Interesting facts about Fontainebleau
With each new monarch, the castle settled down and became larger. The love of the kings of France for the beauty and luxury of decoration is obvious if you see the Fontainebleau Palace. Each king left his mark in the fate of this castle. Therefore, it is in this castle where the traditions of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Classics are so skillfully intertwined. Now the palace and the Fontainebleau park are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A tour of Fontainebleau is very popular among tourists. About 10 million tourists visit it every year.
Many distinguished persons of Europe came here, including Emperor Peter I and Pope Pius VII. Here Napoleon said goodbye to his army during his first abdication, and from here he went to the island of Elba. Besides, the character of the book by Alexander Dumas, the well-known D‘Artagnan, often visited the Fontainebleau castle.
Fontainebleau castle and park now
Fontainebleau amazes with the luxury of its territory. The palace has four courtyards and three gardens. When visiting Fontainebleau, you can explore the richly furnished castle, its unique collections and symbolic items such as the throne of Napoleon I and the famous horseshoe-shaped staircase. You will also visit the spacious private apartments of the castle, which at one time shone with all the modern conveniences of the era. And, of course, you will see the luxurious, recently updated Napoleon III apartments.
We also recommend looking at the unique items of the Furniture, Painting and Plates gallery. The walls of the gallery are decorated with more than a hundred copies of Sevres porcelain. Of course, you will not be indifferent to the exhibits of the Chinese Museum, which were collected during the Opium Wars. A tour of Fontainebleau is an unforgettable journey into the history of France.
The Fontainebleau Castle is located about 60 kilometers southeast of Paris. Optionally, an excursion to Fontainebleau can be combined with a visit to the neighboring castle — Vaud-le-Viscount, which inspired Louis XIV to build Versailles.