Fontainebleau, one of the largest French royal Château , was a hunting lodge when originally built under the order of François I (1497-1547). Located 55 km away from Paris, it is renowned for its architecture, its paintings and valuable objects decorating the palace and its courtyards, garden and parks. In the 16th century, it was to become a renaissance art place with copies of antiques sculptures, Italian paintings, jewelry, weapons. Leonardo da Vinci visited the castle with, in his luggage, the famous Mona Lisa painting, now at Louvre museum! Residence of French Kings, from the 16th century with François I to the 19th with Napoleon III - 1808-1873, it was converted into barracks and became a jail during the French revolution.

Major features include a dramatic sweeping staircase leading up to the entrance, beautifully sculpted gardens, and extensive art galleries, reminding visitors of its sumptuous past.

François I( 1494-1547) ordered the construction of château de Fontainebleau nearly 500 years ago. Located 55 km away from Paris, it is a place renowned for its architecture, its paintings and valuable objects decorating the palace and its courtyards, garden and parks It was to become a renaissance art place with copies of antiques sculptures, Italian paintings, jewelry, weapons … Leonardo da Vinci visited the castle with in his luggage, the famous Mona Lisa now at Musée du Louvre. Residence of French Kings (from the 16th century with François I to the 19 century with Napoléon III - 1808-1873), it was converted into barracks and jail during the French revolution.

La Galerie François I, la Salle de Bal, la Salle du trône also the king’s bedroom, la Chambre de l'impératrice Eugénie, her salons et musée chinois remind visitors of the castle somptuous past.

The 115 hectares park with la Cour du Cheval Blanc and its famous escalier en fer à cheval , (Napoléon I abdicated there in 1814), and la Cour des Fontaines, shows how garden art evolved over 3 centuries. The famous gardener of Louis XIV designed le parc et grand parterre and the antique statues found in Jardins de Diane gave it the name of “New Rome”.
The school “Ecole de Fontainebleau” was inspired by Italian painters. The controversial painting "Gabrielle d'Estrées" representing Henri IV pregnant mistress was produced there. It is now exposed at Musée du Louvre.

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By train
Approximately 45 minutes from the gare de Lyon

By road
Autoroute A6

Last edited on Aug 3, 10 1:52 AM.
Contributors: Eric M. , Danvier C. , Monique M. Show History

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Liz K.

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Yoav K.

Oct 26, 2010

One of the biggest castles.Situated only about 60km from Paris this castle knew quite a few royalties:Louis xlv,Napoleon saying goodbye to his army in 1814.Visit the library,the gardens and the interior and you will be amazed for a long time.

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Meghan H.

Sep 17, 2010

absolutely beautiful. I honestly don't know much about it but I was thrilled to have seen this enormous chateau and the gardens. It made for a wonderful day outside of Paris. Oh, and you are welcome to take as many photos as you like.

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Heather D.

Dec 12, 2009

This place is huge! It has a very "manly" feeling as it was built for the king. There is a staircase there that is fun. There are two stair cases that wrap around each other, so you keep facing the same people as you walk up.

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Liz K.

Jun 10, 2008

One of Napoleon's summer Chateaus....after seeing this massive summer house, stroll down the streets and grab some lunch at a local cafe...veryyyy nice locals

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