- Fountains and gardens, a countryside château – the choice of a King, eight centuries of history….
- A summary of architecture in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Life at the palace in the age of royal hunting parties, the jeu de paume, and royal receptions.
- The Francis I gallery, the ballroom, Marie Antoinette’s boudoir…stucco, frescoes and wood paneling: Italianate art.
- Behind the scenes of historical events: the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Napoleon’s abdication….
A royal palace tucked inside a former royal hunting park, Fontainebleau palace is a sumptuous blend of Renaissance and French artistic traditions. The 12th-century hunting lodge was enlarged and embellished in the 16th century under Francis I, and under Napoleon Bonaparte it became the place one can visit today.
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Tour 1: half-day classic tour (transfer + visit + free time)
After crossing the forest of Fontainebleau – so often depicted by the Barbizon school of painters – you will enter one of the favorite residences of the kings of France. A guided tour of the prestigious staterooms includes a fascinating lesson in art history.
Opening hours :
The château: from April to September, daily except Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (low season closing at 5 p.m.)
The gardens: in March, April, and October daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From May to September: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
From November to February: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed January 1, May 1, and December 25
Amenities :
Cloakroom and baggage check
Disabled access
Tearoom
Direct, no-lines access: reservation required for groups (29 people maximum per guide)