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10 Reasons You Should Visit Chateau Fontainebleau

Oh, Paris, the city of love!  A city that is undoubtedly on everyone’s bucket list.

Paris was part of our whirlwind honeymoon, including ParisRome, and Capri.  While Paris is amazing and full of wonderful things to do, it’s also nice to escape from the city. 

When you’re ready for a day trip from Paris, Chateau de Fontainebleau, Paris, is the perfect escape from the city. 

Not only is it located in a super quaint village in France, but the house and grounds are immaculate! 

The Chateau de Fontainebleau is a wonderful piece of French history that is well worth your valuable vacation time.

Read to discover the ten reasons you should visit Chateau de Fontainebleau, Paris, and make it part of your Paris itinerary like we did during our 3 Days in Paris.

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    Reasons to Visit Chateau de Fontainebleau, Paris

    Chateau de Fontainebleau is WAY less crowded than Versailles.

    Really, friends, Versailles gets overrun with tourists.  

    Everyone wants to see the famous palace, and we understand that, but Chateau de Fontainebleau, Paris, is just as magnificent and far less crowded.

    Over 5 million people visit the Palace of Versailles every year. 

    That is a lot of people to contend with. 

    While the Chateau de Fontainebleau isn’t unknown, it has far fewer visitors annually, making it much for a pleasant experience while you are visiting.

    Visiting the Chateau Fontainebleau gives you a great insight into French history and the French Revolution while allowing you to tour a fabulous Imperial residence.

    This beautiful palace, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was once called home by many French Kings, including Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III), who was directly involved in the French Revolution.

    Other French Kings that called the Chateau de Fontainebleau home include Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Louis XIII, to name a few.

    An Easy Day Trip From Paris

    Fontainebleau Palace is an easy day trip from Paris. You don’t even need to rent a car!

    Leave from Central Paris at the Paris Gare de Lyon train station and take the train to Montargis Sens or Montereau (stopping in Fontainebleau-Avon).

    When you arrive at the Fontainebleau Avon station in Fontainebleau from the Gare de Lyon, head out front and catch the “Ligne 1” bus heading to the Chateau (they are all clearly marked).  When we went, the roundtrip train ride and the bus ticket were less than $20/person.  

    The bus will drop you off just outside of Chateau de Fontainebleau, Paris’ gates, making walking inside easy.

    If you prefer someone to organize the trip for you, consider taking this trip from Viator.  They will pick provide transportation from Paris and your entry ticket into Fontainebleau Palace.  

    You sit back and relax! This also helps because you will have someone who can speak French with you. LOL!

    Explore French History

    Chateau Fontainebleau has been a royal residence for eight centuries!  

    Many French ruling families lived within the walls of Fontainebleau Palace and expanded it to make the palace their own. 

    This was the home of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III) and Marie Antoinette, making it a divine royal residence.

    Of course, all of the families that resided here were royalty.

    Still, some other noteworthy residents included Henri II and his wife Catherine de Medici, which you probably know as being part of the powerful de Medici family from Florence.

    The Chateau de Fontainebleau predates the Louvre by over 50 years and Versailles by more than five centuries.  It is said that Thomas Becket consecrated the original chapel in 1169!

    Some of France’s greatest architects have contributed to the structure of Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris, at some point in their careers. 

    You will notice the different architectural styles when you visit. 

    Despite the additions and changes over time, the architects did a fabulous job of integrating these styles to make the beautiful chateau that greets visitors today.

    If you are interested in learning more about Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris’ history, visit the Chateau’s website.

    See the Famous Horseshoe-Shaped Staircase.

    The Chateau architecture was amazing, but I loved the horseshoe-shaped staircase in the beautiful oval courtyard! 

    This gorgeous piece of architecture was constructed for Louis XIII. 

    It was here that Napoleon Bonaparte took a final salute from his guards.  Man, if this staircase could talk!

    This is the perfect place at Chateau Fontainebleau to catch some awesome Instagram photos!  All of your friends will be jealous.  LOL!

