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Chateau de Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau

4.5
#1 of 25 in Parks in Seine-et-Marne
Must see · World heritage site · Architectural Building · Garden
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Unlike at busy Château de Versailles, the lack of crowds at Chateau de Fontainebleau means you're free to enjoy this palace almost as its inhabitants did in centuries past. This was the preferred residence of French kings and emperors for seven centuries. François I made the palace his permanent residence in 1527--breathing new life into the ruins with origins dating back to 1137. A succession of kings worked to further rehabilitate the castle, which is where Marie de Medici delivered her baby, who later became King Louis XIII. See where Napoléon I addressed his subjects after the French Revolution as you step into the Emperor's Throne Room. Italian artists Rosso and Primatice decorated the interior with frescoes, which you can still view today. Before you head to Fontainebleau, plan trip itinerary details with our user-friendly Fontainebleau trip itinerary planning website, to make sure you see all that Fontainebleau has to offer, including Chateau de Fontainebleau.
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Chateau de Fontainebleau reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
3,537 reviews
Google
4.6
TripAdvisor
  • Absolutely must do if you are visiting the region, one of the most famous and amazing castle in France. Do not hesitate to block at least halfday, as the gardens are huge, perfectly maintained and... 
    Absolutely must do if you are visiting the region, one of the most famous and amazing castle in France. Do not hesitate to block at least halfday, as the gardens are huge, perfectly maintained and...  more »
  • Multiple layers of history here - Francis I, Henry Ii, Napoleon, 20th century (Patton, NATO), not all covered. I visited on a rainy day so was only briefly in the gardens. The Napoleon museum was a.....  more
    Multiple layers of history here - Francis I, Henry Ii, Napoleon, 20th century (Patton, NATO), not all covered. I visited on a rainy day so was only briefly in the gardens. The Napoleon museum was a.....  more »
Google
  • Just amazing to say the least. The rooms and wood cravings on the walls are wonderful. There were lots of rooms to tour. We were getting tired after awhile. We got the audio guided tour, but it was hard for us to find the rooms we were in. It was probably just us. You might not have any problem. We were able to get a wheelchair for my wife. The admission for us was free. The audio guided tour was 6 Euros each. The grounds looked great from the windows, but the train that takes you around wasn't working today. Maybe it was because of it being raining day. It was worth going to, even with visiting Versailles the other day.
  • The gardens are mesmerizing, very well taken care of and the castle is a piece of art. I really recommend visiting this place. I loved how at the end of the tour you can rent a boat and make a trip on the lake. I found this to be a very idyllic experiene where you can have a complete view of the castle. We brought a bottle of wine and a blanket and enjoyed a picnic as there is a locker room where you can leave your belongings with individual cells.

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