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Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, Ile de France

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Located just 60 kilometers from Paris, Fontainebleau is a gem in the Île-de-France region. This charming town is globally renowned for its magnificent palace, a royal complex with breathtaking gardens. A favored residence for many French kings, including Francis I and Napoleon Bonaparte, the Château de Fontainebleau brims with historical and architectural treasures. Strolling through the picturesq...See more

Walking around Fontainebleau

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Stroll through the walking routes of Fontainebleau.
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What to do in Fontainebleau

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Activities for all tastes await you in Fontainebleau, book them today.
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Palace of Fontainebleau
329 m

Palace of Fontainebleau

The Château de Fontainebleau is a big part of French history! This vast building, in both classical and Renaissance style, is not only famous for witnessing Napoleon's imperial adventure. From the royal charter of 1137 to the fall of the Second Empire in 1870, the Palace of Fontainebleau saw the lives of the greatest French sovereigns from day to day. The original medieval fortress was replaced by a Renaissance palace under the guiding hand of Francois I. At that time, two Italian artists, Primaticcio and Il Rosso vied in talent and founded the first School of Fontainebleau. The Galerie François I, which leads from the royal apartments to the chapel of the Convent of the Holy Trinity, is most original with its décor of frescoes, stucco and carved wood in praise of François I. The Ballroom was completed at the time of the last Valois kings, under Primaticcio’s direction. With Henri IV, the new Bourbon dynasty took over the palace, and built new rooms with interior decoration placed in the hands of the artists of the second School of Fontainebleau. Louis XIII completed the work started by his father. Under the Sun King Fontainebleau continued to be the royal family home, and the Grand Dauphin was born there in 1661. The king’s nieces were married from Fontainebleau, and the Edict of Nantes was revoked there in 1685. Louis XV and Louis XVI would spend the autumn there and initiated new, large scale building works and interior doing-ups. After the French Revolution, Napoleon I found the palace completely emptied of its furniture but intact. He undertook to refurnish the apartments and brought the palace back to its former glory as the home of the sovereign. Napoleon Bonaparte spent his last days there before his abdication in 1814 and departure for the Elba. Louis-Philippe was the first sovereign to order a complete restoration of Fontainebleau. The restoration of the Empire in 1852 gave renewed importance to the palace, and Napoleon III became strongly attached to this home, staying there regularly with his court. Housed in the Louis XV wing, the Napoleon I museum is dedicated to the Emperor and his family, with a large collection of objects from his everyday life, weapons used in military campaigns and gifts he received. The Chinese museum, created by Empress Eugenie, displays works of art from the Far East. The Jeu de Paume court, thought to be the oldest of the three surviving in France, is open to the public with demonstrations and introductory games. Le Nôtre's French gardens, the Queen’s English garden with its Fountain of Diana, the hedge maze and the Cour des Adieux are open to the public all year round. Boat excursions on the Etang aux Carpes or horse-drawn carriage rides are available. The Domain of the Fontainebleau Palace is inscribed at the UNESCO Humanity World Heritage. There is a little train going around the gardens during the touristic season.

Place du Général de Gaulle 77300 Fontainebleau
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Caval&go
581 m

Caval&go

Caval&Go enables you to discover France and the rest of the world on horseback. It is a french agency specialized in equestrian journeys (Horse trails, safaris, life on a ranch…) and its purpose is to provide eco-friendly trips with authentic encounters and respect for nature. Based in Fontainebleau, Caval&Go is dedicated to helping visitors discover the beautiful forest surrounding the town. We offer two types of weekends: - Weekend on horseback in the forest of Fontainebleau in comfortable 4* accommodation: Come and recharge your batteries in the forest of Fontainebleau for a weekend on horseback (groups on site according to riding ability: beginners or riders already at ease with the 3 paces outdoors) as close to nature as possible, on the most beautiful undulating trails of this exceptional royal forest. This is your chance to take a break in our beautiful green setting, all in 4-star accommodation for a well-deserved break! - Charming equestrian weekend and discovery of the Henson horse in the Fontainebleau forest: Join us on the outskirts of the famous village of Barbizon to meet Henson horses in a privileged setting! This package has everything to please beginners and experienced riders alike: charming, invigorating and reliable horses to help you discover one of France's most beautiful forests at your own pace. Between two rides, you can take advantage of the 4-star hotel's wellness area to recharge your batteries!