    Want an even better photo?  Then take to the skies with a one-hour hot air balloon ride over the chateau!  Your sweetie won’t see that surprise coming!

    Chateau Fountainbleau

    Visit the Royal Apartments and Throne Room

    The Royal Apartments at Chateau Fontainebleau were one of my favorite parts. These private apartments were the center of life for the French rulers while at Fontainebleau Palace.

    Marie Antoinette is said to have considered Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris, a respite retreat in the country after being at Versailles. 

    The rules and expectations around being in court at Versailles could be exhausting, but Chateau Fontainebleau was a nice escape from all of this.

    Marie Antoinette created two gorgeous spaces here in the chateau that allowed the women of the chateau to gather and enjoy themselves before stepping out into public. 

    She created a Turkish boudoir to entertain a close circle of friends. 

    Her second space in the royal apartments was the silver boudoir her husband, Louis XVI, had given to her. 

    You visit the silver boudoir toward the end of your self-guided tour.  Don’t overlook it, as it has some beautiful antiques.

    Napoleon Bonaparte’s throne room is another incredible one you can see at Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris. 

    As requested in 1805 by Napoleon I, the throne room is the only such room in France that is still in its original state. 

    Napoleon’s throne is housed in what was formerly the King’s Chamber.  The luxurious fabrics and the opulent decor demand attention and respect.

    The throne was installed in the alcove that was once where the king’s bed was, making this a truly unique throne room.

    It’s important to note that Napoleon’s coronation was done by Pope Pius VII right here in Chateau Fontainebleau, just adding to the lush history of this beautiful chateau.

    Chateau Fountainebleau Paris-Napoleon throne room

    Tour the Galleries and Theatre

    Don’t rush through your tour of Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris.  I know it is vast, but take time to relax and take it all in.  The opulent decor and the amazing architecture will have you mesmerized.

    One of the most famous galleries of the chateau is the Francois I Gallery.  This passage is 200 feet by 20 feet and leads you from the front of the chateau to its interior is spectacular. 

    Keeping the key to the inner sanctum around his neck, Francois only allowed certain visitors to experience this area. 

    Honestly, I can see why. 

    While making your way through, you are surrounded by stunning works of art from Italian artists and masters. 

    The frescos and life-size figures all seem to have found their place in history and stand just waiting to be viewed.

    Take time to really enjoy this space.  Notice the view of the pond out of the windows and imagine what it would have been like to be in this amazing place as your country emerged from the Middle Ages.

    Of course, this is just one of the beautiful galleries in the chateau. 

    During your visit, you will have the opportunity to see the Francois I gallery and many other delightful and historic places throughout the home. 

    The galleries include The Galerie de Diane, The Galerie des Cerfs, The Galerie des Colonnes, and the Imperial Theatre.

    Again, all home to some of the most famous artworks from Italian artists of the time.

    Chateau Fountainbleau Paris-gallery

    Check Out the Four Museums

    In addition to the home’s beautiful architecture and opulent surroundings, you can also visit the four museums within the Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris.  These Museums include The Empress’ Chinese Museum, The Napoleon Museum, The Galerie de Peinture, and The Furniture Gallery.

    The Empress’ Chinese Museum houses the Far-Eastern collection of Empress Eugenie.  French and British soldiers acquired Most of these pieces during the Sack of the Summer Palace in Beijing.

    The Napoleon Museum has a wide variety of artifacts for you to view. These include furniture, priceless paintings, gold and silver, arms, costumes, and historical documents.

    The Galerie de Peinture, the Paintings Gallery, includes pieces removed from the house because they no longer went with the decor and pieces from the Louvre that date back to the 17th century.

    The Furniture Gallery allows visitors to see the beautiful antique pieces of furniture called the Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris home over the years.

    While touring the museum, it felt as if we were surrounded by priceless treasures, probably because we were, as we roamed through the museums.  My favorite was the Napoleon Museum.

    See the Three Historic Chapels.

    The Chateau has three chapels, The Chapel of the Trinity, The chapelle basse Saint-Saturnin, and the chapelle haute Saint-Saturnin.

