Chateau of Fontainebleau Reviews (Paris, France)

A Historical Gem of Renaissance Artworks

Birchircara, Malta Majjistral, Malta

April 30, 2012

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo The town of Fontainebleau is ideal for a short vacation or a weekend break in an atmosphere of tranquillity and peacefulness. If Paris is rich with cultural attractions and great for shopping, Fontainebleau is an appealing destination for nature ...Read more

From journal Get a breath of air in Paris

attached great importance to Fontainebleau

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

February 11, 2011

Email
Print

During the French Revolution, the castle is completely deserted, but the building survived. From 1796 it housed the Graduate School of Arts and then a special military school. After coming to power of Napoleon I, the castle regained its former ...Read more During the French Revolution, the castle is completely deserted, but the building survived. From 1796 it housed the Graduate School of Arts and then a special military school.

After coming to power of Napoleon I, the castle regained its former purpose and blossomed with new colors. In November 1804 for adoption at Fontainebleau by Pope Pius VII, who came for the coronation of Napoleon in Notre Dame, the future emperor ordered to re-arrange the lock in record time, just two weeks.

As a result, apartments are equipped with the Pope were in the suite of eleven rooms, following the royal apartments. These rooms are located in two buildings of different eras and was named "The apartments of Louis XIII» and apartments of Louis XV ». Apartment Louis III includes the reception and lounge Officers, reception hall with ceiling age of Henry II and the walls decorated with four tapestries "History of Alexander the Great"; bedroom with a tapestry of the Triumph of the Gods "and the dressing-room.

Napoleon I regularly visited the Fontainebleau. Wanting to open the lock by the city and make it the main entrance, it destroys a wing of the Ferrari and replaces it with the current lattice gate. On his initiative, the architect Gyurto recovers almost completely destroyed the gallery of Diana length of 80 meters, has created under Henri IV. The original decor of the gallery that tells the story of the goddess of hunting, made Ambroise Dubois and Jean de GEO, was continued by Marie-Joseph Blondel and Abel de Pujol in the era of the Restoration. Napoleon III later turned the gallery into the library, which includes volume library of Napoleon I, commissioned for the Tuileries.

A special place in the apartments of Napoleon I took office, because the emperor had an amazing capacity for work and was able to restore power during a short respite on an iron bed, installed in the cabinet.

The following changes have taken place in the castle of Fontainebleau under Louis Philippe, who has repeatedly stayed at this residence. On his initiative, there was held a lot of work for the restoration and rebuilding, improving comfort and decor. Artists Jean Alo and Abel de Pujol restored and complemented many damaged frescoes. Significant changes have occurred in the hall guard.

Like its predecessor, Napoleon III attached great importance to Fontainebleau and spent a lot of work to restore the castle. Napoleon III salon of Francis I graced the carpet on hunt of the Emperor Maximilian, woven in the XII century Gobelins factory in the Flemish drawings of the XVI century.

After the fall of the Empire of Fontainebleau castle at times served as the residence of some presidents of the Republic III, and in 1927 became a national museum.
Close

From journal The most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Makes a Great Day Trip from Paris

by AnythngArt

Rockford, Illinois

March 22, 2010

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo Just outside Paris to the southeast of the city’s center are the Palace and Gardens of Fontainebleau. The Chateau de Fontainebleau is an easy train ride from the city. By traveling the Paris-Lyon line, within 45 minutes, visitors will find ...Read more Just outside Paris to the southeast of the city’s center are the Palace and Gardens of Fontainebleau. The Chateau de Fontainebleau is an easy train ride from the city. By traveling the Paris-Lyon line, within 45 minutes, visitors will find themselves transported to a lush, serene countryside. Once serving as a Medieval hunting lodge, the chateau was later greatly expanded and converted into a royal residence, with acres of forestland and exquisite formal gardens, dotted with a lake. Today, it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Travelers to Fontainebleau can explore the royal State Apartments where the kings of France lived. Included among those royalty were Francois I, Henry IV, Louis XIII, Louis XV, and Louis XVI. All added to the structure of Fontainebleau. Visitors can also tour the quarters of the Empress Eugenie. The smaller apartments are also available for touring, and they include a museum dedicated to military history and Napoleon, who is said to have preferred Fontainebleau to all the other royal residences in the country.

The chateau dates back to the Middle Ages when it was a hunting lodge centered in the middle of a vast forest. Its conversion to an Italianate palace was spurred by the ideals of the Renaissance, and from there, the palace was continuously developed until the 19th century. Fontainebleau today remains rich in royal furnishings, including paintings and thousands of other historic art objects that have withstood the test of time while carefully preserved within its walls.