MINES ParisTech / Caval&go 35 Rue St Honoré 77300 Fontainebleau
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What to visit in Fontainebleau

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Learn the history of Fontainebleau through its museums.
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Palace of Fontainebleau
329 m

Palace of Fontainebleau

The Château de Fontainebleau is a big part of French history! This vast building, in both classical and Renaissance style, is not only famous for witnessing Napoleon's imperial adventure. From the royal charter of 1137 to the fall of the Second Empire in 1870, the Palace of Fontainebleau saw the lives of the greatest French sovereigns from day to day. The original medieval fortress was replaced by a Renaissance palace under the guiding hand of Francois I. At that time, two Italian artists, Primaticcio and Il Rosso vied in talent and founded the first School of Fontainebleau. The Galerie François I, which leads from the royal apartments to the chapel of the Convent of the Holy Trinity, is most original with its décor of frescoes, stucco and carved wood in praise of François I. The Ballroom was completed at the time of the last Valois kings, under Primaticcio’s direction. With Henri IV, the new Bourbon dynasty took over the palace, and built new rooms with interior decoration placed in the hands of the artists of the second School of Fontainebleau. Louis XIII completed the work started by his father. Under the Sun King Fontainebleau continued to be the royal family home, and the Grand Dauphin was born there in 1661. The king’s nieces were married from Fontainebleau, and the Edict of Nantes was revoked there in 1685. Louis XV and Louis XVI would spend the autumn there and initiated new, large scale building works and interior doing-ups. After the French Revolution, Napoleon I found the palace completely emptied of its furniture but intact. He undertook to refurnish the apartments and brought the palace back to its former glory as the home of the sovereign. Napoleon Bonaparte spent his last days there before his abdication in 1814 and departure for the Elba. Louis-Philippe was the first sovereign to order a complete restoration of Fontainebleau. The restoration of the Empire in 1852 gave renewed importance to the palace, and Napoleon III became strongly attached to this home, staying there regularly with his court. Housed in the Louis XV wing, the Napoleon I museum is dedicated to the Emperor and his family, with a large collection of objects from his everyday life, weapons used in military campaigns and gifts he received. The Chinese museum, created by Empress Eugenie, displays works of art from the Far East. The Jeu de Paume court, thought to be the oldest of the three surviving in France, is open to the public with demonstrations and introductory games. Le Nôtre's French gardens, the Queen’s English garden with its Fountain of Diana, the hedge maze and the Cour des Adieux are open to the public all year round. Boat excursions on the Etang aux Carpes or horse-drawn carriage rides are available. The Domain of the Fontainebleau Palace is inscribed at the UNESCO Humanity World Heritage. There is a little train going around the gardens during the touristic season.

Place du Général de Gaulle 77300 Fontainebleau
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Fontainebleau palace gardens
409 m

Fontainebleau palace gardens

In the 130 hectacres of garden , you can see the evolution of the art of the garden illustrated by the Great Flowerbed ("Grand Parterre") , French-style garden designed by Le Notre, the Carp Pond, the English garden, created under the first Empire, the Garden of Diana ("La jardin de Diane"), the Park , the 1200m canal ... Remarkable trees, Diana's Fountain, the Park, exotic essences, the English river ... These royal and imperial gardens are witnesses to the evolution of taste since the 16th until the 19th century in terms of landscaping. The Renaissance gardens created for Francis Ist and Henry IVth were mainly based upon a system of draining canals which started from the different wells and the carp pond and lead to the great canal. The Grand Parterre (Huge flowerbed) was created later in a very humid part situated between the carp pond and the canal. Under the reign of Louis XIVth, this "parterre" (the biggest one in Europe) will adopt a very classical appearance du to André Le Nôtre who conceived a real perspective leading from the pond to the canal with the fountain of "Tibre" in the centre of the parterre. This royal parterre reaches from the Maintenon alley to the cascades, from the ballroom and the quarter Henry IVth to the side perspective of "Saut du Loup" (the wolf hop). The Diana Garden is the former garden of the Queen. Its name comes from the fountain (17th century) which occupies its centre. This garden is limited by the "Galerie des Cerfs" built under Henry IVth (Deer Gallery), the small apartments (Louis XVIth), the Trinity Chapel, the Real Tennis court and separated from the town by a wall with some openings. The English garden was created in its present shape under the reign of Napoleon Ist. It is organised around an artificial romantic creek. Its valley like landscape integrates some sculptures and rare species of trees and plants. The carp pond, which dates back to the Middle Ages, is bordering this garden. In the centre of the pond the architect Louis Le Vau constructed a romantic pavilion under Louis XIVth (1662).