    The Chapel of the Trinity was formerly a monastery church belonging to the Mathurin monks.  Francis I reannex the chapel to The Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris.

    The chapelle basse Saint-Saturnin was consecrated by Saint Thomas Becket in 1169.  Although this disappeared under the rule of Francis I, it was later rebuilt under Louis-Philippe I, who redesigned the chapel for his daughter.

    The royal chapel, the Chapelle Haute Saint-Saturnin, or the Chapelle Haute, is a two-story chapel housed in the chateau.  The upper chapel was designed to be illuminated from all sides.  

    While all the chapels are gorgeous, the original chapel, the Cour Ovale, is breathtaking.

    Although the chateau offers audio guides, this would have been a great place to have a private guide led by an art historian.  

    I wish we had booked this trip to gain insight into the beauty and history we saw in Chateau de Fontainebleau.

    Don’t miss it when you visit Fontainebleau.

    Chateau Fountainbleau Paris-chapel

    Explore the Gardens

    There are four main gardens at the chateau, all of which have their own character and uniqueness.  The bus will drop you off at the Jardin de Diane.  The Jardin de Diane has a statue of Diane the Huntress dating back to Henry IV.

    The courtyards and gardens include the Cour Ovale, the Cour de la Fontaine, the Cour d’Honneur, the Cour des Offices, the Grand Parterre, the Jardin Anglais, the Jardin de Diane, the Grotte des Pins, the Pavillion de l’Etang, the Park.

    While all the courtyards and gardens are lovely, a few are worth mentioning in more detail.  These include the Cour Ovale marking the area where the original Chateau Fontainebleau Paris. 

    It is the center point of which all the buildings span out to create the beautiful chateau you see before you today. 

    The Cour d’Honneur is interesting because it is closed off on three sides and looks over the town to the west.

    The Grand Parterre is the largest formal English garden in all of Europe and is definitely worth some of your time during your visit to the Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris. 

    The largest outdoor area of the chateau, the Park, covers 130 hectares.

    The stunning gardens at the Chateau were the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon.  

    We walked across the street to a little cafe, bought a Croque Monsieur, and then returned to the gardens for a picnic lunch.  

    Marty and I munched our sandwich in front of the carp pond while watching the swans swim around, and the lovers paddle through the pond on their rented boats.  It was perfect!

    Chateau Fountainebleau

    Get to Know the Town of Fontainebleau

    While you’re here, be sure and visit the surrounding town.  The “Ligne 1” bus makes a big circle around the town, so hop back on and explore.  There are quaint cafes and charming shops to do some shopping in.

    Friends, this was truly a magical day for Marty and I.  I was apprehensive at first to visit the Chateau because I was afraid it would be so closed off and too much of a museum feel…boy was I wrong!  

    I strongly recommend you take this trip and enjoy some time at Chateau Fontainebleau.  You won’t regret it!

    Need accommodations in France?

    Consider using Hotels.com and signing up for their rewards program.  Marty and I try to always book through Hotels.com.  

    Not only do you get great rates, but you earn free nights.  This is one of our secret weapons to get to travel more often.  We took a 4-day trip to Vegas for free using flight and hotel credits.  

    Need to plan a flight and hotel?  Book with Expedia and get great savings on flight and hotel packages.

    Final Thoughts on Chateau Fontainebleau, Paris

    I highly recommend that the Chateau de Fontainebleau, Paris, be on your Paris itinerary

    The lack of crowds combined with the beautiful chateau and gardens makes this a fabulous getaway from the big city during your visit to Paris.

    Not only that, but you can also explore the lovely town of Fontainebleau that surrounds the chateau. There is a city bus that makes a loop around town that you can easily hop on and take a mini tour!

    I love that you are immersed in French history while visiting the chateau!

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    Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

    Book Your Flight:

    We love using CheapOAir, Kayak, and Kiwi to search for the best flight prices. We love using these search engines because they search the web for airlines worldwide to ensure you get the best deal! In addition to flights, you can also find great hotel prices on Kayak and Kiwi.

