Château de Fontainebleau

The true home of kings

“The true home of kings, the house of ages,” Napoléon once said about this vast castle built in the Classical and Renaissance styles. But Fontainebleau is not only famous for its part in Napoléon’s imperial adventures. Built in the 12th century, this chateau is also a fabulous relic of French history, from the Middle Age to the Renaissance. Over nearly eight centuries, 34 emperors and two monarchs spent time in the estate, inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage list since 1981.

Your ticket gives you access to the State Apartments and to the four museums on this extraordinary landmark.

The Château de Fontainebleau, a masterpiece of architecture

Take your time to fully appreciate the double-horseshoe staircase in the main courtyard, the Cour d’Honneur, also known as the Farewell Courtyard, after Napoléon bade adieu there on 20 April 1814, before leaving for the Island of Elba. Next, head toward the west wing, where you’ll find the Renaissance rooms and the Galerie de François Ier lavishly decorated by Rosso Florentino, a master of the School of Fontainebleau. Admire the dramatic chimney in the Guard Room, the original Saint-Saturnin Chapel, and Napoléon’s luxurious Throne Room.

Don’t miss the Chinese Museum created by Empress Eugénie, and its precious antiques originating from China and Thailand. For an informative dose of augmented reality and 3D fun for the whole family, tactile Histopad tablets, in several languages, are also available inside this cabinet of curiosities.

Going green

Along with the château, there are 130 hectares of parks and gardens to explore. The botanical and architectural imprint of each monarch promises a truly royal stroll in the park! Go boating on the Carp Pond, admire the Grand Parterre, also known as the French Garden, designed by Le Nôtre and Le Vau, or take a walk in the English Garden.

A little train and carriage rides are available for a fun jaunt around the grounds with the family, while initiations at hot air ballooning will take you soaring over the chateau and the Fontainebleau forest, one of the largest forests in the region. But before all that, a pause at the Café des Mariniers on the Cour de la Fontaine is well deserved. Gourmets will appreciate a stop at the restaurant Les Petites Bouches de l'Empereur located in the heart of the château, in the wing known as the "belle Cheminée", a stone's throw from the Porte Dorée decorated by Primaticcio. On the menu, fresh, seasonal and locally sourced products make up the vast majority of the dishes, which are presented in buffet style.

More to see

Several guided visits of the site allow you to explore rooms normally off-limits to the general public, like the luxurious theatre created under Napoléon III in 1857, similar in its refined style to that of the Chateau de Versailles. There is also Marie-Antoinette’s Turkish boudoir, with its fabulous Oriental exuberance. Multilingual visioguides are available with the tours, including a special version for children from 7 years of age.

Discover the Château de Fontainebleau through one of the treasure hunts in the Paris Region Adventures application specially designed for families and downloadable free of charge.