A unique feature of Fontainebleau is its Museum of Military Arts and History, which encompasses not only the Napoleonic era, but also includes five rooms of associated objects, including artillery, uniforms, and musical instruments, all related to French military history. Opening soon will be what was once the official dungeon of the palace that will become the new National Museum of Prisons, documenting the prison system of France from the 17th century on.

Another fascinating element of Fontainebleau is its connection to tennis. The tennis connection to Fontainebleau dates back to at least 1604, when historical writings by a visiting Englishman note "the country is strewn with Real Tennis rooms; they are more numerous than the churches; the French are born with a racquet in their hand." The chateau contains one of only three "Real Tennis" rooms still in existence. Real tennis was played on an indoor court. This differed from the more common game of "lawn tennis," which was played on the grass outdoors.

Perhaps the thing that will resonate most with visitors to the chateau are the lovely grounds surrounding the palace. More people visit the nearby forest than the actual chateau itself. Surrounded by no less than five separate courtyards, at least one of which dates back to the 12th century, Fontainebleau‘s exterior is just an interesting as what can be found inside. Beyond the courtyards are the gardens and a lake, the loveliest part of Fontainebleau during the warmer months.

Fontainebleau is an outstanding destination for travelers, rich in French history. A leisurely day spent enjoying its grounds and touring the chateau is time well spent, even away from the always dazzling city of Paris. Close

Chateau of Fontainebleau

by MichaelJM

Nottingham, England

February 19, 2006

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo What a cracking place to visit! This magnificent chateau is about 50km to the south of Paris and is set in the superb royal hunting forest, and as we travelled from Milly-le-Foret, it was not too difficult to imagine the king and his courtiers ...Read more What a cracking place to visit! This magnificent chateau is about 50km to the south of Paris and is set in the superb royal hunting forest, and as we travelled from Milly-le-Foret, it was not too difficult to imagine the king and his courtiers riding the well-beaten forest tracks in pursuit of wild boar or deer. As we neared to Fontainebleau, we couldn’t resist stopping off to take in the fabulous view of the distant chateau framed by the mature forest trees.

The town of Fontainebleau is worthy of a potter round, with some interesting architecture and, of course, a plethora of souvenir shops. We found the shops attractive and adding to the atmosphere of this intimate town. But of course, the main attraction of Fontainebleau is the stately chateau that dominates the town. The chateau started its life as a royal hunting lodge in the early 1100s, and over the ensuing years, Fontaine-Belle-Eau (Beautiful Water Fountain) assumed real importance as a royal retreat.

The formal gardens are massive, and if you don’t fancy a stroll, there’s a horse-drawn carriage that’s standing by ready to give you a tour of the estate. We’ll never forget the carp pool—this started off life as a swamp pool, which François I had converted to a "decorative lake." The lake was populated with fish for the royal table, but nowadays these huge hungry blighters demand to be fed by visiting tourists and clamber over each other as they veraciously grab the food thrown into the lake. In the middle of the lake is the royal pavilion first built under Henri IV, rebuilt by Louis XIV, and then restored by Napoleon 1st. Consider the royal party taking afternoon tea there after a walk round the fine gardens, gardens that have been superbly kept as Louis intended, and it’s not too hard to imagine ruling monarchs taking in the sun dressed in all their finery.

The Palace is built around five main courtyards reflecting the period in which that were constructed. The most famous is the Court of the White Horse—the main entrance with buildings dating back to the mid-16th century. The renowned double horseshoe staircase, built in 1634, is where Napoleon made his formal farewell to his entourage before leaving for the Island of Elba.

Inside the building are the royal apartments, where you can see the beautiful ornate gallery commissioned by Francois I as his "souvenir" of a trip to Rome; the ballroom, completed in Henri II’s reign, with its fine marquetry floor and stunning ceiling decorated in silver and gold; the small chapels; council chambers; and the throne room with the original furnishings.

We’ve made several visits to Fontainebleu, and I reckon it’s not a place to do justice to in a single trip. There’s loads to see, and on fine summer days, we’ve found it an extremely relaxing and intriguing place to visit. We love it—perhaps you will, too!

Close

From journal Within Easy Reach from Fontainebleau

IgoUgo

Chateau of Fontainebleau

Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

A Historical Gem of Renaissance Artworks

attached great importance to Fontainebleau

Makes a Great Day Trip from Paris

Chateau of Fontainebleau

Chateau of Fontainebleau

What's Nearby?

Nearby Things to Do

Popular Paris Hotels

Popular Things to Do in Paris

Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

A Historical Gem of Renaissance Artworks

attached great importance to Fontainebleau

Makes a Great Day Trip from Paris

Chateau of Fontainebleau