Château de Fontainebleau
A visit to the expansive and spectacular Château de Fontainebleau can easily fill the better part of a day
The Château de Fontainebleau is one of the largest royal palaces. A great many monarchs have made their mark on the Château, each resident making some kind of improvement or renovation to at least a portion of the Château.
The Château has been home to some of the greatest monarchs in French history, including King Louis VII, Philip II and Louis IX. Napoleon also made good use of the Château from time to time. The Château has gone from being the home of a number of monarchs to being the home of the Ecoles d'Art Americaines, an American school of art and architecture.
The Château is not just a palace. There are a number of courtyards and gardens and a park that are interspersed throughout the buildings of the palace. Even the surrounding city is something of a historical monument. It grew up around the Forest of Fontainbleau. What remains of the Forest is now home to a number of endangered species that once called all of Europe home.
Although the Château does attempt to make its tours as family friendly as possible, it is important to note that you are not permitted to bring pushchairs or back mounted baby carriers on the tour routes. It is possible to swap your pushchair or carrier for a front mounted carrier at the cloakrooms though. If schools or home schooled groups of children would like to visit the Château then they may make use of the specially adapted tours that the staff of the Château offer. There is also a lift to allow those who suffer from limited mobility to access the Grands Appartements.
For those who love the outdoors, the park and various courtyards offer many different attractions and activities to help you while away the time. You can take a horse drawn carriage ride or a hot air balloon ride. Then there is the boating and ice cream parlours and the Segway rides.
If you are planning on visiting the Château de Fontainebleau then you really do need to set aside an entire day to do so. It is better to have more time than you need as you do not want to miss a single sight in this amazing palace.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes - Visit the official website for details.Château de Fontainebleau Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:15 PM
Address: 77300 Fontainebleau, France
Phone: 01 60 71 50 70
Official Website: Château de Fontainebleau
Château de Fontainebleau Reviews
Rated out of 5
What a hidden gem. Not far from Paris, easily reached by train then a bus that leaves from the train station. Such a gorgeous castle, with such amazing ceilings in almost every room. The gardens are beautiful and well kept. Definitely worth a visit!
Sidónio Sousa - 3 months ago
I wish I could give this place 10 stars! Frankly, when there are so many queues for Versailles and this gem is not too far from Paris, I can't recommend this enough.
We visited end January (a Sunday afternoon) and couldn't believe that there were so little visitors that we could take so many photos, as if from a brochure. We didn't book but even managed to get a guided tour - although if going during holiday season(s), I would recommend you book. The longest time to wait was for security.
Absolutely mind-blowing to see such beauty around every corner in the main château (includes the Napoleon museum) and so easy to read the information in every room, as not crowded.
We also had a guided tour of Napoleon's apartments, which I highly recommend. Super guide that really made it all come alive and imagine château life during that era.
Photos don't give this visit justice.
Transport: Easy to come by train from Paris (also by car but takes officially 1h30 but each time I drive here it takes about 2 hours with traffic jams). Great for a day trip, as plenty choice of restaurants and walking in the grounds (which is free).
Jill Colonna (Mad About Macarons) - 2 months ago
Worth to visit even though you will need more than an hour in total, from Gare de Lyon train station to Fountainbleu Avon and continue to the Chateau by bus. Beautiful sceneries as you can see from the picture. It also has a small shop to enjoy your afternoon tea or coffee, with an amazing view to the lake.
Septiana Fitri Maria - 3 months ago
Beautiful chateau full of history. Very large with many rooms and collections that span several centuries and different periods in French history. The gardens are free to visit. There are nice places to eat nearby since it's located in the city. Loved it, highly recommend.
Giselle Hernandez - 4 months ago
A beautiful and surprisingly calm château, full of rich history and stunning rooms without the heavy crowds of Paris. The gardens alone are worth the visit—Fontainebleau feels elegant, authentic, and wonderfully lived-in.
Titanopsolis The second - 2 months ago
Directions
| Metro / SNCF Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M1 or M14 plus SNCF R | Fontainebleau Avon | 2 minutes |
How to get to Château de Fontainebleau by Metro / SNCF
By Metro plus SNCF Train and Bus: Make your way via Metro M1 or M14 to Gare de Lyon. From Gare de Lyon (main line) board an SNCF Transilean R to either Montargis Sens or Montereauline and exit at Fontainebleau Avon Station. Catch the Optile ‘Ligne A’ bus destined for Les Lilas, from bus platform #2 in front of the station and disembark at the ‘Château’ stop. Walk southeast and cross over Rue Grande then go left followed by a quick right onto Rue de la Chancellerie to the entrance. If you have an all zone Paris Visite Pass this journey is fully covered.
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Photo Gallery
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Sumptuous interior of Château de Fontainebleau cc licensed photo by dynamosquito -
Photo Credit: @lain G - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: @lain G - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: uphillblok - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Corentin Foucaut - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Phil Grondin - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: uphillblok - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Mustang Joe - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: uphillblok - cc license via Flickr
