The Royal Castle of Fontainebleau
The Palace of Fontainebleau is one of the largest French royal châteaux, situated 55 kilometres south-east of central Paris in the commune of Fontainebleau. Continuously inhabited by French monarchs for nearly eight centuries, it served as a principal residence from the Capetian kings through Napoleon III. The palace and its park were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 as an outstanding example of European royal architecture spanning multiple centuries and styles.
At a glance
- Type
- Royal palace and château
- Period
- 12th century origins; major expansions under Francis I (1528–1547), Henry II, and Napoleon I
- Style
- French Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical
- Location
- Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, France
- Coordinates
- 48.4026° N, 2.6948° E
- UNESCO status
- World Heritage Site since 1981
Overview
The Palace of Fontainebleau is one of the largest and best-preserved royal residences in Europe, encompassing more than 1,500 rooms across a site that combines medieval towers, Renaissance galleries, and Baroque gardens. It stands apart from Versailles by virtue of its intimate relationship with the surrounding forest, which for centuries provided royal hunting grounds. The palace is today a national museum administered by the French state and receives over 500,000 visitors annually.
History
A royal hunting lodge existed at Fontainebleau from at least the 12th century under Louis VII, and a fortified keep was built by Louis IX (Saint Louis) around 1250. The transformation into a true palace began under Francis I from 1528, when he invited Italian artists including Rosso Fiorentino and Francesco Primaticcio to create the celebrated Galerie François Ier, founding what became known as the School of Fontainebleau. Subsequent monarchs, from Henry IV to Napoleon I and Napoleon III, each added wings, gardens, and interior decorations, making the palace a living record of French royal taste across seven centuries.
What you see
The Horseshoe Staircase (Escalier du Fer-à-Cheval), added by Jean Androuet du Cerceau in 1634, is the palace’s most recognisable architectural feature and was the setting for Napoleon’s farewell to his Old Guard in 1814. Inside, the Galerie François Ier stretches 64 metres and remains the finest surviving example of the first School of Fontainebleau’s stucco and fresco work. The gardens, redesigned by André Le Nôtre under Louis XIV, include the Grand Canal, formal parterres, and the English garden added in the early 19th century. The Grands Appartements contain furniture assembled across royal reigns, with the throne room and the bedchamber of Napoleon among the most visited interiors.
Cultural significance
Fontainebleau is regarded as the birthplace of the French Renaissance style in art and decoration, thanks to the Italian mannerist workshops established by Francis I. Its UNESCO designation acknowledges both its architectural ensemble and its role as a model for European royal palace design from the 16th century onwards. The palace was also the location of the Edict of Fontainebleau (1685), which revoked the Edict of Nantes and had profound consequences for the Protestant communities of France.
Practical information
- Address
- Place du Général de Gaulle, 77300 Fontainebleau, France
- Opening hours
- Check official website for current seasonal hours; closed Tuesdays
- Admission
- Paid entry to palace interiors; gardens free of charge
- Official website
- chateaudefontainebleau.fr
Getting there
Fontainebleau is served by the Transilien Line R from Paris Gare de Lyon (approximately 40 minutes). The palace is a short walk from Fontainebleau–Avon station. By car, take the A6 motorway south from Paris and exit at Fontainebleau. The town is also reachable by coach services from Paris Bercy Seine station.