Château de Fontainebleau
A visit to the expansive and spectacular Château de Fontainebleau can easily fill the better part of a day
The Château de Fontainebleau is one of the largest royal palaces. A great many monarchs have made their mark on the Château, each resident making some kind of improvement or renovation to at least a portion of the Château.
The Château has been home to some of the greatest monarchs in French history, including King Louis VII, Philip II and Louis IX. Napoleon also made good use of the Château from time to time. The Château has gone from being the home of a number of monarchs to being the home of the Ecoles d'Art Americaines, an American school of art and architecture.
The Château is not just a palace. There are a number of courtyards and gardens and a park that are interspersed throughout the buildings of the palace. Even the surrounding city is something of a historical monument. It grew up around the Forest of Fontainbleau. What remains of the Forest is now home to a number of endangered species that once called all of Europe home.
Although the Château does attempt to make its tours as family friendly as possible, it is important to note that you are not permitted to bring pushchairs or back mounted baby carriers on the tour routes. It is possible to swap your pushchair or carrier for a front mounted carrier at the cloakrooms though. If schools or home schooled groups of children would like to visit the Château then they may make use of the specially adapted tours that the staff of the Château offer. There is also a lift to allow those who suffer from limited mobility to access the Grands Appartements.
For those who love the outdoors, the park and various courtyards offer many different attractions and activities to help you while away the time. You can take a horse drawn carriage ride or a hot air balloon ride. Then there is the boating and ice cream parlours and the Segway rides.
If you are planning on visiting the Château de Fontainebleau then you really do need to set aside an entire day to do so. It is better to have more time than you need as you do not want to miss a single sight in this amazing palace.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes - Visit the official website for details.Château de Fontainebleau Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
Address: 77300 Fontainebleau, France
Phone: 01 60 71 50 70
Official Website: Château de Fontainebleau
Château de Fontainebleau Reviews
Rated out of 5
Definitely worth the visit. The castle is beautiful and even without an audio guide there was enough information in English for me to feel informed. Castle itself 5/5. Lockers for coats and bags are free which is great. However the organization of the ticketing and entrance is asinine.
The bathrooms are outside of the palace, and there is no re-entry, so you cannot use the bathroom during the visit.
There are many signs saying strollers are forbidden, so we stored ours, however later saw many people with strollers (while we carried our tired toddlers). Maybe it’s allowed during the off-season? Very frustrating.
When the visit is over, you have to go through the main entrance AND SECURITY a second time to get your bags, coats and anything else from the lockers.
They had centuries to figure this out in a better way… bizarre
Elise Ganser - a week ago
Large and amazing Chateau to visit with lots of histories. This is Napoleon 1st main residence. Beautiful details in the building ans first French Royal Church is here. The church provided the replicate carpet on the floor from the existing marble floor. Its really a luxury experience to step on it. The floor details are really impressive as well.
Jean Tsou - a month ago
Fontainebleau is not only admired for its architectural beauty but also for its lush surroundings. The park offers serene walking paths, expansive lawns, and charming ponds, making it a perfect spot for leisurely strolls and picnics. The forest of Fontainebleau, adjacent to the château, is a popular destination for hiking and rock climbing, attracting nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Abdullah Mahmud - a week ago
It was nice to visit the castle again, is magnificent, the train to get there getting the tickets was a bit of a nightmare with the machines. Be aware that most shops close on Monday so there is no much to do around the area before or after.
Rosa Maria Garcia de Quevedo - 2 weeks ago
Chateau de Fontainebleau’s garden and forest are a must-see in autumn, with stunning scenery and pathways covered in vibrant leaves. It’s a beautiful spot for a peaceful walk, and kids will love exploring the open space. The garden is free to enter, and you could easily spend a day here enjoying the beauty of nature and the impressive castle. Highly recommend for a family day out!
Asako K - 2 weeks ago
Directions
| Metro / SNCF Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M1 or M14 plus SNCF R | Fontainebleau Avon | 2 minutes |
How to get to Château de Fontainebleau by Metro / SNCF
By Metro plus SNCF Train and Bus: Make your way via Metro M1 or M14 to Gare de Lyon. From Gare de Lyon (main line) board an SNCF Transilean R to either Montargis Sens or Montereauline and exit at Fontainebleau Avon Station. Catch the Optile ‘Ligne A’ bus destined for Les Lilas, from bus platform #2 in front of the station and disembark at the ‘Château’ stop. Walk southeast and cross over Rue Grande then go left followed by a quick right onto Rue de la Chancellerie to the entrance. If you have an all zone Paris Visite Pass this journey is fully covered.
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Photo Gallery
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Sumptuous interior of Château de Fontainebleau cc licensed photo by dynamosquito -
Photo Credit: @lain G - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: uphillblok - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Phil Grondin - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Corentin Foucaut - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Mustang Joe - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: uphillblok - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Mustang Joe - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: uphillblok - cc license via Flickr
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