Hi Huneybees,
Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau. The commune has the largest land area in the Île-de-France region; it is the only one to cover a larger area than Paris itself. The name originated as a medieval composite of two words: Fontaine– meaning spring, followed by a person’s Germanic name Blizwald.
In the Empress’s Bedchamber sits a bed made for Marie Antoinette, although she never actually used it, I must say, every girl would love to have a room like that. I know I do, who doesn't?!
Truly one of the highlights of a visit to this great chateau is to wander into the tiny and extremely ornate Trinity Chapel, a place that has been the place of worship for kings and noblemen for so many centuries.
It is thought that great deals of the opulent decorations were first installed in the early years of the 17th Century by Louis XV when he was wed to Marie Leczinska. Napoleon III was also christened on this site in 1810.
Day 3 of my France trip, was a bright and early trip to Fontainebleau. Just 15 mins cab ride away from Novotel Ury, the place was renowned for the large and scenic forest of Fontainebleau, a favourite weekend getaway for Parisians, as well as for the historical Château de Fontainebleau, which once belonged to the kings of France.
Click to view the panorama photos in full size.
We didn't have time to explore the forest as we had to travel to Paris that afternoon, so we decided to venture into the Château for a royal time, playing king and queen. A lot might compare to the Palace of Versailles, but it is so much more history and if you hate the tourist crowd, this is the one royal place to go to!
Alighting from the taxi, we were welcomed by the huge iron gates, embellished in gold carvings and a refreshingly huge garden for strolls...
 |
| My getup for the day. Wear comfortably for the tour might take you a few hours! |
Château de Fontainebleau is impossible to cover in a day, so I will be highlighting some of the must-see places. The Grand Apartments would be a great introduction to the royal palace, but don't forget to get your tickets and get yourself a guided "recorder" tour before you head in...
Some history facts about Château de Fontainebleau and what makes it so beautiful:
- Fontainebleau has witnessed some monumental historical events, such as the birth of Louis XIII in 1601 and Napoléon signing his deed of abdication there in 1814.
- Château Fontainebleau has attracted great kings since the 12th century due to its proximity to great hunting in the surrounding forest.
- François I converted the hunting lodge into the royal palace during the Renaissance. He employed the cream of the crop of Italy’s artists and craftsmen to decorate the interior, and lay out the gardens with lakes and canals. A century later, the famed Andre le Notre redesigned the gardens.
- Château Fontainebleau was not the product of a single vision. Instead, it is a bewildering cluster of styles from different periods. Various kings made modifications to the château. Louis VII built an abbey here consecrated by Thomas à Beckett in 1169. A medieval tower also survives. Much of the château still dates from the Renaissance, in the days of François I, in which the Renaissance King created a decorative château modeled on Florentine and Roman styles.
- Napoléon called Château Fontainebleau the “house of the centuries” and he refurnished it in 1804. Perhaps there is no moment in its rich history more memorable than when Napoléon stood on the horseshoe shaped exterior staircase and bade farewell to his army before his departure to exile in Elba.
 |
| This is the infamous horseshoe shaped exterior staircase, totally a grand entrance for the royals... |
The Horseshoe shaped staircase (Escalier du Fer À Cheval) was built 1634, and lies at the end of the Cour du Cheval Blanc. Its ingenious design allowed carriages to pass beneath the two arches. Stand at the top and look out over the courtyard and imagine that you are Napoléon. That's where he bade farewell to his Imperial Guard here before being exiled to the island of Elba.
Round to the back and you will see the scenic garden and forest. It's spacious and wonderful for a little relaxing time to watch the swans and admire the greenery around you...
 |
| Super duper upclose moment with the swans.... |
Inside, the Galerie François I is a tribute to the Italian artists of the Ecole de Fontainebleau. You can see frescoes painted by Rosso, a pupil of Michelangelo. For years they lay hidden behind other paintings and weren’t rediscovered until the 20th century! Rosso Riorentino’s allegorical frescoes pay homage to the king’s wish to create a second Rome.
The gallery itself is 210 ft long. Quite the spectacle, François I walked the length of the gallery while artisans tried to tempt him with their wares, job seekers asked favors, and courtesans attempted to lure him from the arms of the duchesse d’Etampes.
The gallery is a sight. Stucco-framed panels depict scenes such as Jupiter carrying off Europa, the Nymph of Fontainebleau, and the king holding a pomegranate, the symbol of unity. Like Château de Chambord, the Salamander is everywhere – the symbol of François I. François I wanted Fontainebleau to be packed with impressive art and this is reflected in the lavish decoration of the Renaissance Rooms.
The Sovereign’s State Apartments are actually more lavish than the Renaissance Rooms. There is barely an inch of space on the walls or ceilings that has not been decorated. The walls, the ceilings, the floors, even down to the chairs and decoraions, not one detail is left out! Don’t miss the enormous tapestries in the Tapestry Room and the Salon François I too.
 |
| Event he window handle is so intricately designed! |
In the Empress’s Bedchamber sits a bed made for Marie Antoinette, although she never actually used it, I must say, every girl would love to have a room like that. I know I do, who doesn't?!
And when Napoléon was here, he converted the former king’s bedchamber into a preposterously extravagant Throne Room in 1808. But I find the throne a little too small? Maybe in proportion to the decorations, or maybe he was a petite figure...
Located in the Galerie des Assiettes, this cabinet, which was created in 1840 in the Escalier du fer-à-cheval Wing, commemorates the marriage of the Duke of Orléans, son of Louis Philippe I, to Princess Helen of Mecklembourg-Schwerin. It was completed in 1841 and combines wood, bisque porcelain figures and porcelain panels painted by Develly with scenes depicting different stages of the wedding ceremony, in a schema reminiscent of Renaissance furniture.
Built in 1840 on the site of an old patio, Galerie des Assiettes (Gallery Plates) has a ceiling decorated with 21 paintings of the 'workshop of Ambroise Dubois made around 1600, depicting deities of mythology and children hunters.
So, well, here's my tour around Château de Fontainebleau. I really hoped I had another day to explore, but too bad, I have to catch my ride to Paris already. Stay tuned for more of my travel explorations!
More photos can be viewed in my album here --- https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151635762641254.1073741870.566861253&type=1&l=ea309cd13c
