Barbizon
Barbizon, Île-de-France, 77630
Known as the “Village of Painters,” Barbizon is a jewel-like town perched on the edge of the Fontainebleau Forest just outside Paris. Home in the 19th century to the Barbizon School of French painters—including Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet—today the town is a popular day trip from Paris for its postcard-perfect charm.
The basics
Join a tour from Paris to visit the village and surrounding countryside that inspired some of the most influential French painters of the 19th century. Stroll down the Grand Rue, lined with picturesque stone houses and traditional restaurants; visit the Barbizon School Museum (Musée des Peintres de Barbizon) to learn about this important art movement; and take in the studio where Millet once worked. Many Barbizon tours also include a stop at the nearby Palace of Fontainebleau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Things to know before you go
- A trip to Barbizon is a must for art history enthusiasts, and photography buffs also enjoy capturing its timeless atmosphere.
- Tours of the small center of Barbizon are on foot, so choose comfortable footwear and dress for the weather.
- The town of Barbizon is accessible to wheelchairs, but many of its historic house museums are not, so confirm in advance.
How to get there
Barbizon is located about 45 minutes southeast of Paris. Take an SNCF train from Paris’ Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon, and then a taxi to the village of Barbizon; or catch the train to Melun and pick up a number 9 bus. Otherwise, opt to join a day trip from Paris that includes transportation.
When to get there
Barbizon is known for its charming historic center and pretty surrounding landscape, both of which are best enjoyed from spring through fall on clear, mild days.
The Barbizon Movement
Inspired by the rural paintings of English painter John Constable, the artists of the Barbizon School placed the village’s farmland and surrounding Fontainebleau Forest at the center of their work. The school’s most famous painters, Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet, lived out their lives in the village. Millet is especially famous for his paintings of peasants working the fields; he purposely hid the peasant’s faces and gave them bent figures to show their anonymity and the difficulty of their lives, a huge step away from the formal aristocrat portraits popular at the time. The Barbizon movement of 1830–1870 also inspired the next generation of French artists: Impressionists such as Monet, Renoir, and Alfred Sisley all enjoyed painting in the Fontainebleau Forest.
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