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
Compared to the crowded Versailles, Fontainebleau offers a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere. This makes it an ideal destination for those who wish to truly immerse themselves in French history without the hustle and bustle of large tourist crowds.
Fontainebleau is steeped in history with a particular focus on the era of Napoleon. The palace provides fascinating artifacts and exhibits that detail his life and reign. You can understand about this significant period of French history.
Also, if you are under 18 years old, you can enjoy this historical treasure without purchasing a ticket.
Nathalie C - 3 weeks ago
It's very easy to get to using the metro from Gare de Lyons and the bus. Or you could take a beautiful 30 minute walk through a wooded park if you'd like to skip the bus.
The Chalet itself is magnificent inside, the grounds are huge and wonderful to explore. It's a nice way to spend the day in the countryside.
Kissandra - 2 weeks ago
This château is a bit far from Paris but I definitely recommend visiting it if you live in or around Paris. The Chateau and the rooms are really beautiful and it also has the only thrones rooms existing in original condition in France. The park and the lake area are also quite beautiful and quiet. You can come here for a morning run as well as have picnics. If you want to have some peace in your life come visit this place and feel the nature around you.
Rahul Agarwal - 3 months ago
Beautiful and magnificent royal chateau. Unbelievable ceiling finishes, the furnishings are original to their period. Lots of history and beautiful paintings, art and craftsmanship.
Louis-Philippe Bosse - a month ago
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 - 4 months 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 -
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Photo Credit: Mustang Joe - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: uphillblok - cc license via Flickr
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