did You Know?
( Do not miss )
As the name suggests, a fountain or spring, now in the Jardin Anglais, is at the origin of this splendid royal residence, which started out as a hunting pavilion at the heart of a vast forest. It was François I who made Fontainebleau into the beautiful palace it is today, although it was later remodelled by successive monarchs.
The imposing horseshoe staircase decorating the main façade was the scene of Napoleon I's moving farewell to his faithful guard in 1814 (see the Musée Napoléon I). Beyond this building lies the Etang des Carpes (carp pool) with a lovely pavilion in its centre, and further on the formal French gardens redesigned by Le Nôtre. The oldest part of the palace, including the keep of the medieval castle, surrounds the Cour Ovale.
The richly decorated State Apartments contain a remarkable collection of paintings, furniture and objets d'art, in addition to the fine coffered ceiling of the Salle de Bal and the frescoes in the Galerie François I.
Address: 65km southeast of Paris. 77300 Fontainebleau
Phone: 01 60 71 50 70
Open: 9:30-12:30 and 2-5, closed Tue, 1 Jan, 1 May
Restaurant: In the town nearby (Inexpensive-Expensive)
Metro: Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon and Bus: A or B
Accessible: Very good
Admission: Moderate
Practical: Guided tour, shops
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