Here you can find excursions that introduce you with the main facts of Château de Fontainebleau as well as its rich history and distinguishing features.
The most important aspects of Château de Fontainebleau as well as its illustrious and extensive history can be learned from local guides.
English, Spanish, German, and French are the four languages in which guided tours are offered. This enables guests to learn about Château de Fontainebleau in a language that they are most familiar with.
All our excursions include skip-the-line entry, allowing you to avoid the crowds.
The tour guides are experienced and know the best times to take you to Château de Fontainebleau.
Château de Fontainebleau
Located in the Seine-et-Marne region, the Chateau de Fontainebleau is a royal residence which is open to visitors. The chateau is 55 kilometers from Paris and can be accessed by train from Montereau, Laroche-Migennes, and Montargis. The chateau's location in a forest makes it a favorite weekend retreat for Parisians. Its gardens are a series of elaborate courtyards and pavilions, and they cover over 130 acres of parkland.
Fontainebleau is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. The palace's history goes back to the 12th century when it was built as a hunting lodge for French kings. It became a residence for many French monarchs over the centuries. King Louis XIV, for instance, loved to visit the chateau and was one of the most frequent visitors. He had a lavish ballroom built, which features brightly colored frescoes. He also modified some of the rooms in the palace. He even built a game room.
Chateau de Fontainebleau is also home to the French military school, which was established in 1803. This school was the first military school in the world, and Napoleon I decided to renovate the chateau and make it a military school. He also built a Turkish-style salon. His son, Napoleon Bonaparte, had a little room built for him in the palace, which is now a museum. It is filled with his personal belongings, including his toys and books.
The palace was also the site of Napoleon's coronation. The Pope Pius VII traveled from Rome to crown Napoleon Emperor of France. During this time, the relationship between Napoleon and the Pope was not good, as the Pope was enraged that Napoleon had invaded the Papal States. Ultimately, the relationship between the two fell apart.
In 1804 Napoleon decided to move the pope from Rome to France, and the two met in Fontainebleau. In addition to meeting the pope, Napoleon and Pius VII signed the Concordat of Fontainebleau. The Concordat was designed to bring peace between the Catholic and Protestant factions in France. Napoleon and Pius VII signed the Concordat in the Court of Honor of the chateau, and a table on which Napoleon signed his abdication remains on public display.
Fontainebleau was also a favorite place for Marie Antoinette, who spent some time there during her lifetime. She had a luxurious bed chamber, but never used it. She later used the room for her daughter, Marie-Louise. The bedroom was later converted into Napoleon's throne room.
The palace's extensive collection of artwork includes works by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. A sculpture of Diana the Huntress was installed in the garden in the 17th century. The palace is also home to the 420-seat Royal Theatre. It also contains a library of French and foreign books. There are also more than 1500 rooms in the palace. You should set aside a full day to explore the palace.
The Chateau de Fontainebleau was a favorite residence of several French monarchs, including Louis XIV, Henri IV and Napoleon Bonaparte. It was also home to the former Queen Christina of Sweden. Christina's servants chased and killed her Master of Horse, Gian Rinaldo Monaldeschi. She suspected him of passing state secrets to her enemies.
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At the same time, you'll encounter culture and relaxation. Say goodbye to books where it could be tough to obtain information and the feeling of missing something significant without fully understanding what it was. The fastest admission to museums or monuments will be available to you owing to the badges worn by our guides.
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Any experience can be changed according to its cancellation policy. We may be able to make adjustments to your reservation if the activity permits cancellations.
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Our tours are offered in multiple languages, so if you're interested in taking one of them but don't speak that language, be sure to schedule it in the language you do. First, open the city's file and use the filter sidebar to choose the language in which you'd like the tour to be given. This will filter the results to only show those in the preferred language.
The guide was really kind and skilled at talking in a way that piqued your interest and kept you focused on the city's attractions! I'd strongly advise it.
This tour is fantastic for everyone
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4.7
We had a great day exploring Madrid. Carlos was very educated and personable, and he told us a lot of amusing stories about the area. Definitely a recommendation!
Fabulous tour
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4.5
Wonderful Alhambra visit with Anna. She was very approachable, knowledgeable, and full of amusing anecdotes.
Great morning
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5
We spent a great day exploring Milan's medieval districts on foot. The tour guide told engaging stories and was well-informed.
Outstanding!
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4.9
We had a wonderful day and are very happy we took the 2-hour guided tour of Paris.
