The Château of Fontainebleau’s brand-new tour path

Waël Dargouth 09 Oct 2020

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This autumn, the Château of Fontainebleau is offering a brand-new tour path to showcase the rich history of its sovereigns and their courts.

Château de Fontainebleau, un parcours de visite remanié

Fireworks were once launched over the carp pond to celebrate major events. © Dalloyau

Sommaire

The department of Seine-et-Marne, which has its fair share of chateaus, is reinventing its number-one attraction, whose 800 years of history are a source of constant inspiration. The Palace at Fontainebleau, a UNESCO world heritage site, is the only palace to have housed all French sovereigns between the 12th and 19th centuries. Its architecture and decor reveal the eras and tastes of the long line of kings who lived there, and visitors can now experience this same journey through time for themselves.

Priceless evidence of a glorious past

An incredible experience is waiting for anyone interested walking in the footsteps of French royalty. Walk through the palace’s galleries, admire its Renaissance-era frescos and stucco, stroll through the suite of royal apartments, and experience the solemn majesty of the Throne Room on just a few of the tour’s stops. Every room resonates with the memory of Francis I, Henry IV, Louis XII, Louis XV, and Napoleon I, who all left their mark on the palace.

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The Diane Gallery, which is full of thousands of rare books, is a temple of encyclopaedic knowledge. © Serge Reby

The Francois I Gallery is home to countless Italian paintings from the Renaissance era. © DR

Meeting power and politics

These monarchs, who all had an eye for beauty, invited the best artists of their time to create a palace that served as the backdrop for family life, court life, and governing. Through their creations, painters and sculptors from every generation used their genius to shape a home that inspired a number of masterpieces. The majestic, solemn, and refined Palace of Fontainebleau is widely admired and evokes the senses and visitors’ appreciation of beauty.