    Book Your Vacation Package:

    If you want to book an entire vacation package, we suggest using Expedia. We love how easy Expedia is to use, and we always find good deals on entire vacation packages on their site.

    Another great site for vacation packages is BookVIP. BookVIP offers super cheap vacation packages to incredible destinations. You are sure to save money using their site!

    For full guided vacations, including hotels, some meals, transportation, and guides, then we book with Trafalgar. Trafalgar is a trusted tour company that will meet all your needs while ensuring a great experience.

    Trip.com allows you to book flights, hotels, train tickets, rental cars, airport transfers, tours, and more all on one site. Owned by the parent company that also owns Skyscanner, this is a trusted resource for travel booking and a great “one-stop shop.”

    Book Your Accommodations:

    We always begin our search by checking out honest reviews on TripAdvisor hotels. This allows us to narrow our search for specific properties once we are ready to book. Of course, you can also book directly on the TripAdvisor site!

    There are several accommodation sites that we like to use. One of our favorites is Booking.com because it offers a wide variety of hotels and guesthouses at a good price.

    Another “go-to” hotel booking site for us is Hotels.com. We love their loyalty program that allows you to earn free nights, and their “secret prices” for members are fabulous deals!

    HotelsCombined is another cool site. They allow you to compare all the top travel sites with one search to ensure you find the best deal out there. Kayak works in this way as well.

    If you want a luxurious all-inclusive vacation, consider checking out the Sandals/Beaches properties. Sandals properties are for couples only and Beaches are for families. We have visited Sandals in the past and absolutely love the attention to detail and the service they provide.

    Tour Companies We Trust:

    We love taking guided tours when visiting new places. Our go-to tour companies are Viator.com and Get Your Guide. Both of these companies have been in business for years and provide excellent customer service. You can trust booking tours from their sites for sure!

    For a guided city tour, check out City Sightseeing and BigBus Tours. These bus tours are so much fun and easy to hop on and hop off at top attractions in cities around the world.

    CityPass is a great way to save money when visiting large cities. CityPass allows you to get free admission to major attractions once you buy their pass. The savings add up quickly with this pass, often saving 50% with combined admissions.

    Another great pass to save money in larger cities is the Sightseeing Pass. This pass allows you to save valuable time and money by combining admissions to major attractions. They also have a handy app that keeps everything you need at your fingertips.

    Looking to Save Time and Money?

    Check out our resource page for all of our favorite vendors. These companies help us to save time and money on our travels!

    Michelle Snell-Founder That Texas Couple

    About the Author

    Michelle Snell is a travel writer, history buff, wine lover, and enthusiast of different cultures. Michelle enjoys bringing places to life through creative content creation and her informative writing style on her blogs, That Texas Couple and Totally Texas Travel and accompanying social media accounts.  She is happiest sipping wine in Italy or chilling on a beach with her husband, Marty.

    Paris Arrondissements Guide: decoding Paris arrondissement & attractions

    Friday 6th of April 2018

    […] train ride from Paris, in case you want to venture outside of the city. Another great option is to explore Chateau Fontainebleu, which is an easy escape from […]

    joysofyz

    Saturday 29th of April 2017

    this is an interesting architecture! Hope to ge able to visit one day! cheers, https://joysofyz.blogspot.sg

    thattexascouple

    Sunday 30th of April 2017

    It was absolutely beautiful and interesting. I hope you get to see it one day!

    Phaytea's Pulse

    Saturday 29th of April 2017

    Such a beautiful place..love the pictures

    thattexascouple

    Sunday 30th of April 2017

    Thank you! The pictures don't do it justice.

    Deaven @ Nerd Wage

    Saturday 29th of April 2017

    Wow, wow, wow. This place looks beautiful. I've never heard of it before, but now I really want to visit.

    thattexascouple

    Sunday 30th of April 2017

    We found out about it from a fellow blogger and were so glad we did. One of the many reasons I love the blogging community!

    Mayuri

    Saturday 29th of April 2017

    Wow! I am going to Paris in July and this place seems to be very interesting. I loved the photos you have captured.