Place du Général de Gaulle 77300 Fontainebleau
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Fontainebleau forest
1.8 km

Fontainebleau forest

“It's not just a forest I want to see, it's Fontainebleau” Marcel Proust. Powerful smells from the undergrowth, the inhabited silence of the forest, shimmering colours and landscapes dictated by the seasons - the visitor delights in the multi-faceted personality of the forest of Fontainebleau. Jumbled sandstone boulders concealing caves with legendary secrets, greenness stretching as far as the eye can see, tinted with golden colours in autumn and bluish with frost on winter mornings - you can almost believe you have joined the immensity of the world! The forest at the dawn of time... The forest of Fontainebleau covers 17,000 hectares, extended by the 3,000 hectares of the massif of the Trois Pignons. Paths have been laid and marked out for 300 km. Sandstone has formed on its silty, sandy soil, throwback to the Stampian sea that covered it at the dawn of time: the grains of sand have cemented over millions of years, causing rock falls and creating caves and boulder fields, gradually eroded by rain and wind. A fresh water lake deposited limestone from shell debris on the sand and the sandstone, protecting the forest sand and keeping it white and pure. Multi-faceted flora and fauna 5,685 species of plant life have been listed: oak, beech, hornbeam, chestnut, locust, birch, maritime and Scots pine and juniper, plus a few curiosities planted by former owners: sequoia, spruce and cedar. Protected wild animals coexist in the seeming tranquillity of the forest: deer and roe deer, wild boar and foxes, squirrels, rabbits, badgers and even reptiles. Although you are unlikely to encounter any wolves, you may perhaps catch sight of some timid elk by penetrating into the depths of the forest, although they are active mainly at twilight and during the night when their kingdom is returned to them. The forest sings with the chirping of 250 different species of birds, but you need patience and a good musical ear to identify them all! Dream landscapes! The forest of Fontainebleau contains a number of outstanding landscapes and sites. Of particular note, perhaps, are the Franchard gorges, the former 12th century hermitage and the viewpoint over the forest and the far-distant plain; the Apremont boulder field and desert, famous for its rock piles; the heights of the Solle, for the panorama at their foot over the racecourse and the magnificent tall beech forest of Gros Fouteau, not forgetting the Croix du Calvaire, dominating the town of Fontainebleau and its château.

Route de l'Ermitage 77300 Fontainebleau
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Where to eat in Fontainebleau

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A wide selection of restaurants awaits you in Fontainebleau.
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Where to sleep in Fontainebleau

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Stay near Fontainebleau with our lodging options.
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Gîte Apremont
8.5 km

Gîte Apremont

Located in the heart of the village of Barbizon, the cottage has been st up in an old Briarde farmhouse, the exposed stone walls and the contemporary decoration create a soothing atmosphere. The cottage is on one level with a small step at the entrance; the kitchen is fully equiped; the livig room/lounge is comfortable with sof and armchairs; the large bedroom has 2 single bed which can be aranged in a double one; a laundry room is avalaible. You have the courtyard where you can park your car. The courtyard allows you to have lunch in the shelter in case of rain ine the summer while enjoying the garden with a fis pond. Deckchairs, parasol, garden furniture and barbecue are at your disposal. Renowned village for its 19th century painters, Barbizon is on the edge of the forest of Fontainebleau; all the shops (bakery, grocery store, caterer, butcher...) as well as restaurants are nearby. You can visit the museums of the village, the galleries and painters'studio that line the main street. To walk in the forest, you have guides and IGN maps available ine the cottage. If you prefer discovering the forest on horseback or by a bike ride, companies in the village would offer adapted services to your desires. And the forest of Fontainebleau remains a privileged place for lovers of rock climbing. The Aprmeont gîte is ideallu located for a moment of relaxation or for practicing a sport. Denise, your host, welcomes you to this charming cottage in the old family farm.

66 Grande rue 77630 Barbizon
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Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